Contending among the leading economies of the world, India’s developmental and industrialisation plans, coupled with climatic changes are resulting in environmental damage that is going to be unsurmountable. A ticking time bomb, environmental damage and the ghastly future that looms with it are not unheard or unknown in today’s day and age. While numerous privileged citizens might perceive environmental threats more generically, many of us are contending with gross pollution on an increasingly frequent basis. The average urbanite of India is familiar with the blanket of smog that welcomes them while their flight descends into their destination city. Unexpected patterns of rainfall, the rising heat, extreme winter temperatures, crop failures and appalling rates of deforestation, among other factors as we know, are deeply correlated and collectively manifesting into disastrous outcomes.
Everybody is aware of recent reports that rate our national capital as being the most polluted city in the world. Studies appearing on many news channels and tabloids link Delhi’s air pollution to decreased life expectancy levels among its inhabitants. Simultaneously, the country is facing a rapid depletion in its groundwater levels, even in its most rain-dense patches. One can only imagine the adversity of these impacts on the country’s flora and fauna. And while many of us live under the perception that “survival of the fittest” is a conception that is limited to the animal world, we might need to think again.
An article that I recently came across in Rajasthan’s Hindustan Times newspaper titled “Don’t Water This Down” highlights the issue of water wars- trending conflicts over the resource and ways to conserve it. It notes that the irresponsibility and unaccountability of several development plans is causing diversions of drinking water in states such as Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha, and hence, sparking water-based conflicts among the rural populace. While discussing the political economy of developmental plans in these areas, it highlights the lack of parity between the Centre and States over water projects, and the importance of evaluating the environmental effects of water projects.
The article also mentions an uprise in inter-state water conflicts and a horrifying statistic, whereby over 100 million people dwell in areas with poor water quality. According to studies, predictions have been made that by 2030, national supply is predicted to fall fifty percent below demand rates, and that is a scarier situation than we currently face.
While crucial policy decisions are to be made to mitigate the conflict between developmental plans and environmental health, one of the biggest factors that contribute to environmental pollution is domestic negligence and a general lack of initiative among citizens on individual and collective levels. Environmental pollution is a reality that grips each one of us, and while the human civilisation has grown increasingly habituated to reaping its benefits, it missed out the crucial importance of paying back the respect that we owe our environment. A famous quote across the internet explains the irony of our environmental negligence very aptly, it says: “Imagine if trees gave off Wi-fi signals. We would be planting so many trees and we’d probably save the planet too. Too bad they only produce the oxygen we breathe.” While getting more deeply immersed in indulgent lifestyles, are we forgetting the imperative of upholding our environmental responsibilities at a basic level?
Call me an optimist, but I do believe that by spreading environmental awareness at a micro level, we can successfully overcome its domestic negligence and collectively devise ways that enable us to live more eco-smartly and efficiently. I was in junior school when the ICSE board made environmental science a compulsory subject in the teaching curriculum, and I would call that one of the few wise decisions taken by the percentage-obsessed education system of the country. Through lessons that we belittled while we ourselves were little, I now admit the tremendous impact that these teachings bear on our consciousness today. Which is to say, that while I might not remember the details of the curriculum that repeated itself in a more complex version every year, its basic values have been deeply engrained in me. The few hours spend per week studying environmental science have resulted me to think twice before acting against responsibly eco-living. That is, that while I might not be able to flawlessly explain the working of a solar panel, I understand the importance of conserving non-renewable energy. Environmental Science or EVS, as we all called it as students might have just been another academic hurdle for us as students, but it manifested into an important and non-negotiable life lesson for all of us. For all you know, it might be the prime driving factor behind this article!
So, without further due, here are a few initiatives that I would recommend for you to integrate into your lifestyle to reduce your carbon footprint and mitigate environmental damage. These recommendations are based upon the ethic of sustainable living, which acknowledges the inevitability of several environmental damages but at the same time, believes in the possibility prolonging them. More importantly, it stresses upon the ethical responsibility of one generation to preserve the environment that is soon to be passed on to the generations that succeed it. Please consider the following initiatives and encourage those around you to adopt them as well. Every small bit counts!
