The ancient Greeks had a finely developed sense of pathos, particularly of the somewhat futile posturing of man, in the face of nature. Nothing illustrates this better than the myth of Prometheus who gave fire to man and was consequently put to torture for long ages of time. Scientists and technologists the world over seem to share much in common with Prometheus. Rebelling against nature, ostensibly dedicated to mankind, we are nevertheless chained to a particular notion of science and its application. And what we endeavour to build by conquering nature is undone again and yet again by forces we do not yet understand. This race for supremacy goes on.
God created the earth and designed it as a self supportive system. The eco-system is perfectly balanced and it is ideal to support life. If man, in his quest for more and more material resources, did not interfere with nature, the earth would go on sustaining life for millions of years to come.
In his greed for possessing more and more, man has started the irreversible process of environmental degradation. The greed of a few ‘haves’ causes untold misery in the form of environmental degradation as also economic deprivation for the majority, who comprise the have-nots. Gandhiji had rightly said: “Nature has enough for the need of the people but not for their greed.” Environmental degradation directly stems from uncontrolled deforestation, the emission of pollutants, excessive use of toxic products, and the destructive exploitation of non-renewable natural resources.
Pollution of land takes place due to the increasing use of chemical fertilisers as well as the disposal of a large amount of plastic and other non-biodegradable matter. All these affect the quality of the soil.
The environment is seriously affected by the population explosion also. Forest cover in India has declined significantly and India’s tropical forests are expected to virtually disappear. In India, vast arid and semi-arid areas are converted into deserts. It has been estimated that one per cent of India’s cultivable land is lost annually by desertification. Fresh water resources of the earth are continuously used for domestic purposes, cultivation and industries. But there is colossal wastage of water in the domestic and industrial spheres. Increasing flow of effluents from various factories into the rivers increases water pollution. Effluents reach water sources without being treated. It is harmful for all forms of living organisms.
Air pollution is one of the more visible forms of environmental degradation. With the felling of trees, the oxygen level in the atmosphere is being lowered. Further, with more and more vehicles on the road pollution in the air increases. Exhaust gases from automobile contain unburnt fuel (hydrocarbons), partly burnt fuel (carbon monoxides), and nitrogen oxides — all of which severely pollute the air. Roughly 60 per cent of pollution in major cities is due to automobile engines.
Thus from remote islands in the Pacific to the peak of Himalayas, environmental degradation has spread its tentacles everywhere, and man appears to be the principal sinner as also the main victim. It is high time this is realised. Deliberations in Paris may be related to global issues and strategies to make the world a better place to live, but that apart involving masses at the local level may be a more useful and prudent strategy. Particularly in view of the fact that by simple human action of conservation and concern, acceleration of environmental degradation can be arrested.
The writer teaches management at Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad (Jharkhand). He can be reached at ppathak.ism@gmail.com