Whenever I am passing through the industrial area in north Delhi, my breathing seems to stop automatically. Then I look at the poor hutments and their dwellers fringed around the area and wonder how they survive in that region. In today’s world, no issue is as important as the environment, the environment in which we live and breathe.

The problem is evidently man-made. The fast disappearing tree cover, the rapid rise of the human population and the release of toxic gases in the air, are largely to blame. The human race continues to multiply at the cost of the earth’s ecosystem. At the same time, humans now enjoy a higher longevity with a lower mortality rate.  Consequently, the already-crowded urbanscape is pushing its boundaries into greener pastures, literally speaking. The United Nations’ recent report on climate change states that the total green house gas emissions of 40 industrialized nations rose to an all-time high in 2005. The culprits are over-industrialization as well as emissions from the transport sector.

The problem is huge but not insurmountable. Especially with major corporations swinging into the act. Many car manufacturers, for instance, are spending prodigiously as their R&D departments explore the possibilities of bringing out zero-emission cars. Mitsubishi, for instance, is concentrating on developing its ‘next-generation electric vehicle’ which runs on the highly energy-efficient lithium-ion batteries. Dubbed the Mitsubishi In-wheel motor Electric Vehicle (MIEV) concept, it offers a very promising clean propulsion solution. While fuel-cell cars and electric vehicles may not roll out of showrooms just as yet, they are not too distant either.

Energy-efficient environment-friendly practices are occurring at homes as well. California, for instance, has about 27,000 of what is known as ‘zero-energy’ houses with solar-panel systems capable of generating 2 to 3 kilowatts of electricity.

Toxic gases released in the air isn’t the only problem. Non-biodegradable substances like plastic wreak havoc on the environment. Plastic poses a threat right from its inception as some of its constituents are benzene and vinyl chloride which are known to cause cancer.. The best way to deal with the problem, therefore, is to go around it till a more viable (read biodegradable) solution is discovered. One could, for example, try to choose products without plastic packaging or covers. Carrying one’s own coffee mug to office instead of using the foam cups next to the coffee vending machine could also solve the problem.

Another point of concern is the fast-disappearing tree cover leading to deadly landslides, dried-up river beds, loss of top soil conducive to agriculture and floods causing losses to life and property. 

So what can be done to combat the problem? Governments all over the world could get proactive by enforcing laws ensuring space allocated for tree cover in all apartment blocks, for instance. High fines could be introduced for cutting trees randomly and incentives for planting them.

The problem of the environment is too complex to be resolved quickly. But we could make a beginning by changing our own behavior patterns.

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