Nagaland CM's message on World Environment Day
4 June 2019 , Kohima
MESSAGE
I am delighted to learn that World Environment Day 2019 is being observed on 5th June 2019 under the theme ‘Air Pollution’ with China, one of the largest industrial countries in the world, as the host country.
Climate change as a result of human inflicted damages to the environment is a very real issue which requires the concerted efforts of the people of all nations and the State of Nagaland is proud to be part of this global movement. Every Nation or State, no matter how large or small in population and size has its own role to play.
The United Nations Environment Programme has listed air pollution as the cause more than 6 million deaths every year or 1 in 9 deaths. It estimates that 92 per cent of people worldwide do not breathe clean air while air pollution costs the global economy $5 trillion every year in welfare costs. Ground-level ozone pollution is expected to reduce staple crop yields by 26 per cent by 2030.
This is the biggest environmental health risk of our time. The efforts to mitigate harmful effects of air pollution are a herculean task but it is not impossible. It requires the commitment and consistency of every individual citizen and the nations in the global village to combat this hazard. More efficient fuel systems, strict enforcement of bans on air pollutants, effective waste management and strengthening of laws and standards as undertaken by the UN need to replicated in letter and spirit.
I am happy to note that Nagaland had banned the use of single-use plastics with effect from 1st December 2018 in response to the Government of India’s call for single-use plastic free India by 2022 and last year’s World Environment Day theme ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’. We still have a long way to go but with concerted efforts from all stakeholders, we are ensuring that single-use plastics are eradicated.
The State Department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, on 22nd May 2019 inaugurated the first plastic-free nursery in Kohima which uses cloth bags instead of plastic pouches to raise saplings. The Department is working extensively to provide more forest / green cover to the State under various programmes and schemes like the National Afforestation Programme (NAP), Nagaland Forest Management Project assisted by JICA, and Biodiversity and Community Conserved Area Management, an Indo-German Financial Cooperation project financed by KfW, Germany.
I am optimistic that these efforts will bear fruit in the near future and contribute cleaner air and beat air pollution to a significant extent. Nevertheless, we require the collective efforts of all citizens for which I call upon the people to come together to reverse the trend of environmental damage in order to keep Nagaland Clean and Green and contribute our share to the global effort for environmental protection.
May we succeed in our efforts for the sake of our future generations.
Sd/-
( Neiphiu Rio )
Chief Minister, Nagaland
* This Press Release was sent to e-pao.net by Media Cell, Nagaland Chief Minister's Office who can be contacted at mediacell(DOT)cmo(DOT)ngl(AT)gmail(DOT)com
This Press Release was posted on June 05 2019
* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.