By Shalini Dhyani, IUCN CEM Asia Vice Chair, on 05 June 2025.
I believe in optimism despite all odds… that we face…
Thank you, everyone, for doing your bit as small voices to Conserve, Protect and Restore the Earth and heal our environment.
The present is not so presentable, and the future is hazy with ongoing climate and increasing disaster risks; still, I believe with an optimistic heart that this generation is concerned about our future generations. Whatever small we can do through our work, everyday lifestyle choices, and habits, we will not just talk the talk but also believe in walking the talk.
Those small changes, ever so small they may be, will help us bring the change in the mindsets and consumption patterns…and those small but steadfast steps can play a significant role in the transformative changes we expect…
One step at a time, one change in our consumption patterns is a step towards sustainability, a step towards protecting our future generations, healing our past and apologising to nature and earth.
Taking responsibility is important, and seeing us transforming our children may also find this worth following to shift from consumerism to nature-friendly approaches and efforts.
It’s crucial we inculcate habits that connect us to nature, habits that encourage a sense of belongingness and responsibility to build back better…
Nothing more to say as I usually have avoided writing and preaching what is environment for all of us…fresh oxygen, clean water, breathtaking views are no more common, it’s a luxury for life, and we may have, and maybe we are paying far larger prices, and many are unable to afford…
Couldn’t stop myself from writing a few lines that I feel may help us to introspect, think deeper and also think about making one change today…going beyond plantations, to where we can bring a shift to mindsets and bring us and people closer to nature….very complex, certainly not easy, but not impossible…
May we celebrate a World Environment Day in our lifetimes, when we will celebrate nature around us and not what we have done to our surroundings and how to improve the situation….when our everyday will be nature and around nature
Let’s walk one step together for us and many more for our generations to come…we owe a better future for them and not the one we are heading to