Take action for mother earth

Ranjan K Baruah *

People around the world are facing a common problem which brings more question than answers .This global challenge is none other than climate change. There is much difference between weather and climate and we should not be confused with the same. It occurs when changes in Earth's climate system result in new weather patterns that last for at least a few decades or may be more.

It is now affecting every country on every continent and is disrupting national economies and affecting lives, costing people and communities Weather patterns are changing, sea levels are rising, weather events are becoming more intense and greenhouse gas emissions are now at their highest levels in history.

There is no doubt that the poorest and most vulnerable people are being affected the most due to climate change.

To strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change, countries adopted the Paris Agreement at the COP21 in Paris, which went into force in November of 2016.

In the agreement, all countries agreed to work to limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees centigrade. As of April 2018, 175 parties had ratified the Paris Agreement and 10 developing countries had submitted their first iteration of their national adaptation plans for responding to climate change.

We must be aware that we don't have any other planet apart from our earth .Earth is considered as mother earth in many parts of the world and it is a common expression for the planet earth. Different species live in harmony as there is interdependence amongst species and also human beings and other living species. As it's the only home, so, it is our foremost duty to safeguard and protect mother earth.

We must live in harmony with nature if we have to combat and fight climate change.

International Mother Earth Day is celebrated on 22 April to remind each of us that the Earth and its ecosystems provide us with life and sustenance.

This Day also recognizes a collective responsibility, as called for in the 1992 Rio Declaration, to promote harmony with nature and the Earth to achieve a just balance among the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future generations of humanity. This day provides an opportunity to raise public awareness around the world to the challenges regarding the well-being of the planet and all the life it supports. This time focus is on 'Mother Earth: Education and Climate Change'.

There is no doubt that climate change is one of the largest threats to sustainable development globally and is just one of many imbalances caused by the unsustainable actions of humankind, with direct implications for future generations.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ( UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement encourage international cooperation among parties on climate change education, training, public awareness, public participation and public access to information.

The United Nations General Assembly, in order to achieve a just balance among the economic, social, and environmental needs of present and future generations, to promote harmony with nature and the Earth, and noting that Earth Day is observed each year in many countries, decided to designate 22 April as International Mother Earth Day through resolution A/RES/63/278, adopted in 2009.

We should not be confused as two terms are being used to mark the same day. Apart from United Nations another global movement related to Earth Day which is Earth Day Network (EDN).

Its mission is to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide. Growing out of the first Earth Day, EDN is the world's largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 75,000 partners in nearly 192 countries to build environmental democracy. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world.

The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, activated 20 million Americans from all walks of life and is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement.

The passage of the landmark Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act and many other groundbreaking environmental laws soon followed. Twenty years later, Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in more than 190 countries and lifting environmental issues onto the world stage.

This year, EDN is focussing on theme 'protect our species'.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.

SDGs address the global challenges which include poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice.

It depends on each and every one of us apart from government or other agencies to combat climate change and protect all our species if we want ourselves and our future generations in healthy situations.

Many initiatives are being taken around the world right from tree plantation or awareness generation or high level dialogues.

The most important question is that are we doing something positive for mother earth? Let's take action for our mother earth as even small climate friendly initiatives or actions shall contribute towards sustainable future.