Protecting the environment is a universal responsibility and people from all walks of life have to commit themselves to restore ecosystems, an apt theme for this year’s World Environment Day, celebrated on June 5 every year

By Lincoln Bennet Rodrigues,

Protecting the environment is a universal responsibility and people from all walks of life have to commit themselves to restore ecosystems, an apt theme for this year’s World Environment Day, celebrated on June 5 every year. Civil society and Government have to collaborate to undertake activities that will sustain and revive the environment to its original beauty and remain the most vital source of good health of the human population. It is very well known that ecology is under threat in both developed and developing countries. We are already witness to cataclysmic events like bush fires, unexpected floods, severe air pollution, volcanoes, tsunamis, rapid degradation of coastlines, erratic cyclones, global warming, disappearance of forests, wildlife and rich bio-diversity across the globe due to environmental imbalance and hence impacting people and their livelihoods. Greenhouse gas emissions continue to grow and our planet is now at risk of a climate change catastrophe. This depletion will further intensify if we don’t put a stop to harmful practices to fulfil the needs of our unsustainable lifestyles. Environmental degradation is the largest threat to safety in the world today. All this is linked to urbanization and our lifestyle which are harming eco-systems vital for our life.