Congratulations!! We have touched a half-century mark!
Our progress so far has resulted in temperatures crossing the alarming 50-degree mark in some areas of Delhi and Rajasthan. The other parts of the country are also progressing faster than ever to reach the unreached milestone.
Many are shocked to see such skyrocketing temperatures because they were unseen and unheard of in the past. Contrarily, one should not be amazed at all because — “as you sow, so shall you reap”.
Over the years, in the form of our ever-growing obsession for (unplanned) infrastructural growth and industrial development, we have sown greenhouse gas emissions and hazardous effluents into the natural environment — without worrying about its repercussions. The same deeds are causing #havoc in the form of brutal heatwaves across the length and breadth of the country.
While the rich can afford luxurious air conditioners at home and work in a cosy environment at the office, a vast majority do not enjoy the same luxury. Moreover, the AC, which cools inside, also releases heat outside. Surprisingly, the trees/forests which cool the outside atmosphere and curb the heat are finding less significance in modern society.
So, if we apply simple logic, then we have made a strong case for “heat-havoc” as a result of our past deeds, and following the ‘Law of Karma’, we are experiencing its life-threatening consequences in the form of extreme heat, which are likely to grow in frequency and intensity over time.
Despite such a scenario, what is more alarming is that the civic administration and common public are engrossed in implementing adaptive measures such as providing temporary shade at traffic signals, spraying water on busy roads, installing green nets at homes, buying higher capacity coolers/ACs, etc. Though such adaptive measures are necessary to tackle the situation, an even greater need is to think about the tried and tested mitigatory measures to control rising temperatures, such as plantation, protection and preservation of urban trees, forests and lakes.
We need to understand that providing temporary shades or purchasing highly efficient AC can never be a long-term solution to bring the situation to normal. Instead, the focus should be on holistic solutions which address the root cause of the problem and not just the symptoms on a temporary basis.
We already know about many of the solutions but lack the desired mindset, willingness and behavioural change to adopt and upscale those at wider societal levels. Though we have progressed at an unusual pace towards the half-century mark, there is still time to #ACT. The planet desperately needs more doors than sayers. If it is not NOW, it will be NEVER.