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New Delhi, 5 June 2020
The Indian Institute of Ecology and Environment (IIEE),
New Delhi observed and celebrated its 40th Anniversary on the
occasion of the World Environment Day, 5th June 2020. This
Institution inaugurated on 5th June 1980 is the only institution
of its type in the Indian Sub-continent dedicated for studies,
training, research, consultancy, advocacy, publications,
conference organization and production of print, audio, video
instructional and motivational materials with a view to
implementing environment friendly programmes having social,
cultural, technological, economic and positive contents for
developing a sustainable society. Other activities include
pollution monitoring and control, environmental education,
impact assessment, disaster preparedness, sustainability
education etc.
In order to avoid crowding and for maintaining social
distancing, the 40th Anniversary Celebrations took place through
webinars and tree plantation drive was organized by asking the
volunteers to maintain a minimum distance of 10 feet while
planting the saplings at its headquarters : Paryavaran Complex,
New Delhi.
While presenting his views on this auspicious occasion, the
Founder Chairman of the Indian Institute of Ecology and
Environment (IIEE) Dr. Priya Ranjan Trivedi recalled that there
used to be no Ministry of Environment when IIEE was established.
He further added that IIEE had foreseen that the pollution by
2000AD will be unbearable and that is why formal, informal and
non-formal education and training programmes were launched in
the areas of environmental education, population and community
ecology, environmental laws, natural resources conservation,
disaster mitigation, sustainable development etc.
Endorsing the views of the United Nations Secretary General and
also the recommendations from the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP), Dr. Priya Ranjan Trivedi while asking the
world citizenry to take care of the environment further
explained that the foods we eat, the air we breathe, the water
we drink and the climate that makes our planet habitable all
come from nature. Each year, marine plants produce more than a
half of our atmosphere's oxygen, and a mature tree cleans our
air, absorbing 22 kilos of carbon dioxide, releasing oxygen in
exchange. Despite all the benefits that our nature give us, we
still mistreat it. That is why we need to work on that.
Discussing the urgent need for preserving biodiversity, the
foundation that supports all life on land and below water. It
affects every aspect of human health, providing clean air and
water, nutritious foods, scientific understanding and medicine
sources, natural disease resistance, and climate change
mitigation. Changing or removing one element of this web affects
the entire life system and can produce negative consequences.
Human actions, including deforestation,
encroachment on wildlife habitats, intensified agriculture, and
acceleration of climate change, have pushed nature beyond its
limit. It would take 1.6 Earths to meet the demands that humans
make of nature each year. If we continue on this path,
biodiversity loss will have severe implications for humanity,
including the collapse of food and health systems.
The emergence of COVID-19 has underscored the
fact that, when we destroy biodiversity, we destroy the system
that supports human life. Today, it is estimated that, globally,
about one billion cases of illness and millions of deaths occur
every year from diseases caused by coronaviruses; and about 75
per cent of all emerging infectious diseases in humans are
zoonotic, meaning that they are transmitted to people by
animals.
Nature is sending us a clear message.
We are harming the natural world – to our own detriment.
Habitat degradation and biodiversity loss are accelerating.
Climate disruption is getting worse.
Fires, floods, droughts and superstorms are more frequent and
damaging.
Oceans are heating and acidifying, destroying coral ecosystems.
And now, a new coronavirus is raging, undermining health and
livelihoods.
To care for humanity, we MUST care for nature.
We need our entire global community to change course.
Let’s rethink what we buy and use.
Adopt sustainable habits, farming and business models.
Safeguard remaining wild spaces and wildlife.
And commit to a green and resilient future.
As we work to build back better, let’s put nature where it
belongs - at the heart of our decision making.
Inaugurating a Webinar on Environment organized by the
Confederation of Young Leaders (CYL), Dr. Priya Ranjan Trivedi
recalled and traced the origins of the World Environment Day as
the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development was
held on 5th June 1972 at Stockholm, Sweden where it was resolved
to establish the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and
that on 5th June every year the World Environment Day will be
observed in all countries of the world.
While answering to the questions raised by the participants
attending the Webinar, Dr. Priya Ranjan Trivedi giving his
expert opinion about the roles of Governments, Industrial
Establishments, International Organizations, Civil Society,
International Organizations, Schools, Colleges and Universities,
he opined that an integrated approach towards creating
environment friendly jobs including green education, green
employment, green business and attitudinal change is urgently
required to save our mother earth, rather the entire planet.
Dr. Priya Ranjan Trivedi also inaugurated another Webinar on
COVID-19, Environment and Economy organized by the Indira Gandhi
Technological and Medical Sciences University (IGTAMSU),
Arunachal Pradesh where the Chancellor Dr. Markandey Rai, the
Pro Chancellor Dr. Utkarsh Sharma, the Registrar Ramesh Chandra,
the Controller of Examinations Brajesh Chaubey and the Head,
Commerce and Management Department, IGTAMSU also besides
presenting their views agreed to promote environmental education
and awareness in Arunachal Pradesh in particular and in South
Asia in general with a view to depolluting the present
environment.
All such persons who had been working with the Indian Institute
of Ecology and Environment (IIEE) since its inception in 1980
besides many of the alumnus of IIEE participated in the Webinar
organized on this occasion.
Dr. Priya Ranjan Trivedi also announced that besides the Books
and Occasional Monographs on different aspects of Environment,
other area to be covered during the year 2020 include Spiritual
Emergency, National Security, Divinity, Green Computing, Green
Technology and COVID-19.
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