Every year on June 5, the world observes World Environment Day. This day has been celebrated annually since 1973 and is essentially to promote environmental awareness. This year, the theme is “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future.”
Which begs the question. Will today be just another 24hours of official observance with no commitment to action and change, no serious reflection on how daily choices degrade the very environment that hosts us, feeds us, and a lot more?
Will there be any commitment from governments, organisations, and most important of all, individuals to continually be aware that daily seemingly insignificant life choices and actions directly affect the environment?
Simple and daily activities, such as how we choose to dispose of our garbage, make a big difference. Being aware that encroachment on wetlands and degradation of forests only hurts us in the long run, and choosing to collectively say no to anything that degrades the environment.
Pledging to evict encroachers or keep our streets clean and improving waste management systems should not just be rhetoric and political posturing just to garner votes and then be thrown by the wayside immediately elections are over; it should be a new normal.
Making perfectly drafted laws on environment management is not worth a dime if there is no political will to consistently and fairly apply those same laws without fear or favour, regardless of what glamorous development or investment projects might have to be shelved if implementing them necessitates the abuse of the environment in one way or another. We must safeguard the environment, if not for us, then let it be for the future generations.
Executing our industrial and commercialisation plans and goals shouldn’t be at the expense of the environment.
Before the sun sets today, we should all take a minute to stop and reflect on how we are contributing to either the conservation or degradation of the environment and how we can be better citizens of earth.
It starts right there with an individual mandate before it can be a priority in communities, organisations, and governments.
How will you grow tourism if the life of the natural resource is not guarded jealously? When did you last plant a tree? Was there a plan to nurture those trees to maturity, or was it all showbiz and photo moments to achieve seemingly more important goals and to tick politically correct boxes?
This World Environment Day, let’s commit to being the difference when it comes to conserving the environment.