Humans have only one planet, and human activities are pushing Earth to the tipping point. The future of generations to come depends on protection that is much beyond morality with regard to the protection of Earth. Ancient wisdom, such as that of Earth goddess Prithvi from Hindu mythology, passed down the message emphasizing the closeness of the relationship between
people and the environment. “Mata bhumih putro aham prithivyah” (Earth is my mother, and I am her child) of the Bhumi Sukta of the Atharva Veda establishes a duty towards the preservation of the planet for future generations.

The ecosystems of Earth are complex and they need to be balanced, with each single constituent part be it a sheet of oceans or a rainforest, playing a vital role in sustaining health. Greek mythology has taught that Earth (represented by Gaia) gave birth to life and, when disregarded, signalled its demise. Natural disasters were Gaia’s ways of rebalancing after human abuse. This myth tries to teach us that ignoring the warnings is sure to result in some catastrophe on nature and humankind. The human stresses that human activity is currently placing upon these ecosystems are unprecedented and call for careful management. 

Climate change mitigation, therefore, becomes very imperative owing to the large number of vulnerable populations affected, along with the environment and the economy. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that global warming will have cascading impacts, so to avoid catastrophic impacts, global temperatures should be kept much more firmly below pre-industrial levels. That would mean that deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions are needed, a very fast transition to renewable energy, and sustainable business practice in all sectors. 

Biodiversity is the other critical element of ecosystem resilience and services which includes clean water, agriculture, fisheries. It keeps both the climate and the potential for diseases to spread in check. However, species have gone extinct at a rate 100-1,000 times higher than in the past, which has made biodiversity more vulnerable to shocks, reducing the beauty and richness of the planet. The Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services has characterized the situation of biodiversity around the world rather gloomily; it is estimated that a million species are at risk of extinction through human activity. This has very grave implications for human beings as well. The paper “Biodiversity Loss and Its Impact on Humanity” spells out how humans and the environment are interdependent and degrades ecosystems that hold food chains, water sources, and other vital services. This means that biodiversity protection not only includes saving species, but also maintains the intricate web of life that sustains human civilization. “Protected Areas and the Global Conservation Agenda” and “Conservation Biology for All” both convey a message for the preservation of biodiversity hotspots along with expansion of protected areas. These reports call for the need to incorporate conservation into larger development plans for its long-term survival of the ecosystems.

Another major hazard to the health of our planet and all it sustains is pollution, a special problem in countries where standards are often lax. Each year, the report “Air Pollution and Noncommunicable Diseases” notes, millions die prematurely from inhaling pollutants. Industrial discharges, agricultural runoff, and unmanaged plastic waste are fouling fresh waters and oceans, imperilling human health as well as marine life. Millions of tons of plastic waste enter oceans each year and degrade to small particles that marine life ingests, ending up in the human food chain and risking human health. The staggering extent of the problem is chronicled in a report, “Plastic Pollution in the World’s Oceans.” To fight pollution, strict implementation with regard to regulations on industrial emissions, increased support for the introduction of clean technologies, and a shift to a closed-loop economy are required, along with consumer choices and public awareness. Similarly, the SDG Report maps out a future that is sustainable, able to bear the needs of today while not compromising the needs of the future generations. It calls for social cohesion, economic growth, and environmental preservation strategy. This, therefore, involves the moving towards a low-carbon economy and investing in renewable sources of energy and, to top it all off, the explicit promotion of sustainable agricultural practices.

Infrastructure development and urban planning are thus related to sustainability, whose key agenda is to bring down carbon emissions by creating energy-efficient cities through the reduction of sprawl and with public transportation. Urban green spaces offer places for recreation, cleanse the air, and decrease the urban heat island effect. In such situations, public awareness and education is important in decision-making and environmental impact. Businesses, governments, and civil society could all do their part. As per the report “Toward a Sustainable Energy Future,” for a shift in energy from fossil to renewable, backing by policy,  new technology, and international cooperation are necessary. For instance, Costa Rica is a small country that has taken upon itself the responsibility to act as caretakers of the Earth, and its experience so far has shown that economic growth with sustainable development is quite compatible with environmental protection. In response to the large-scale deforestation in the 20th century, Costa Rica boldly decided to prioritize conservation and reforestation over immediate monetary profit. Today, more than half the nation is again under forests, and such activities remain key to its economy. That is a contemporary, real-world example of the old truism, so applied by Costa Rica, that we have so much to gain by not destroying the natural world but by preserving and appreciating it.

The Mahabharata unconsciously dwells on the connection between Earth and all beings, with a sense of shared responsibility towards caring for the environment. Some problems require global solutions, such as those related to pollution, loss of biodiversity, and climate change. In 1987, the Montreal Protocol put forward a timeline with regard to the deadline for getting rid of chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons that damage the ozone layer. The ozone layer is on its way to recovery; this is the power of concerted effort. The big positive development regarding the fight against global warming was the 2015 Paris Agreement: to keep mean global temperature increases below 2°C. But now, an even bigger push is needed, pushing nations to have better policies and also assisting developing countries in changing to green technologies. Now there is debate about the effectiveness of an international environmental agreement. “The Effectiveness of International Environmental Agreements” identifies both the strengths and weaknesses of the said agreements and argues that strong accountability, openness, and enforcement mechanisms are imperative to determine that commitments made are actually met with appropriate attention. Global conservation efforts, such as those assumed under the Convention on Biological Diversity, are also critical in determining that the planet’s biodiversity is sustained and that these are properly implemented. There needs to be abundant financing and political will behind them to prove functional.

Individual activities, such as driving less, cutting down on meat, and using energy-efficient appliances, play an important role in the environment. Activities like lobbying for environmental laws, assisting companies with the initiative to promote sustainability, and
simple acts of recycling, cutting down on waste, saving water, planting trees, and attending clean-up campaigns further benefit the environment. The Chipko Movement of the 1970s was grassroots activism by Indian villagers bringing attention to community involvement in saving the environment, hence changing forest policies in India. What every individual can contribute towards a more sustainable future is again by reducing our carbon footprint and participating in nonviolent resistance. 

Yggdrasil is a figure from Norse mythology that bestrides all domains of existence. According to legend, it is the health of Yggdrasil that keeps the universe together, while its decay foreshadows approaching catastrophe. On the other hand, Yggdrasil can serve as a metaphor employing the criterion of interrelation among all living things to underscore the need for environmental preservation so that the planet should survive along with humankind. The alert, “There is no backup planet,”, calls upon people to come together and think seriously about the conservation of Earth for the present generation and generations yet to come. Since it directly impacts our health and well-being, the environment calls for a rethink in our relationship with Earth. On these grounds, we are able to ensure a green and healthy planet with sustainability, conservation efforts, and personal responsibility for the survival of all forms of life. Earth is the only of its kind; it’s our duty to protect it. We stand at a crossroads in history, and a future lies ahead. Shall we heed the wisdom of our ancient ancestors and take up our place as conservators of the Earth, or shall we continue down a course leading to our very undoing? It will be an answer to that question which will decide just what type of future our planet and humankind are going to have.

 

References:

Atharva Veda. Bhumi Sukta (Hymn to the Earth). 12.1.12
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