People belonging to a specific region or territory and having historical relations are referred to as being indigenous to that region. People indigenous to a particular place or region depend on the natural resources and surroundings for their means of livelihood. Accordingly, their lifestyle is shaped by the natural life and vegetation of the region. Thus, their entire existence is shaped by the various aspects of nature. As a result, such people are majorly affected by climatic changes, natural calamities, soil degradation, etc.

About a quarter of the world’s total land is occupied by indigenous people and tribes. Their traditional techniques and sustainable production play an important role in maintaining environmental balance. Forest resources and occupations like fishing constitute their means of livelihood. However, their survival is being threatened due to environmental degradation, the emergence of factories and industries, which consume forest land.

Hence, conservation of the environment and natural resources is the need of the hour to ensure the survival of indigenous people. This is just a note in the melody of the overall preservation of nature, which in turn will ensure the survival of all human beings. Neil Armstrong once said, “A small step for man, a giant leap for mankind”, after landing on the moon. Accordingly, small steps towards environmental conservation from everyone will eventually contribute towards the protection of all of humanity.

It is also necessary to look at the rights of indigenous people over land, forests, and other natural resources. The UNEP is working towards recognizing such rights of indigenous people. Thus, they won’t have to face problems such as depletion of resources and destruction of forests and natural habitats due to various industrial processes.

Hence, it is essential to understand the monumental importance of indigenous people and make conservation and preservation of their regions a top priority.

– Anuprita Parasnis

It is known that 71% of the Earth’s surface is made of water. The most prominent water bodies out of this are our oceans, estimated to hold 50-80% of all life on Earth. This aqueous realm is so vast that about 80% remains unexplored. It goes without saying that if the oceans were to be dying, the Earth would be in big trouble. Unfortunately, this is exactly what is happening, take a few minutes out of your schedule this World Oceans Day to educate yourself about the dangers threatening the world’s greatest mysteries and what we, as individuals, can do to save them.

Our oceans can be harmed in many ways, a few of which I will talk about in depth. 

Seafood may seem like one of those resources that are available in copious amounts, but that is far from the truth. Certain kinds of fish are essential to the marine ecosystem,  overfishing is hurting their population and is progressively resulting in the destruction of several ecosystems. The methods used to harvest seafood are also a matter of concern as more fuel is required to harvest bigger fish, especially those that don’t swim in schools. Consuming small fish like anchovies or mackerel is a far more sustainable choice as they can be harvested in bulk without burning more fuel than necessary.

At this point, you may be wondering what carbon emissions have to do with the health of the oceans. It only contributes to air pollution right? I’m afraid that’s not true. Although the dissolution of gases in water is a very slow process, it does occur, and the higher the carbon emission levels are, the more carbon dioxide the oceans will absorb. This causes the ocean’s acidity levels to increase, which decreases the pH of the water from what is considered healthy for marine life to toxic. Once again, the reduction of carbon emissions becomes necessary for the preservation of our planet, and sustainable living is key.

The fuel we burn is the leading cause of the rise in carbon emission levels, and it is used to power yet another kind of threat to our oceans. Underwater noise caused by construction, shipping and naval vessels can greatly disrupt a plethora of marine creatures. Animals such as dolphins and whales use echolocation to navigate ocean waters and the sound produced by these vessels can confuse them, leading to mass beaching events which have become a major concern for the populations of these species.

Other factors that hurt the oceans include habitat destruction, chemical pollution, oil spills, littering, surface runoff and deep-sea mining.

We can do our part by eliminating our dependence on one-time-use plastic, which is killing the ecosystems that live in the oceans, using more environment-friendly fuels such as biofuels, green gas and hydrogen and, of course, by raising awareness, which definitely goes a long way.

It is up to us human beings to fix the mistakes we made that are slowly costing the oceans their lives.

-Sasha Mathews

Anxiety and depression are mental health disorders that affect one’s mood, thinking and behaviour. 

Before we get into this, keep in mind that, although both these disorders often overlap, they are different disorders that have different medications. 

Anxiety is characterised by feelings of worry or fear that are strong enough to interfere with daily activities, while depression is characterised by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, thus causing significant loss of functionality in daily life. 

