The New Nation - Internet Edition

Md. Aftabuzzaman

Environment is one of the most talked issues in the ecologically threatened habitat of today. Generally environment means conditions, circumstances and surrounding objects affecting a life. Environment means the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates- Oxford Dictionary. Though it is a matter of natural science, it also discussed in every year by environmentalist, scientist, politician and world leader, in an important mood. Global warming, green house effect, sea level rise, environment pollution all are related to the environment. In the academic point of view environment comes from physical science which deals with man-nature relationship in the context of time and space.

World Environment Day, celebrated each year on 5 June, is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action.

The World Environment Day slogan for 2008 is Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy. Recognizing that climate change is becoming the defining issue of our era, United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) is asking countries, companies and communities to focus on greenhouse gas emissions and how to reduce them. The World Environment Day will highlight resources and initiatives that promote low carbon economies and life-styles, such as improved energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, forest conservation and eco-friendly consumption

World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Another resolution, adopted by the General Assembly the same day, led to the creation of UNEP.

The day's agenda is to give a human face to environmental issues; empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development; promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues; and advocate partnership which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.

World Environment Day is also a popular event with colorful activities such as street rallies, bicycle parades, green concerts, essay and poster competitions in schools, tree planting, as well as recycling and cleaning-up campaigns.

On that particular day, heads of State, Prime Ministers and Ministers of Environment deliver statements and commit themselves to care for the Earth. Pledges are made which lead to the establishment of permanent governmental structures dealing with environmental management. It also provides an opportunity to sign or ratify international environmental conventions.

Global warming has become, in the last 15 years or so, a major issue of international proportions. As documented in the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), this phenomenon is real, and it has potentially serious consequences. We should expect (and we apparently observe already) regional changes in availability of water for agriculture, large-scale stress in the coral reef ecosystems, melting of permafrost in high latitudes, destruction of mountain glaciers in low latitudes, and expansion of tropical insects (including carriers of disease).

In 2001, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) Third Assessment Report predicted that by 2100, global warming will lead to a sea level rise of 9 to 88 cm. At that time no significant acceleration in the rate of sea level rise during the 20th century had been detected. Subsequently, Church and White found acceleration of 0.013 ± 0.006 mm/yr².

These sea level rises could lead to difficulties for shore-based communities: for example, many major cities such as London and New Orleans already need storm-surge defenses, and would need more if sea level rose, though they also face issues such as sinking land.

Future sea level rise, like the recent rise, is not expected to be globally uniform. Some regions show a sea-level rise substantially more than the global average (in many cases of more than twice the average), and others a sea level fall. However, models disagree as to the likely pattern of sea level change.

Based on the projected increases stated above, the IPCC TAR WG II report notes that current and future climate change would be expected to have a number of impacts, particularly on coastal systems Such impacts may include increased coastal erosion, higher storm-surge flooding, inhibition of primary production processes, more extensive coastal inundation, changes in surface water quality and groundwater characteristics, increased loss of property and coastal habitats, increased flood risk and potential loss of life, loss of nonmonetary cultural resources and values, impacts on agriculture and aquaculture through decline in soil and water quality, and loss of tourism, recreation, and transportation functions.

Statistical data on the human impact of sea level rise is scarce. A study in the April, 2007 issue of Environment and Urbanization reports that 634 million people live in coastal areas within 30 feet (9.1 m) of sea level. The study also reported that about two thirds of the world's cities with over five million people are located in these low-lying coastal areas.

Bangladesh faces a number of environmental problems due to its geographical location and setting, high density of population, poor socio-economic development, inefficient resource management and institutional framework. Over the years, our environment has been facing a severe threat. The rivers are polluted with undesirable chemicals and toxicants, underground water is being depleted and getting polluted. Forests are being lost at an alarming rate resulting in environmental degradation. A balance in oxygen and water in the environment is being lost, which is so important to sustain and preserve the human civilization on the planet earth.

For the past century and a half enormous advances have taken place in science and technology to the benefit of mankind. But, these developments have also posed great problems and health hazards, threatening the existence of human life on earth.

The five key environmental issues of Bangladesh are land degradation, water pollution and scarcity, air pollution, biodiversity, natural disasters (like monsoon flood, cyclone, tornado etc.)

The government of Bangladesh has proved itself as an environment friendly one through undertaking various programs toward upholding and conserving the environment. The ban on the use, production and marketing of polyethylene shopping bags is considered as a historic step in this regard which has been implemented from 2002. The people from all walks of life have given over whelming support to implement this ground breaking steps. It was not possible without the massive support of mass media and people. It is considered to be a historic step of the then government. The world community has praised this success of the Bangladesh and now many countries are taking initiatives to ban the production and use of polythene shopping bags following the steps of Bangladesh.

The former government has also formulated some action plan discussing with the various stakeholders of the society to control vehicular air pollution and improvement of transport system. For example, The Environment Conservation Rules 1997 has been amended and under this amended rules, use of Catalytic Converter and Diesel Particulate Filter for Petrol and Diesel driven vehicles respectively has been made mandatory. Ministry of Communication has taken a step to a total ban on plying of two strokes three wheelers in Dhaka City from January 2003.

Moreover, a ban has been imposed on plying in Dhaka City from 1 January 2002 of Bus, Minibus, Microbus, Taxi older than 20 years and Truck, Mini truck, Tank lorry, Van older than 25 years. Moreover, introduction of four-stroke CNG run-auto-rickshaws, use of low sulfur content coal as fuel and installing chimney with the height of 120ft in the brick kilns and promoting the manufacture of concrete block brick prove the noble intention of present government. To preserve the ecological balance of hilly areas of the country, the government has taken various regulatory and non-regulatory measures to curb indiscriminate hill cutting. Besides all these, the government is considering some other important issues like wetland conservation, electricity generation and manure production from municipal wastes, making rivers pollution free, making ship breaking activities environment friendly, etc. Some of these issues are already in implementation.

Present government strongly believes that environmental pollution of the country can be reduced greatly if the programs are supported by the mass people. In true sense, common people are very much aware of environmental issues. So, people are extending their whole hearted support towards people oriented environmental initiatives undertaken by this government.

The impact of global warming on environment will happen we never stay away from it but we can take initiatives for manage the situation or make less loss.

Major underlying reasons includes lack of institutional capabilities, inexperienced human resources, lack of awareness, low community participation in resource management and a dearth of research for enabling policy makers to take proper environmental decisions. Addressing these deficiencies only will make possible these countries most specially Bangladesh in its progress towards attaining sustainable environment and development. So we should observe the world environment day not only for celebrate but also we should take a proactive initiative through which we can get early result and make our earth live for all lives.