Refuse & Repurpose should be the Mantra to Curtail Waste, avers Scientists at World Ozone Day & World Environment Health Day
As talks about the climate change have been gaining global momentum with people across all age-groups vociferously voicing their opinions about bringing a momentous change, a National Workshop in Celebration of World Ozone Day & World Environment Health Day on the theme, "Sustainable Solutions for Environmental Health and Climate Change: Circular Economy, Green Technologies and Governance" was organized at Amity University, Noida to lend support to the cause.
“There is a need for micro-level research (at regional, state and local level) to inform about the disease burden we will face in our country and not rely on data of other countries,” shared Dr. Arun Sharma, Director-Professor, Department of Community Medicine at University College of Medical Sciences, and Head of the Department in University of Delhi speaking about the health effects of air pollution.
The workshop focused on the need to understand that moving towards sustainability is a social as well as a global challenge that calls for concerted efforts from state and national governments, international cooperation, tools from academics and researchers to help put in place the best practices and knowledge to encourage these essential changes. Appraising advantages of circular economy towards going green, developing new technologies and redesigning systems in a flexible and reversible manner to benefit the environment and public health is need of the hour.
"We all knew the three R's namely Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. But we have added and suggesting people to begin with Refuse and Repurpose when it comes to curtailing waste," said Ms Rachel Ann Kerr from Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group.
Dr. Naresh Gupta, M.D. and Founder President & former Director-Professor, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi shared his views on Environmental Ozone & Human Health and how ozone is not a direct pollutant, but an indirect one. “Ground level ozone can cause health damages and how according to a recent study, Delhi saw increased Ozone levels owing to severe heat wave. This highly reactive gas and can have an immediate adverse effect on those suffering from asthma and respiratory conditions,” shared Dr Gupta.
Dr. Umamaheshwaran Rajasekar, Chair Urban Resilience, National Institute of Urban Affairs, New Delhi informed about his organizations’ work on creating frameworks for decision centric data requirements. “We are working to creating a platform at the national level to enable institutions and researchers to collaborate with city governments on how to bring science to them,” shared Dr Rajasekar.
Mr. Brijesh Sikka – Advisor, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), shared the various levels of works being done in ‘Conservation of rivers, lakes & wetlands in India: Initiatives & Challenges’ and also informed about the ministry’s initiative for financing research to support integrated management. “This is an area where Amity University can also get associated with the Ministry,” shared Mr Sikka.
Dr. Ashok K. Chauhan, Founder President, Amity Education & Research Group, Amity Education & Research Group elaborated on how the climate change and its effect on the environment will hold tremendous significance for the future. “Climate change today is the biggest problem that has to be met seriously and with utmost care to safeguard our environment for our future generations,” shared Dr. Chauhan.
The National workshop was organized by Amity Institute of Environmental Toxicology, Safety and Management and Amity Institute of Environmental Sciences to sensitize the Students and Faculty members about importance of Environmental Safety and Public Health. Students were also advised by the industry experts and scientists to avoid using single-use plastic and imbibe measures to curtail waste generation. A small musical skit and poetry recitation about the harmful effects of climate change was also organized as part of the workshop.