It’s difficult enough to battle one mental disorder, but there are actually cases in which two or more occur simultaneously. Depression can make it difficult to remain calm and control stressful situations, and this can result in an individual feeling highly anxious. It can also occur the other way around; anxiety can cause depression. Trying to manage anxiety by avoiding it is likely to stop working eventually, and the failure of this strategy leaves one at a high risk of depression. One can easily trigger the other.

Anxiety and depression also have several overlapping symptoms such as insomnia, irritability and difficulty concentrating. In fact, there are symptoms that actually indicate the presence of both disorders. Some of these are physical symptoms, such as fatigue, headaches, breathing difficulties or abdominal pain. Others include changes in eating habits, trouble with decision-making, loss of usual interest in activities or hobbies, and more. The evident similarities between these disorders are most likely because they may arise out of similar causes.

The possible treatments for these disorders include medication, psychotherapy and lifestyle changes such as healthier sleeping habits, regular exercise and a balanced diet.

If this short read reminded you of anybody you know, reach out to them. Anxiety and depression are extremely challenging disorders and one can save lives by looking out for the people they care about.

-Sasha Mathews

Recently, there has been a lot of buzz around climate change. The term ‘Global Warming’ has become quite prevalent in our daily conversations. Over 90% of scientists agree that global warming is a reality, Global Warming causes extreme weather, this phenomenon is impacting Arctic Wildlife and so on and on. But what is this and how exactly did scientists come about this term? 

Global Warming is a gradual increase in the overall temperatures of the Earth’s atmosphere, usually brought about by the effects of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, CFC’s etc. Svante Arrhenius, a Swedish scientist was the first, in 1896, to claim that fossil fuel combustion may eventually result in global warming. But, it wasn’t until the 1980s that his theory began to show its results when the temperature curve began to rise. In the late 1980s, the curve was so steep that Svante’s global warming theory began to gain terrain quickly and many Environmental NGOs began protesting in order to curb any future warming. The press and media also began to show interest in this and in the 1990s scientists began to question the greenhouse effect theory. We now know that 1998 was globally the warmest year on record followed by 2002, 2003, 2001 and 1997. This global warming debate continues to this date, with data constantly being checked and renewed. 

So now that the fact that climate change is occurring has been established, what are the steps that have been undertaken to curb the constantly increasing temperatures? India’s Climate Change Policy has been articulated through 2 documents, the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and the Intended Nationally Determined Commitments(INDC). The NAPCC basically talks about India’s vision and the steps that it would take in order to meet ecologically sustainable development. Its missions are based on Solar Energy, Enhancing Energy Efficiency, Conserving Water, Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem and making Agriculture Sustainable. According to the NAPCC, India needs to shift from using fossil fuels to relying on renewable sources of energy like solar energy and nuclear energy for its economic activities. Currently, the INDC has set a target of 175 GW of renewable energy by 2030. This target is expected to be achieved several years in advance with the current figure being 21%. 

But this isn’t enough! Actually, it’s far from enough. We’ve reached such a point that now, we can’t sit back and rely on the government and as responsible citizens, need to play our part as well. So what steps can we take to reduce global warming? Firstly, recycle more. The aim here is to cut down the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere or as it is popularly known, reduce the greenhouse effect. If we recycle even half of the waste produced at home, we can reduce 2000 pounds of CO₂ each year. Driving less can also help effectively as air pollution is one of the major causes of the greenhouse effect. Along with this, planting more trees and switching to renewable sources of energy are also great contributors to reducing the greenhouse effect and eventually global warming. However, the most important of them all is spreading awareness. It’s high time now that we all come together and start acting upon this global issue in front of us. Although spreading awareness won’t directly help reduce global warming, it’s a step, and a big one at that, as a lot of people nowadays aren’t as informed about this pressing concern or chose to remain ignorant. So, talk to your family and friends about global warming and express it on your social media platforms. By becoming well aware and responsible citizens, we can help prevent global warming, preserving the planet for future generations. 

