Environmental Sustainability - Phase IX
March 2024 - Dec 2024
As a society, we depend on healthy ecosystems to do many things; to purify the air so we can breathe properly, sequester carbon for climate regulation, recycle nutrients so we have access to clean drinking water without costly infrastructure, and pollinate our crops so we don’t go hungry. For example, wetlands are indispensable for their countless benefits or “ecosystem services” that they provide humanity, ranging from freshwater supply, food and building materials, and biodiversity, to flood control, groundwater recharge, and climate change mitigation. Wetlands must therefore be protected from different activities that are planned in the sites; and collaboration between different government agencies will lead to better enforcement of environmental laws to protect this distinctive ecosystem from pollution arising from the whole life-cycle of different sectors. Additionally, each sector should look at procurement practices they are following to reduce negative impact on the environment.
In recognising the destructive impacts of climate change, the Tamil Nadu government has established various institutional arrangements with modalities to address the challenge of climate change. Despite these initiatives, the level of awareness and understanding of climate change issues among various stakeholders like farmers, youth, students, etc. is still very low at all levels. The Tamil Nadu Green Climate Company (TNGCC), Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission (TNCCM) and Tamil Nadu Dept of Environment, Forests and Climate Change needs an effective climate change communication strategy with monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to make course corrections as and when needed. In addition to this, different local events, manuals and IEC materials should be available for the general public, students and youth to develop an understanding of what climate change means.