Green is not just a colour. It is a way of life. Green symbolizes self respect, well being and is the colour of balance. Green is the colour of nature fertility and life. We need to stay committed to green and preserve trees and make our environment beautiful.
The United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) World Environment Day theme for 2012 is ‘Green Economy: Does it include you?’ The theme highlights the way we do business, if we are to create a brighter future. But more importantly, the theme accentuates the fact that “you” are an important element to its success and invites you to evaluate whether the steps being taken by the government, private sector, civil society and community in your area ‘include you’.
This year is also the 40th anniversary for World Environment Day, since the creation of the UNEP in 1972. In this significant year for the environment and sustainable development, the world leaders will once again meet at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Brazil. Twenty years after the historic Earth summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Dubbed as Rio +20, one of the main themes of this Summit is ‘a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication’. There, governments will meet to map out the future path of sustainable development for the 21st century.
The green economy touches almost every aspect of our lives and concerns our development. It is about sustainable energy, green jobs, low carbon economies, green policies, green building, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, industry, energy efficiency, sustainable tourism, sustainable transport, waste management water efficiency and all other resource efficiency. These are all elements involved in the successful implementation of a green economy. 2012 has also been declared by the United Nations as the International Year of Sustainable Energy for all. World Environment Day this year will complement this global concern with the official tagline – Green Economy. Does it include you?
United Nationals Development Programme’s Human Development Report 2011 states that all people, born and yet to be born have the right to a clean and safe environment. Despite the slow progress in securing such rights globally, constitutions in at least 120 countries address environmental norms or the State’s obligations to prevent environmental harm. Many countries without explicit environmental rights interpret general constitutional provisions for personal rights as including a fundamental rights to a clean, safe and healthy environment. That right derives from people’s rights to bodily health and integrity and to enjoyment of the natural world.
Among Asian countries, India is notable for allowing aggrieved individuals to challenge State action or inaction related to the environment. The Indian judiciary has broadly interpreted environmental rights in the Constitution to protect public health as well. Environmental advocates successfully argued that environmental laws obliged the government to reduce air pollution in New Delhi in the interests of public health, resulting an order mandating conversion of city uses from diesel to compressed natural gas.
In India, large-scale industries have taken to task extensive programmes to enhance green economy, towards a greener world. Here ecotourism has grown considerably in the last few decades, promoting responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment and improve the welfare of local people. Kerala with its exceptional natural resources has formulated one of the most progressive ecotourism policies, while the densely forested and wild life rich Madhya Pradesh has developed an eco and adventure tourism policy. Some States have incorporated the concept of ecotourism in their existing State tourism policies, including more greening of the environment.
The Oil and Natural Gas Commission’s (ONGC) headquarter, Eastern Region, at Nazira in Sivasagar, Assam has aimed at protection generation and greening the famous, historical Ahom monuments, Rong Ghar, Kareng Ghar, Talatal Ghar and Group of Maidams at Charaideo in Sivasagar district including beautification of Borboruah Tank at Nazira.
Every positive environmental action has an impact and we need to find creative ways to link our activity to the green economy. Even though we experience the negative effects of climate change and environmental degradation, we blame others – the government for not prioritizing environmental policy, corporate organizations for raising greenhouse gas commissions, NGOs for not lobbying strongly enough for the environment and individuals for not taking actions. On World Environment Day, we put aside our differences and celebrate the achievements we have made for protecting the environment. (Published on the occasion of World Environment Day)
