Global worries for environment

Gazi Nurul Alam

The environment includes both biotic and abiotic factors and they depend on each other for their existence. So they are equally co-existence components and distortion of one affects the other. What is happening in the world from the environmental point of view is really horrible and dreadful to think Environmental are hazards causing much problems to mankind as well as the flora and fauna of the whole world. So time has come to think over the matter and to face it successfully. First it is necessary to know what are the factors responsible for these devastating actions. Natural disasters are recurring incidents and almost every year causing serious damage to both mankind and its resources. The recent SIDR and two times flood in the same year are the best examples. Both the man made and natural factors are responsible for these natural disasters. Recently UN Secretary General Ban-Ki-Moon has expressed his deep concern over the devastating impacts caused by the environmental degradation. He has urged all concerned to face such natural calamity unitedly and courageously in the near future. The following factors could be held responsible for the natural imbalances. The major factors include -- air pollution, water pollution, deforestation, siol erosion, desertification, green-house gas effects, extinction of bio-diversity and indiscriminate discharge of waste products and garbage. Due to excessive burning of oil-gas-coal, the discharged fumes from industries, factories and from deployment of faulty vehicles. and cutting of reserved forests without any judicious consideration and for many other reasons, the green-house gasses in the air are increasing rapidly around us. As a result global warming and climatic changes are taking place. Ozone layer which protects the animal kingdom and the world from injurious impact of ultra-violet rays is also being affected considerably. The industrially developed as well as the richest countries of the world are contributing significantly towards global warming and climatic change but not being affected as much themselves. Whereas countries like Bangladesh and other third world countries are being seriously affected by environmental disorders having no role at all in the environmental distortion. From a survey report it appears that one fourth of delivered and escaped carbon dioxide gas is from different sources of U.S.A. On the other hand such events in third world countries is estimated to be about 2 percent only. The intensity of heavy flood, rainfall, draught, tornado and water up-charge has considerably increased in Bangladesh as compared to before such occurrence climatic change and other environmental hazards. People here have repeatedly surrendered their fates and have become totally disappointed being in the grips of merciless environmental hazards. Experts have opined that there are many possibilities of occurring such natural calamities throughout the world towards the end of the century. It is known that the sea level is gradually rising due to melting of ice in the polar region. It is apprehended that the sea level will rise by up to 80-89 cm by the year 2050.If it happens, it is estimated that about one-third of total Bangladesh area will go under complete inundation and as a result approximately 20 million people will be seriously affected and the fate of Bangladesh will be in danger. Experts think that the impact of climatic change in Bangladesh may also affect the agriculture of the country. Bangladesh still is an agro-based economy and its development depends on agriculture. The air, water and soil of the country are being constantly polluted by the industrial affluent, municipal garbage, wastes, used chemical fertilizers in the land and insecticides. The waters of the river like Buriganga and others, canals and many such water bodies have become unsuitable for use. Due to adverse environmental impacts, many of our known fish species, aquatic animals, plants and other biodiversity bases are being extinct gradually. The various plants, trees and animals of the forest are on the verge of extinction due to non-judicious exploitation of the forest resource. The existence of most valuable and world famous Royal Bengal Tiger of Sunderbans is endangered, threatened and at serious stake at present. The valuable natural resources are being depleted or destroyed to meet the so called demands of human beings in the name of economic development of the country. Environment friendly development
Environment plays a substantial role since the creation of both flora and fauna in this world. But due to unplanned and unwise activities of the mankind the environment is and polluted every second and is causing serious threat for organisms to live in. The loss of biodiversity is now a common sight. The habitat of birds and insects are under extinction and endangered. The various important and valuable plant species, including the medicinal ones are being lost gradually. The food ,water and fresh air on which mankind depend for their survival are being poisonously polluted by the unwise and unplanned activities of the mankind day by day. “Environment Conservation “is the principal one among all the world problematic issues. Today , it is already too late to think over the issue of environmental conservation. We have to consider the greater interest of the people of our country by immediately bringing in an environmental balance. It will help us to protect our economic and social development. It is sure that we have to build industries to meet the demands of our people but that must not be at the cost of lives and resources. In order to ensure a suitable environment, all types of constructions, development activities should be environment friendly. Some suggestions
In the context of the present environmental hazards, I would like to suggest the following mitigation measures to conserve our environment.
  • The construction of industries and factories should be done in such a way that its discharged fumes, pollutant fluid, gas and other wastes must not affect the public health.
  • We must also have to take care that the discharged waste from the factories must not pollute our air, water, and soil. In such case, if needed we will have to hire qualified manpower to look for the environment friendly technology.
  • We need to install “Affluent Treatment Plant “(ATP) in the vicinity of industries/factories and we will have to ensure its appropriate use in removing or recycling the industrial discharge.
  • We also need to ensure the recycling and reprocessing concept to re use these waste products to our benefit.
  • In order to save our fresh air, we have to strictly ban the deployment old and faulty vehicles in the street.
  • We will have to launch afforestation programme regularly to keep our reserve forest at the level of 20 percent land area.
  • We will have to aware the general mass with regard to importance of forest. The forest helps to maintain the ecological balance by absorbing the escaped poisonous carbon dioxide gas and it also contributes to promote the economic and social development of the people.
  • The scarcity of surface water due to siltation of rivers and other water bodies, unplanned development infrastructure in the country is exerting much pressure on ground water level. So in order to minimise such pressure, let us to re-excavate the silted water bodies to reinsure adequate supply of surface water.
  • It is necessary to stop unplanned urbanisation and also unwise construction of embankment in the country.
  • There should be the provision of compensatory measures for the affected poor countries like Bangladesh in case of natural disasters.
  • There should be proper rules and regulations as regards the conservation of environment and its appropriate implementation.
Recently there were held a conference on environment entitled “United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC) in Bali of Indonesia with regard to the impact and mitigation measures of global climatic change.192 countries including U.S.A participated in Bali Conference where it was decided to create a fund of 40 billion US dollar as a compensatory measure for the affected third world countries. Australia, EU, Canada and Japan have agreed to reduce the amount of discharged carbon dioxide gas at least by 50 percent by the year 2050. The conference would be successful if now USA and other industrially developed countries are agreed and really do it. The writer is an environmentalist.