Prof. (Dr.) Manmohan Prakash
Environmentalist

Environmental protection requires more than government policies. Prof. Manmohan Prakash argues that sustainable living, responsible conduct, and environmental values are essential to addressing the global ecological crisis.

Environmental problems are no longer confined to scientific debates or academic discussions; they have emerged as one of the gravest crises confronting human civilization, public health, and the future of our planet. Climate change, rising global temperatures, increasing sea levels, melting Antarctic ice, declining biodiversity, shrinking water resources, deteriorating air quality, and falling soil fertility all clearly indicate that human activities continue to disrupt the delicate balance of nature. Recurring floods, droughts, forest fires, heat waves, and other natural disasters increasingly reflect the consequences of this imbalance.

Modern warfare, the global arms race, unchecked industrialization, and a luxury-driven consumer culture have further aggravated environmental challenges.

There is no doubt that political leaders, scientists, policymakers, and social institutions around the world are more actively engaged than ever in addressing environmental crises through international conferences, agreements, and global dialogue. Environmental protection now features prominently in government declarations and policy frameworks. Yet, despite these efforts, the expected improvements on the ground remain limited.

Environmental education has certainly gained a place in schools and universities, and discussions now extend from public forums to parliamentary platforms. Almost all nations and institutions agree that environmental problems have become more severe over recent decades rather than diminishing, and that human lifestyles and patterns of behaviour are among the primary causes.

Since the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm in 1972, the global community has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to environmental protection. Every year, June 5 is observed as World Environment Day. However, an important question remains: Why is environmentally responsible consciousness still insufficiently reflected in governance practices and in the everyday behaviour of ordinary citizens?

The real problem is not a lack of information. Today, most people understand how environmental damage occurs, how pollution spreads, and what measures are necessary to reduce it. The challenge lies in the widening gap between knowledge and behaviour.

Almost anyone today can deliver persuasive speeches on cleanliness, water conservation, and environmental responsibility. Yet the same individual may continue using single-use plastics, wasting water and energy, and exploiting natural resources for personal convenience. This contradiction deepens the environmental crisis. Protecting nature is no longer merely a matter of policies, budgets, and government files; it has become a test of our individual and collective character.

Within the cultural heritage of the Indian subcontinent, nature has never been viewed merely as an object of consumption. It has been regarded as the foundation of life, consciousness, and coexistence. The Atharva Veda declares, “Mata Bhumih Putro’ham Prithivyah”—“The Earth is my mother, and I am her child.” Indian thought sees human beings not as masters of nature but as an inseparable part of it. The Upanishadic concept of the five great elements—earth, water, fire, air, and space—recognizes balance among these elements as essential for the stability of creation.

In the Sanatan tradition, rivers are revered as mothers, trees as sacred, and mountains as worthy of respect. This reverence was not merely a matter of religious sentiment; it also functioned as a social mechanism for conservation. Jain philosophy extends non-violence even to the smallest forms of life. Buddhist philosophy advocates moderation and balanced living through the Middle Path. Sikh tradition similarly encourages people to view nature as divine creation and all existence as one interconnected family.

Ironically, despite this rich cultural and spiritual heritage, many religious places, fairs, pilgrimages, and celebrations today witness widespread use of plastic, thermocol, unmanaged waste, chemical colours, and excessive noise. Traditions that originally emerged to express gratitude toward nature sometimes unintentionally become sources of environmental degradation.

This clearly indicates that the problem does not lie within our traditions or scriptures, but in their implementation. Until principles become part of our everyday behaviour, sermons and ceremonial observances alone cannot solve environmental challenges.

The time has come to move beyond merely celebrating environmental “days.” Environmental protection should not remain limited to government schemes, annual budgets, formal corporate social responsibility activities, or photo-driven campaigns. It must become an integral part of social and moral discipline.

Real transformation will occur when we understand the value of every drop of water; when we prioritize not only tree plantation but also the long-term protection and nurturing of trees; when we cultivate habits of responsible resource use; and when we replace the culture of “use and discard” with one of reuse and recycling.

At the social level, we must also develop the discipline to reduce unnecessary waste of food and resources during weddings and other public events.

Change must begin at the leadership level as well, because societies often imitate their leaders and role models. If political leaders, policymakers, and public representatives themselves do not demonstrate restraint in resource consumption and environmental responsibility, expecting sacrifice and discipline from ordinary citizens becomes difficult.

In recent years, religious leaders have gained considerable social influence. Therefore, spiritual teachers and religious speakers should go beyond promoting personal spiritual growth and actively establish clean water, clean air, fertile land, biodiversity conservation, and responsible consumption as moral and religious responsibilities.

Industry, too, must rise above short-term profit motives and make sustainable development a central priority. The media should reconsider treating environmental issues merely as one-day headlines or ratings-driven content and instead present them as part of an ongoing social dialogue.

World Environment Day should not become an occasion for exchanging formal messages or making hollow pledges. It should serve as an opportunity for self-reflection.

Future generations will not ask how many conferences we organized, how many policies we drafted, or how many poems and articles we wrote about the environment. They will ask what changes we made in our personal lives, social behaviour, and development priorities when the Earth was facing profound environmental crises.

Environmental challenges cannot be resolved solely through technical solutions, court directives, or government programmes. Humanity must transform its unlimited appetite for consumption, its greed, and its relationship with nature.

Today, the need is not merely to think about environmental protection, but to cultivate it as a value; not merely to preach it, but to make it an inseparable part of our conduct.