Third world war might not be such a grave concern for the people
living in this world, why? because they have become an aware of the fact
that if it materialized, no one is going to survive on the surface of earth.
The leaders of the world became conscious.
Yet what about environment? which is getting depleted, polluted and
oxygenless day by day without which the survival of mankind would
become a thing of the past and the worst of all, people are still not aware
of it. They are still guided by the so called rules of economics to earn
profit and that economic development is a panacea to all ills.
Today we find the whole world caught mercilessly in the perilous
jaw of Environmental Pollution and ecological degradation.
The ill lies not in some single phase of life but it is
multidimensional. It is desolating the green woods, eroding some of the most fertile tracks of land banishing the most precious species from
wild life and also all violently hurling millions of hazardous waste,
fumes and lethal components in the air and water ways.
CAUSES.
Several causes could be attributed to this note of concern. Some
them are:-
1.Ozone depletion due to CFC’s.
2.Global warming due to green house effects.
3.Air pollution due to smoke of Factories and Industries.
4.Toxic waste due to the non-recycling of the waste
Beside these direct causes, there are several subsidiary means o
Environmental Pollution, for example;
1.Noise Pollution.
2.Population explosion.
3.Ignorance about the environment.
These all listed elements have played havoc with the Environment.
CFC’s the only manmade chemicals is used as coolants in refrigerators.
air conditioner and as solvent for cleaning computers and circuit boards.
Evidence indicate that the chemicals are finding their way into the
atmosphere and destroying the ozone layer whereas ozone layer filters out
most of the ultraviolet rays of the sunlight. It is believed that the
destruction of ozone layer would dramatically increase the skin cancer and
a drop in crop yield etc.
effect is another contributory factor of the Environmental Pollution. This
Similarly, cyclical fluctuation in temperature known as Green house
is building up the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which gradually
increases the temperature, which would have an ultimate effects like the
rise in the level of sea, Global warming, and melting of ice sheets in the
polar regions, which would bring a drastic change in the environment.
Air pollution due to the release of toxic fumes in the air is creating
hazardous effects not only on the human beings but also on the animals
and birds, proper and clean atmosphere is a requirement for the survival
of life on the planet.
Toxic waste goes untreated in the water ways, especially in the
world countries, a statistics reveals that 90 percent of the industries in Pakistan has no water treatment plant and as a result of this negligence
almost all quantity of chemical waste is deposited in our main water
sources i.e. rivers and lakes.
Apart from these main causes, there are some subsidiary causes as
well, which are gradually depleting the environment. Among them is,
noise pollution, due to the production of automobiles, Ignorance to
environment is another cause of the pollution especially with respect to the
third world countries and the other developing nations. Nextly over
population is another contributory factor, over population has led to an
increase in the demand and production of the industrial goods, which
eventually plays havoc with the environment.
EFFECTS.
Several effects could be listed with respect to the growing
environmental pollution, for example, some depletion, rising temperature,
low mortality rate, a morbid increase in the human disease and increased
physical disabilities.
REMEDIES.
This global degradation of the Environment is a note of concern. We
do not, only, have to make this world safe for democracy but also for
living, Ideological conflicts are long forgotten attributes of conflict and
warfare. Now a war is required against pollution. A dynamic leadership is
required, at a Global level which would pool a public support through out
the world, especially the role of United Nations and its Environmental
Programme (UNEP) be implemented through out the world.
5th day of June every year rings a clarion call in this regard to rise
to the occasion and warns people to face the formidable challenge of
pollution, but unitedly and collectively the world over.
Under United Nations Environmental Programmes, it should
become imperative for all the member countries to enact laws for the
prediction of environment. These laws should make in imperative for
every industry to keep a recycling plant so that rivers and water channels
could be made safe for drinking purposes and for the marine species.
Under the same UNEP, a war contact campaign should be started by
the Govt. of the respective countries to inculcate the importance of the
protection of
Environment and implementation of improvement
programmes and development project. Scientific research should undergo a change, natural source of
energy should be utilized for all practical purposes, for
example,
fund for the research of an alternative form of energy which would be less
automobiles, refrigeration etc. The member countries should develop
hazardous, for health and environment.
