People should perform green deed daily
IF people perform one “green good deed” a day, a better tomorrow will naturally flow.
So says India’s Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr Harsh Vardhan, who is happy his idea has been adopted by BRICS, of which India and South Africa are members (along with Brazil , Russia and China).
Vardhan pitched the concept during a two-day meeting of environment ministers from Brazil, India, China and South Africa that was held in Durban over the weekend.
Vardhan told on Saturday that one cannot consume the earth’s resources without any expectation of these becoming exhausted.
It is the responsibility of every individual, he said, to step forward and make a difference.
“Yes, there is much that is happening at the top level, but what about those at grassroots level? All you need is to alter your behaviour and change naturally occurs.
“It is not only a social responsibility but a human responsibility,” he said.
“Everything has a limit. Our forefathers gave us fertile, green lands and what have we done with it?
“We have exploited it. There is so much of pollution and overconsumption. It needs to stop.”
He pointed out other initiatives have failed to practically solve the urgent environmental conditions at hand.
“The planting of trees cannot save every environmental problem and sadly that is the go-to action for most individuals when it comes to being environmentally friendly.”
Vardhan said his initiative has already been adopted in India and that he hoped to grow it globally.
In an effort to boost the movement he has developed an app, which is named after him, that contains up to 500 options of green good deeds.
These include picking up of trash, saying no to fire crackers, the reduction of noise pollution, food waste reduction, the saving of water, tree planting, using energy efficient products and saying no to plastic.
“It is all about education and the mobilisation of the movement.
“We need to address the issue in its totality and that is exactly what this initiative aims to do.
“It addresses the spiritual, social, physical and mental well being of the world.”
Vardhan, previously the minister of science and technology before being handed the new portfolio about a year ago, is also credited for making India polio free.
He subsequently wrote a book called A Tale of Two Drops, which is also available on the app.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s Environmental Minister Edna Molewa vowed to retain nuclear energy, saying the country would not abandon it as a means of power generation.
Brazilian minister Antônio Carvalho spoke of concern on the rise in water levels should there be a failure to address climate change.