Becoming responsible citizens: ‘Most luxuries cost the environment a great deal’

Several events held in the city to mark the importance of sustainable development .

LAHORE:

“We need to keep track of waste and look at ways to recycle and reuse it,” Dr AR Saleemi, former dean of University of Engineering and Technology, said at a seminar organised by the Environment Protection Department to mark the World Environment Day on Friday.

The conference was themed: Seven Billion Dreams, One Earth – Consume with Care. Saleemi urged participants to rethink their lifestyles, “because most of our modern luxuries cost the environment a great deal”.

He stressed the need to pay attention to the dumping of untreated sewage waste in River Ravi. “This is a pressing issue which needs serious consideration at all levels.” Saleemi suggested encouraging use of septic tanks in houses in order to reduce water pollution.

Excessive deforestation in locations like Murree had destroyed the ecological balance of several of these places, he said. “Countries all over the world have reduced mechanisation in such places to preserve their natural beauty but no one pays attention to this in Pakistan.”

The World Environment Day’s focus this year is on the sustainable use of food, energy and water resources.

Saad Shahid, a research scholar at the University of Punjab’s College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, said sustainable development was not only to protect the earth but to prevent the extinction of humans.

“The earth has been through various phases of heating and cooling down, but if we continue to use up the Earth’s resources at the present rate, humans will not be able to survive for long. We are, after all, more fragile than the earth.”

Shahid said the pressure on Earth’s resources had doubled since 1966. Pakistan, he said, was situated in a water scarce region. The government should be looking into growing crops which do not use a lot of water, he said. “Simple solutions like lining canals could also help stave off a potential water crisis.”

He said a few years ago, the idea of a green economy, which focused on developing industry in a way that it did not impact the environment, had gained a lot of popularity. “We need to look beyond this and focus on regenerative sustainability.” This ensures that economic activity impacts the environment in a positive manner.

The parliamentary secretary on environment also spoke on the subject of sustainable development and individual responsibility to make lifestyles compatible with the environment. He said population growth was another major issue which had put great stress on the Earth’s limited resources.

Students of the Punjab University performed a tableau highlighting issues faced by farmers due to changes in the weather pattern over the past few years.

At the zoo

The Lahore Zoo also organised a walk for students in connection with the World Environment Day. Students of KIPS School visited the zoo where Lahore Zoo Director Shafqat Ali talked to them about the environment and the importance of ensuring that human activities did not harm other species. The children offered food to Suzy the elephant and Mary the lion cub.

WWF celebrates World Environment Day

A capacity-building seminar was organised by the WWF-Pakistan and Pepsi-Cola International at its snacks plant site at Sundar Industrial Estate, Lahore.

WWF-Pakistan Green Office Initiative programme officer Farah Rashid gave a presentation on water conservation and sustainability. She also discussed issues that arose from water scarcity and highlighted better practices that could help reduce ecological footprints. She urged participants to become responsible citizens of society and contribute positively to the environment.

A brainstorming activity followed in which participants engaged in group discussion and offered solutions for tackling water scarcity and contributing towards the conservation of environment on an individual level.

WWF-Pakistan Director General Hammad Naqi Khan said this year’s theme for the World Environment Day was Seven Billion Dreams, One planet – Consume with Care. This highlights the fact that the Earth’s resources are finite and must be consumed responsibly.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2015.