- Make environmental education a part of your life
Take a few minutes per day to immerse yourself in some environmental-related education. It could be anything- articles, TV shows, programmes, YouTube videos, or anything. There is a plethora of content out there that teaches you environmental lessons in ways big and small. Learning more about the many facets of our environment will always cause you to gain knowledge and awareness to act responsibly. The more, the better. If you have children, ensure that their learning curriculum involves environmental education as a crucial segment (trust me, you’ll thank yourself later). - Go on cleanliness drives more often
Whether it means replacing all your bulbs with LED’s, recycling paper or glass, every bit counts. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan isn’t just meant to be on paper. It’s message can be adopted in the most basic activities. Make this a permanent habit. - Create a sustainable garbage system in your house
Categorise waste into separate disposable bins, namely:
i) Compost waste: this includes most organic waste, especially from the kitchen: vegetable and fruit peels, egg shells, etc that can be put into a compost to create manure. All the gardening enthusiasts, you’re going to love this!
ii) Recyclable waste: all paper-based and plastic-based waste can be disposed here, which can be sent recycled by the closest facility near you. Find the closest recycling service near you using good old Google!
iii) Donate-worthy waste: sort out the stuff that you don’t need anymore, and instead of tossing it in the trash, pass it on to someone who might need it. Earn your karma points 🙂
iv) Electronic waste: waste such as old electronics, batteries, chargers, mobiles, etc cause radioactive pollutants, and hence need to be disposed by companies that specifically deal with electronic waste. Please dispose these responsibly.
v) General waste: Once you’ve sorted your waste out into the above four categories, you’ll be surprised as to how much your general waste will reduce. As a result, you’ll be producing significantly lesser amounts of domestic waste. Adopt these measures in your office environment too! - Teach your children the value of giving & keep them close to nature
Get your children to personally hand out the clothes and toys that they have outgrown to those who come from humbler backgrounds. Infact, tie up with NGO’s that support children and get your kids to interact with them on a more frequent basis. Not only will they be more grateful as individuals, but witnessing lives that are less privileged than theirs will make them think twice before fussing over something that they don’t need, or wasting food on their plates.
Apart from that, encourage them to pursue some gardening and take them for tree-planting sessions when you can. Planting and nurturing a little sapling that will one day turn out to be a tall tree is a significant development lesson that we can all impart to our children. Good parenting goes a long way! - Invest in a rainwater harvesting system
If your house has a terrace, creating a rainwater harvesting system is very reasonable. Moreover, find ways to divert cleaner water waste to water the garden or clean the driveway. It’s just a matter of connecting a few pipe ways right! - Be bathroom efficient
You’ll be surprised as to how much water you can save by changing a few bathroom habits. An average 10-minute shower with a low-flow shower head uses 25 gallons of water, whereas a bathtub uses 35-50 gallons. Try switching to bucket-bathing, which is way more water-efficient. If you adore your shower too much, try timing your bath down to a single song.
While brushing and shaving, turn off the tap when you don’t need it.
In addition, get a low-flow toilet- you’ll be surprised at how much water we flush down on a daily basis, whereas the flush can operate with less than half of the water volume. - Small changes in your transport go a long way in reducing your carbon footprint
Many modes of public transport such as autos and buses run on CNG, significantly reducing emission rates in Indian metropolitans. On the other hand, many of us have the liberty of driving/ being driven around in our own cars. If you belong to the latter category, ensure that your car’s pollution assessment is done frequently. When going in to purchase a new car, go for the more energy efficient ones. Moreover, try carpooling as much as you can. Use your mobile phone to make travel co-ordination easier: hitchhike with fellow family members to go to destinations that are close by or along the same route. During milder weather, consider cycling/ walking to destinations that are close by: you’ll burn down a good amount of calories as well! - Support biodegradable packaging
Many companies have now started packing domestic groceries and goods in biodegradable material, and even recycled/ recyclable packaging. Look out for these when you shop. Appliances too have started using lesser packaging for their products, the Amazon Kindle e-book serves as a classic example. While picking up stationery, go for acid-free paper, it’s a whole lot better in terms of quality too. - Make smarter electrical choices
Our markets today offer a series of energy efficient appliances that go beyond the phenomenal CFL and LED bulbs. The new Macbook, for example has a significantly lower carbon footprint than its contemporaries. Not only is it more energy efficient but it is the first ever Apple product that does not feature Beryllium, a carcinogenic metal. This means a significant reduction in radiation emissions as well.
In addition, go for energy-efficient motors, and use soft starters for AC induction, which will save your electrical supply charges by drawing a minimal amount of current (instead of most inductors that exceed 600% above the required current levels!) You’ll find energy efficient solutions for transformers, energy switches, air conditioning systems, and the list goes on. This is a valuable investment not just for the environment, but also for your electricity bills. - Stay up-to-date with eco-lifestyle
Read and inquire more frequently on more eco-friendly choices that are being made available in so many spheres of our lifestyles. The process of being eco-efficient is a constant one, and increasingly satisfying as you go about it. Read more, spread more on eco-friendliness and foster change!!
I hope these pointers have made you realise how basic eco-initiatives are if you give them a little time and thought. Making eco-friendliness a habit will contribute significantly to mitigating environmental damage. In addition, it will make you feel a whole lot more fulfilled for making more responsible and sustainable lifestyle choices.
Go Green and Save the planet. Remember what Captain Planet told us every single day on Cartoon Network: “The Power is Yours”!
Urvashi's Blog 