Sketching the importance of earth

To mark the ensuing World Environment Day on June 5, the Telangana State Pollution Control Board organised a painting, quiz and group discussion on Wednesday for children at the Jawahar Bal Bhavan in Nampally. The theme for this year is ‘Seven Billion Dreams, One Planet, Consume with Care’. Over 250 students participated in the programme.

Anil Kumar, member secretary, TSPCB, while inaugurating the competitions, said, “Many of the earth’s ecosystems are nearing critical tipping points of depletion, pushed by high population growth and economic development. By 2050, if current consumption and production patterns remain the same and with a rising population expected to reach 9.6 billion, we will need three planets to sustain our ways of living and consumption.”

N Raveender, senior social scientist, said, “The well being of humanity, environment and the functioning of the economy, ultimately depend upon the responsible use of the planet’s natural resources. Evidence is building that the people are consuming far more natural resources than what the planet can sustainably provide.

The World Environment Day is also a day for people from all walks of life to come together to ensure a cleaner, greener and brighter outlook for themselves and future generations.” “Consuming with care means living within planetary boundaries to ensure a healthy future where our dreams can be realised.

Human prosperity need not cost the earth. Living sustainably is about doing more and better with less. It is about knowing that rising rates of natural resources use and the environmental impacts that occur are not a necessary by-product of economic growth,” he concluded.