Youth, NGOs and Civil Societies play a crucial role in advocating for change. Yet, all groups in society must take steps to change the way we consume and manage the Earth's resources.
The environment in which we live in can be considered as a blanket that protects life on the earth. There lies no alternative of healthy environment to ensure a healthy life to all living creatures. Yet, the observed change in climate, nature and biodiversity loss, and various pollutions (air, water, sound, etc.) – are continually giving us a hint for a sustainable shift from harming the environment to healing it.
The matter of environment pollution and climate change has become a global concern because persistent and emerging pollutants lead to climate change, and variations in regular weather patterns have negative consequences for the physical and biological entities of the environment. Moreover, due to these issues, the planet is facing a triple planetary emergency: (1) the climate is getting warmer too quickly for people and nature to adapt; (2) habitat loss and other pressures have resulted in an estimated 1 million species close to extinction; and (3) pollution continues to contaminate our air, land, and water .
In fact, Bangladesh is no exception. In the last 20 years, Bangladesh has ranked 7th among the nations most impacted by extreme weather. Tens of millions of people were threatened by the disastrous effects of frequent cyclones, floods, erosion, and rising sea levels, all of which continued to cause evacuation.
Moreover, every year at least four intense heat waves dominate the pre-monsoon season from March to May, and from February to October; besides, our climate constantly changes towards hotter and longer summers, warmer winters, and longer monsoons. As a result, it is estimated that temperatures in Bangladesh will rise by 1.4°C by 2050 .
Determined and stable environment-friendly
policies and their active implementation are essential
by the Government. Besides, promoting and supporting
climate-smart and
sustainable agriculture can help change the scenario
Over the previous decade, the rapid economic expansion and industrial development of Bangladesh have decreased poverty, but pollution in the air, water, and soil has increased significantly. However, Dhaka and Khulna being the two most pollute cities of the country, are exposing their average citizen to pollution levels that contain eight times higher particulate matter than the WHO recommended standard, resulting in an 8–year reduction in life expectancy . Adding more to it, exposure to high amounts of air pollution can cause a number of adverse health effects. For example, it raises the probability of developing respiratory infection, heart diseases, or lung cancer. And polluted water can contain bacteria that cause diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis A, polio etc. Subsequently, pollutants detected in contaminated soil can enter the human body through a variety of channels, including the nose, mouth, and skin. Short-term health issues caused by exposure to such soils include headaches, coughing, chest pain, nausea, and skin/eye irritation. Prolonged contact to polluted soil can cause central nervous system depression and damage to vital organs (like the liver). Cancer has also been related to long-term exposure to contaminated soils.
Besides, on a daily basis, millions of individuals are affected by noise pollution. The most prevalent health issue it causes is Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) together with triggering high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep difficulties, and stress.
Various studies suggest that adopting sustainable lifestyles and behaviors might lower emissions by 40 to 70% worldwide by 2050. Even, sustainable consumption and production may promote economic development, reduce climate change and environment pollution, improve health condition, and assist in poverty alleviation, possibly raising earnings by an average of 11% in low- and middle-income countries like Bangladesh by 2060.
With this year’s theme “Only One Earth” which was a slogan for the 1972 Stockholm Conference, World Environment Day is being celebrated around the world to create a better future and to make economies and societiesmore connected with nature. Likewise, a shift in finance is also require to achieve sustainability. Investment must flow into activities that value nature and bring prosperity to all without harming the environment. Determined and stable environment-friendly policies and their active implementation are essential by the Government. Besides, promoting and supporting climate-smart and sustainable agriculture can help change the scenario.
Dr. Shamim Hayder Talukder is Chief Executive Officer, Eminence Associates for Social Development
