“…this is the only home we have and, as environmentalist are fond of saying Mother Nature doesn’t do bailouts… So, we better find a better way to grow”.
- Thomas L. Friedman
Kelengol Neikha
Asst. Prof.,Dept. of Economics, St. Joseph’s College, Jakhama
Improving living standards for mankind has become a single oriented goal of all nations and world bodies. With the numerous definitions of development since the dawn of civilization, there seems to have a little consensus for ‘Human Development’ which brought into light after some catastrophic incident by nature. However, a large population on earth is still to get the ‘bare minimum’ for development. Humanity is at the crossroad where it faced with the first of its kind challenge- the challenge of Climate Change. The dilemma is that whatever we can do for our development, there has to be a repercussion on nature. And even bigger dilemma is in achieving a global consensus on how to check, restrict and finally reverse the process of climate change.
Along with this the twin objectives of development i.e. sustainability alongside with environmental concerns is the hallmark of every economics activity. This has been marked as a rising concern to most of the multilateral actions taken today. Numerous international summits, strategies and protocol have been laid down in the international bodies to curb the mania of development on environment. To some extent these have proven to be a good duo mechanism in curtailing the degree of devastation.
Hitherto all the clusters of talks, be it national or global, have a common consensus to impart the knowledge of climate change in the grass root level and above all from oneself; a common phrase which supplements this well will be ‘think globally act locally’. We must remember that the clock is now ticking on the need of global action to combat with the harmful effects on the race of human beings. This action must be fair, just equitable for all the countries so that it has a future ecological and economic space for all sustainable development.
Nevertheless, the local actions of ours will be a mammoth contribution to this global conscience. Inculcating healthy habits to care for environment in the long run such as saving energy both domestic and industrial uses, adhering to climate-friendly transportation, practising eco-food revolution and assessing our carbon offsets daily could be some baby steps shouldering the responsibilities of our global climate concerns. Before it is too late we must comply withthese activities and also awaken the conscience of humanity from inertia, or else the far-sighted impact of environment on human is very torment.
Growth and development willstretchup to an ‘unlimited extend’ as long as human exist on this earth. But how can a finite earth support mankind’s infinite physical need? – it was postulated long before in 1972 by the ‘Club of Rome’- a non-profit organization deals with varieties of international issues including Climate Change, and the same thing was put forward by Gandhiji in the late thirties when he said, “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not for every man’s greed.” Our present generation needs to introspect on sustainability of resources in the field of growth and development thereby diluting with climate change. Besides, we must also need to differentiate between our ‘needs’ and ‘aspirations’. Since our physical needs have a direct link with the resource we have at our disposal to meet them. If mankind is to survive and prosper we must meticulously coherer our activities on Mother Nature. We must be a hinge to open the door to let our future generation enjoy the same quality of environment which we are privileged now to live in this Mother Earth.