-Saanika Chauhan

Endangered animals. It’s a title we often hear off late. This title is given to species of wildlife whose populations have been dangerously threatened. You may be wondering why you need to pay attention to this. 

The problem has a simple solution right? Enforce a poaching ban everywhere? That should help tremendously. It seems like the most obvious thing to do but, unfortunately, the problem is far more complicated than that. Although poaching and fishing do play a part in the endangerment of wildlife, habitat destruction and pollution are major causes as well. We human beings have taken land that is not ours for our own betterment and, in doing so, taken the lives of countless animals living on that land as well. Of the top of your head, you could probably list around fifteen endangered species, while there are actually over sixteen thousand mentioned in the IUCN Red List. Since the 1500s, humans have driven close to seven hundred vertebrate species to extinction. Imagine the amount of ignorance and blatant cruelty it took to achieve this.

It is time we realize that our actions have consequences. For example, that six-pack ring you threw into the sea after enjoying a day at the beach? It probably suffocated some helpless creature. Every little thing counts.

This planet belonged to the wild before we tamed it by force and made it ours, before we took its freedom. Freedom is the birthright of every living creature.

Despite popular opinion, I believe people can change. Through creating awareness and educating people, we can save the lives of innocent creatures all across the globe. Knowledge is key. The tiniest actions can make huge differences, so put that glass bottle in the right trash can even if it is a few metres further away. Wait till you get home to throw your empty plastic packaging in the bin instead of outside the window. Don’t buy that sculpture that was made from the horn of an animal who was deeply wronged. That shark tooth necklace isn’t as cool as you think it is. Research the products you use. Be aware of your lifestyle. I could go on for ages, but I suppose you’ve gotten the point. I will conclude this with a short poem that, I hope, puts things into perspective.

A Whisper – by Sasha

You hear them whisper,

They’re crying, “Please,

Just let us live.”

Their home?

We made it ours now

And they have nothing left to give.

We took them all away; 

Their lives for a rainy day.

You hear them whisper,

They’re dying, please,

Just let them live.

–Sasha Mathews

The carbon footprint is nothing like our regular footprints. Our regular footprints can easily be erased from the surface(unless you happen to step on fresh cement!) but carbon footprints? Well, let’s just say that they leave their mark very vividly. So what exactly is this? Carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane that are generated by our exploitation. Globally, the average footprint is close to 4 tons. To avoid a 2C rise in global temperatures we need to reduce the global carbon footprint to under 2 tons by 2050!

Now, a change like this doesn’t happen overnight and would require all of us to genuinely care about this and come together to reduce our footprints. But, this seems to be a little difficult because a lot of people aren’t even aware of the effects a high carbon footprint would have on us and our society. The ultimate effect of a high carbon footprint is climate change. Greenhouse gases both natural and human-produced contribute to the warming of the planet. From 1990 to 2005 carbon emissions increased by 31% and we’re at 35% in 2008. Large carbon footprints also deplete resources from a country’s deforestation activities to one’s home air chiller activity. Scientists claim that high carbon footprints will result in increased seawater levels and the extinction of various species as well.

World oceans are currently absorbing 1/3rd of the carbon emissions, becoming acidic and thus, threatening aquatic life. If this trend continues, there will be a shortage of fish species and coral reefs, affecting the world food chain. Similar patterns will be found occurring to other food sources as well. If the current level of climate change continues, within 70 years we will find ourselves facing frequent floods, storms, and tornadoes.

So, now coming to the important part: how do we as citizens reduce our carbon footprints? As you can see climate change is real but not unsolvable. By tweaking our day-to-day lives in a more environmentally friendly direction we would be able to reduce our carbon footprints. One of the most effective ways to reduce our footprint is to reconsider how much and how often we travel. Studies have shown that by going car-less for a year we can save about 2.6 tons of carbon dioxide. But, that’s being too ambitious right? We would most likely need to use our cars but, here are some things that you can keep in mind while driving such as, going easy on the brakes, use the AC less often, going on cruise control for long drives, etc. Now, let’s move onto our plates. Globally, emissions are linked to food production as well. Experts have said that eating as low on the food chain as possible can help reduce the carbon footprint. This means

filling your plates with vegetables, fruits, and grains as these food items create carbon as less than half a pound as compared to red meats which have 100 times the environmental impact than plant-based foods. But, this doesn’t mean you have to switch your diets completely to vegan or vegetarian. For meat-lovers even swapping carbon-intensive meals like beef and lamb with chicken can make a huge difference.