Natural resources should be protected and instead of decreasing such
resources, an increase in such resources should be adopted.
The UNEP should also adopt a planting seasons whereby the
member countries be made liable to plant trees at Federal level.
EFFORTS.
In order to promote environmental concern among the countries and
individual a number of projects have been undertaken by several national
and international organizations. These organizations have not only held
conferences and seminars but also intense efforts are being pushed by
them for legislation in the countries. In addition a globe wide media
campaign has been launched by United Nations Environmental Protection
Agency.
Most important effort was Earth Summit in 1992. Though United
States held some reservation on the cutting back at industrial pollution, yet
even then the countries proceeded with their argument. The world at
Global level condemned United States for being a major hold in this
concern. This Earth Summit was followed by Copenhagen conference in
Denmark which dealt the issue relating to global warming and pushed the
participants to do a nation wide legislation in this respect. Though positive
results are still awaiting, yet it is hoped that things would ultimately be put
to right.
In addition to these conferences
Organizations are also working for the awareness of environmental
following International
hazards currently on rise.
These organizations include (1) Asian Development Bank (2) World
Bank (3) United Nations’ Development Programme (4) Number of Non
Governmental Organizations like Green Peace.
These agencies, with exception to Green Peace whose sole motive is
to inculcate awareness regarding environment, have been successful in
promoting formulation of policies. Agencies like World Bank Asian Development Bank attach a condition of environmental concern with their
package of aid and loan which they give to the developing countries. In
this way substantial efforts have been made towards the awareness of this
concern regarding degradation of environment and global warming.
Environmental Concern And Pakistan:
Over the last few years there has been a positive sign of the change
in the Governmental policy towards this issue. The Govt. of Pakistan has
established a number of agencies, which in relation with number of
international agencies and Non Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) are
working to halt the growing depression of Environment.
Environment division has been elevated to the level of Ministry of a
Federal level, which is being followed by the Environmental Protection
Agency at the Federal level (EPA).
At provincial level, the four provinces have their own departments
of environment which in return take care of the departments of
environmental management at regional level.
The Federal Government in this respect has established a fund of
Rs. 225.129 million in the latest budget for the promotion of environment
out of which Rs. 141.129 million to be had from foreign sources and Rs.
84 million from local sources. This amount is about five times the amount
allocated the previous year, which was 53 million in 1994.
The Govt. has undertaken serious effort to implement the NCS, a
policy document pointing towards 14 sector of environmental concern like
warming of the atmosphere and industrial pollution etc.
The NCS have been allocated Rs. 150 million as compared to Rs.
10 million in the previous year. This amount is going to be spent on the
project like Kasur Pollution Control Project, Korangi Tanneries Project
and Rachna Doab Forestry Project.
In addition Rs. 15 million has been allocated to the maintenance of
bio-diversity in the rural sector. As far as industries are concerned they
are directed to install an anti-pollution equipment within specified time.
Such equipment includes recycling equipment etc.
The Govt. has also given environment protection agency to impose
Penalties to the defaulters of the industrial pollution, which can impose a penalty till Rs. 100,000 in addition Rs. 10000 for every passing day. EPA
is also seeking measures to improve the condition of forests in the country.
According to an estimate there are only 3% of forests in Pakistan
where as 20-25% are required to fulfil the economic and environment
needs of our country.
Another idea which gaining popularity is of civic environmentalism
that is the provincial and local Govt. should work on their own without
being forced by the Federal Govt.
In order to achieve the above objective the Govt. has launched a
pollution awareness programme in order to make the people conscious at
the grass root level.
Conclusion:
Efforts cannot succeed unless they are being done at group level and
a commitment to realization is another thing needed. It is important to note
that solution lies through the civic environmentalism approach.
Dialogue between NGO’s, EPA and local authority are required as
for this realization. Where as at International level, agencies donating
money and giving loans should do no bargaining in attaching condition of
environment protection with their package. This is not “my” world. This
is “our” world and the effort at the level “us” is required for all practical
reasons.