Engaging with school students for nature conservation. Photo: Pooja Choksy, IUCN CEM YPN
Today an appeal was made to 100 odd schools in Delhi NCR region on celebrating green, environmental friendly and safe Diwali. This was made on behalf of IUCN India office, CEM S. Asia Region and Clean Air Asia Delhi office. As a response, our global leadership once again voiced for leadership of the youth.
Great Idea! Youth power can make change happen!
~Madhav Karki, Global Deputy Chair, IUCN CEM
Sharing the letter below:
To,
Heads of Educational Institutions
Delhi and NCR Region
Dear Sir,
Sub: Appeal to sensitize students and youths to contribute in celebrating green Diwali to control Air Pollution
Delhi’s Air Quality has been catching news headlines for all the wrong reasons not only at national but also at global level. A consistent decline in ambient air quality is a huge environment and health concern for all of us. As Diwali is close, many had anxiety on the decision of Supreme Court on petition seeking ban on the manufacturing and sale of firecrackers across the country to curb air pollution. Supreme Court has given its decision and strongly emphasized on restricted use of fire crackers during some specific hours. To make this decision meaningful and well implemented in favour of human health, environment and biodiversity, much is in hands of citizens especially our next generation. If we do not cooperate and ambient air quality further decline, it will be very unfortunate for humans as well as other biodiversity around us. Children are particularly vulnerable to air pollution since their lungs are still at the developing stage while they spend time outdoors in playing in polluted air. Schools need to promote awareness about poor air quality and its impact on health.
IUCN along with Commission on Ecosystems Management and Clean Air Asia , two conscious international organisations, appeal to your esteemed school to sensitize students and youths to understand the gravity of this issue and cooperate to train next generation of conscious citizens who can help and take the responsibility to make Delhi’s air safe and healthy for all. This takes abiding by the ruling and timely decision of our honourable Supreme Court (The Hindu 23 Oct. 2018) and making conscious effort to celebrate ecologically responsible festivals.
What Educational Institutions can do?
- Engage students in classroom discussion and debate to discuss “Alternatives to Firecrackers”
- Essay competition on “Youth and Kids’ role for Healthy and Safe Diwali”
- Engage, especially boys, in “Creative Rangoli Design Competition”
- Inviting subject matter experts to share the science behind appeal for responsible festivals
- Inviting experts providing ‘eco-friendly celebration solutions’
Sincerely,
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Commission on Ecosystems Management, South Asia Region
Clean Air Asia
This article is composed from inputs by various members of IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM). CEM is one of the six commissions that unite 10,000 volunteer experts from a range of disciplines. Together we assess the state of the world’s natural resources and provide the Union with sound know-how and policy advice on conservation issues. Read more about us here.