Another step that we can carry out to become more environmentally friendly is by making our homes more energy-efficient such as replacing incandescent lights with LED lights that use up to 85% less energy, turning off lights and appliances when not using them, choosing renewables, etc. We are at a stage where we can’t expect the government or other institutions to impose laws on us and for a problem as global and pervasive as climate change, any difference can only be made when we actively involve ourselves in the process before it gets too late to do so.

– Saanika Chauhan

Switzerland, one the world’s most competitive economies and advanced free markets has the second highest gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in the world. Switzerland’s contribution to greenhouse emissions is no more than 0.1%. Since 1990, Switzerland’s emissions have declined by 14%, whereas the population has increased by 27%. During the 1990s the leading sector of GHG production was the building sector but today it is the transportation sector. This is because Switzerland has taken active action on reducing emissions in the building sector by improving energy efficiency throughout houses and buildings.  

Greenhouse gas emissions in this period have decreased, new buildings are better insulated than in the past, cars have become more fuel efficient, heating oil is increasingly replaced by natural gas and electricity (e.g. for heat pumps) and

The trend away from petrol- to diesel-powered passenger cars also contributed to a reduction in CO2 emissions. Replacement of old oil-fired heating systems have reduced the emissions from houses and buildings by 34%. 

Switzerland’s 2050 energy strategy has a very ambitious outlook which includes the increase in renewable resources while phasing out nuclear power. The long-term goal of the Swiss Federal Council is to reduce GHG emissions to 1–2 tonnes of CO2 per capita in 2050 from around 6 tonnes of CO2 per capita today.

In 2015 the United Nations introduced the sustainable development goals (SDGs) agenda with 17 goals for countries to fulfill. Switzerland is already at an advanced stage in achieving various SDGs and has already fulfilled a number of targets.  Switzerland is free from extreme poverty and there is no hunger .Education is free, compulsory and of good quality. Consumption of natural resources (SDG 12), for example, is increasing overall. Use of resources from within Switzerland for consumption by its population is decreasing. Switzerland is committed to helping to achieve the SDGs by 2030.

Switzerland has not compromised growth completely for the environment but only giving it more importance and having a sustainable approach to all its agendas. To  develop sustainable development strategies with quantified targets there is an increase in the integration of environmental and sectoral policies, notably with regard to transport, energy, agriculture, tourism and land use. One such target is to promote green tax reform in such a way that the environment, natural resources and employment are protected another is to give more weight to environmental considerations in regional planning at the federal, cantonal and municipal levels and taking the necessary steps to integrate environmental considerations in urban development schemes and transport-related construction projects.

A country’s biodiversity is necessary for its cultural identity and economic activity. Switzerland with its beautiful valleys which support 45,000 species is what brings tourists from across the world. With the rise in climate temperatures and high levels of CO2 in the air, the tourism in the country is at jeopardy, which is another motivation to sustainable progress which include ecological conservation and economic growth. The Federal Council adopted an action plan for the Swiss Biodiversity Strategy and increased funding for nature conservation. In addition to encouraging land use that promotes biodiversity. This plan mainly constitutes a well developed network and ecological infrastructure.

SUMMARY:

Switzerland is one of the most competitive economies in the world due to its strong added value services, its specialized industries and a motivated and highly skilled workforce of 5.2 million people out of a 8.6 million and at the same time is one of the worlds most environment friendly countries with very ambitious goals to reach under the Paris agreement and the SDGs. Switzerland’s public sector is increasingly requiring environmentally friendly and resource-saving products in its procurement processes. CO2 in fossil fuels accounts for half of Switzerland’s GHGs and to curb this situation the revenues are redistributed to the public, with rewards for lower fossil fuel consumption. Switzerland is the true example of progress and proving  sustainability is an attainable goal.

¬VIHAN RAJU

– VIHAN RAJU