Keynotes address by P.C.C.F., Jharkhand
On world environment day, 2009
By Mr. A.k Singh IFS
(Principal Chief Conservator of forest)
Mahamahim Rajyapal Mahoday, honored guests, my colleagues and members and representatives of various organizations and industries,
I feel, honored to have this opportunity to address this august gathering on the occasion of the world environment day 2009. In a nutshell, this day, every year, on the 5th of june, we try to focus on our environment - what is ailing it and what needs to be done to keep it healthy.
It was in 1972 that the United Nations’ General Assembly, to mark the opening of the Stockholm conference on Human Environment declared 5th of june as the world environment day. The idea was to promote an understanding amongst the world communities about environmental issues and guide actions that will ensure that all nations and peoples enjoy a safe and prosperous future. The world environment day embodies an approach that targets raising awareness and encouraging people to voice their thoughts and do their utmost to improve the environment.
Recognizing the imminent threats of global warming and the consequent climates change that are the defining issues of our times, the theme chosen this year by the United Nations’ environment program is "your planet needs you! Unite to combat climate change.” UNEP has asked countries, companies and communities to focus on greenhouse gas emissions and the way to reduce them. The world environment day this year is dedicated to identifying initiatives that would promote low carbon economies and lifestyles, such as improved energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, forest conservation and eco-friendly consumption.
Through this event today, we are here to reaffirm our commitment to responsible environmental practices.
Climate change, as a result of global warming, is a really today. It is a result of great many factors, anthropogenic indiscretions being the most important of them. in some cases the impact is direct and unambiguous, while in most, it is long term and difficult to discern. However there is a near consensus today that we need to watch our steps and find ways to adapt to change that has already occurred.
Of most concern in the anthropogenic factors is the increase in co2 levels due to emissions from fuel combustion, flawed closely by factors that cause ozone layer depletion and deforestation. This problem is expected to increase and accelerate in future threatening terrestrial ecosystems.
Un adopted 'united nations framework convection on climate change (UNFCCC) in 1992 and the Kyoto Protocol became effective in 1997, whereby every developed country now has an obligation to reduce green-house gas emissions and a mechanism has been provided whereby developing countries can also participate in this effort based on clean development mechanism (CDM).the CDM provides for developed countries to finance mitigation projects in developing countries, thus promoting environment friendly and sustainable development.
The State of Jharkhand is no exception and faces the same problems that beset rest of the world. There are certain futures, though, that compound the problem further. This state is house to a large number of industries, the main ones being mining, chemical, thermal power, iron and steel, sponge iron and engineering, among others. Some of the highly industrialized cities of the county, like Jamshedpur, Bokaro, Dhanbad and Ranchi, are in Jharkhand. If you look at the state map, you find that mineral wealth, forests, river and tribal population occupy the same space. Unplanned, short- sighted, and greed based exploitation of natural recourses in these areas, that is often passed on as an essential for development, is not only harming the environment, much more than that, it threatens the survival of the very locals who are projected as the beneficiaries. Our important rivers like Damodar, Subarnarekha, Barakar and koel are badly polluted and drying , soil and air pollution go unchecked, water table is going down and waste-disposal systems, both industrial and none industrial, are either non-existent or, at the best, inefficient.
We have to stay firmly committed and determined to encourage adoption of cleaner and environment friendly technologies and exploitation regimes in industries and our daily lives. Wastes and unscientific and extensive (instead if intensive) plunder of natural resources have to be stopped and our consumption (most important being energy) have to be efficient.
The state government is formulating “Jharkhand Environmental Development project” to be posed for funding under Indo-German Technical Cooperation Programme. This project envisages Environment Committees at the district level , preparation of an environment policy for the state and Establishment of Jharkhand Environment Development Agency(JEDA) under the department of forest and environment to provide institutional and technical linkage between the government and the regulatory bodies set up under environment protection act(State pollution Control Board, etc)) .
However, successful implementation of environment initiatives ultimately hinges on public support and participation. Environmental regulatory framework cuts across diverse interests and the stake holders are many. It’s a mosaic where the misery of one is the development of the others. There is no shortcut to a consensus and the way ahead is discussion and debate.
I on behalf and on behalf of the Forest and Environment Department, welcome the participants and wish that all of us go back from here not somber but wiser.