Do we know?
99.9 per cent of the potent zoonotic viruses exist in the Human Environment yet the world is negligent towards its source and possible aftermath.
A staggering 114 million people got infected by Covid-19, a virus that knows no bounds, no boundaries.
Many more probable pandemics may be on the way if we keep destabilising our serene Environment.
Do we know?
India has ranked 86th in Covid 19 performance index.
Sri Lanka was the best faring nation in South Asia, ranking 10. Maldives was at 25, Pakistan at 69, Nepal at 70, and Bangladesh at 84.
India bagged 117 rank amongst 192 nations in sustainable development measures based on 17 sustainable goals. This prompts us to ask: Are our efforts enough?
India lies behind all countries from South Asia except Pakistan.
So little we know that due to our inherent actions, perhaps inactions, 160 species have become extinct over the last decade (2009-2019).
Much revelations have been enclosed within State of Environment report 2021 by CSE(Centre for Science and Environment).
It aims to provide an insight on recent priority issues for India related to the status of environment and natural resources.
Also deals with the pressures behind environmental changes and the impacts associated with these changes.
Since 2020 proved to be the year associated with Covid, the impacts of Covid-19 on India have been elucidated in the report.
Impacts on Citizenry by Covid:
India has entered in a phase with “pandemic generation”. Its population being battered by the impacts of Covid.
375 million children considering age groups 0-14 yes age are prone to suffer long-lasting impacts.
Their growth could get restricted by being underweight, stunting and increased child mortality, to losses in education, lesser work productivity and efficiency.
Due to the imposed lockdown, over 500 million children remained out of school globally and India accounts for more than half of them, limiting their availability of food, nutrition, immunisation and above all basic education.
115 million additional people might get pushed into extreme poverty by the pandemic — and most of them live in South Asia.
All about surrounding Environment:
Between 2009-2018, most of the land, water and air of India has been degraded, despite our repeated attempts towards habitat safety.
A few major industrial clusters were assessed in India. It was found that nearly 35 out of 88 were degradation in every respect.
33 pointed to constantly worsening air quality, 45 had more polluted water and 17 faced worse land pollution.
Tarapur in Maharashtra listed on top to be the most polluted cluster.
The report has pointed out the partial lack of action over the years to control and reduce pollution involving areas those were already identified as critically or severely polluted.
The report deals with 14 chapters ranging and integrating the pandemic to sustainable development goals to poverty.
The report is a loud proponent of promotion of rural development through energy enhancement.
An extensive chapter on Biodiversity(global plus national) depicts our loss in terms of flora and fauna.
As per the report, there are two signs of upcoming extinction:
- Loss in population of a specie
- Continuous Shrinking distribution habitats
It is important to note that these two signs are evident among all species currently.
The serene and polished Nature that everyone observed during the country-wide lockdown is a clear indication of our abuse of the nature. But as the State of India’s Environment 2021 says, this remained just a blip.
This report incessantly reminds us of our failed promises to conserve nature and serve it till eternity.
It’s important in the wake of such report that we began to rekindle our distorted relation with the Nature.