The 40th Anniversary of the Indian Institute of Ecology and Environment (IIEE) Observed and Celebrated on 5th June 2020
Click here to watch Dr. P. R. TRIVEDI DURING THE webinar CONDUCTED ON THE OCCASION OF WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
June 5, 2020, New Delhi
The Indian Institute of Ecology and Environment (IIEE), New
Delhi observed and celebrated its 40th Anniversary on the
occasion of the World Environment Day, 5th June 2020. This
Institution inaugurated on 5th June 1980 is the only
institution of its type in the Indian Sub-continent
dedicated for studies, training, research, consultancy,
advocacy, publications, conference organization and
production of print, audio, video instructional and
motivational materials with a view to implementing
environment friendly programmes having social, cultural,
technological, economic and positive contents for developing
a sustainable society. Other activities include pollution
monitoring and control, environmental education, impact
assessment, disaster preparedness, sustainability education
etc.
In order to avoid crowding and for maintaining social
distancing, the 40th Anniversary Celebrations took place
through webinars and tree plantation drive was organized by
asking the volunteers to maintain a minimum distance of 10
feet while planting the saplings at its headquarters :
Paryavaran Complex, New Delhi.
While presenting his views on this auspicious occasion, the
Founder Chairman of the Indian Institute of Ecology and
Environment (IIEE) Dr. Priya Ranjan Trivedi recalled that
there used to be no Ministry of Environment when IIEE was
established. He further added that IIEE had foreseen that
the pollution by 2000AD will be unbearable and that is why
formal, informal and non-formal education and training
programmes were launched in the areas of environmental
education, population and community ecology, environmental
laws, natural resources conservation, disaster mitigation,
sustainable development etc.
Endorsing the views of the United Nations Secretary General
and also the recommendations from the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP), Dr. Priya Ranjan Trivedi while
asking the world citizenry to take care of the environment
further explained that the foods we eat, the air we breathe,
the water we drink and the climate that makes our planet
habitable all come from nature. Each year, marine plants
produce more than a half of our atmosphere's oxygen, and a
mature tree cleans our air, absorbing 22 kilos of carbon
dioxide, releasing oxygen in exchange. Despite all the
benefits that our nature give us, we still mistreat it. That
is why we need to work on that.
Discussing the urgent need for preserving biodiversity, the
foundation that supports all life on land and below water.
It affects every aspect of human health, providing clean air
and water, nutritious foods, scientific understanding and
medicine sources, natural disease resistance, and climate
change mitigation. Changing or removing one element of this
web affects the entire life system and can produce negative
consequences.
Human actions, including deforestation, encroachment on
wildlife habitats, intensified agriculture, and acceleration
of climate change, have pushed nature beyond its limit. It
would take 1.6 Earths to meet the demands that humans make
of nature each year. If we continue on this path,
biodiversity loss will have severe implications for
humanity, including the collapse of food and health systems.
The emergence of COVID-19 has underscored the fact that,
when we destroy biodiversity, we destroy the system that
supports human life. Today, it is estimated that, globally,
about one billion cases of illness and millions of deaths
occur every year from diseases caused by coronaviruses; and
about 75 per cent of all emerging infectious diseases in
humans are zoonotic, meaning that they are transmitted to
people by animals.
# Nature is sending us a clear message.
# We are harming the natural world � to our own detriment.
# Habitat degradation and biodiversity loss are
accelerating.
# Climate disruption is getting worse.
# Fires, floods, droughts and superstorms are more frequent
and damaging.
# Oceans are heating and acidifying, destroying coral
ecosystems.
# And now, a new coronavirus is raging, undermining health
and livelihoods.
# To care for humanity, we MUST care for nature.
# We need our entire global community to change course.
# Let�s rethink what we buy and use.
# Adopt sustainable habits, farming and business models.
# Safeguard remaining wild spaces and wildlife.
# And commit to a green and resilient future.
# As we work to build back better, let�s put nature where it
belongs - at the heart of our decision making.
Inaugurating a Webinar on Environment organized by the
Confederation of Young Leaders (CYL), Dr. Priya Ranjan
Trivedi recalled and traced the origins of the World
Environment Day as the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development was held on 5th June 1972 at
Stockholm, Sweden where it was resolved to establish the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and that on 5th
June every year the World Environment Day will be observed
in all countries of the world.
While answering to the questions raised by the participants
attending the Webinar, Dr. Priya Ranjan Trivedi giving his
expert opinion about the roles of Governments, Industrial
Establishments, International Organizations, Civil Society,
International Organizations, Schools, Colleges and
Universities, he opined that an integrated approach towards
creating environment friendly jobs including green
education, green employment, green business and attitudinal
change is urgently required to save our mother earth, rather
the entire planet.
Dr. Priya Ranjan Trivedi also inaugurated another Webinar on
COVID-19, Environment and Economy organized by the Indira
Gandhi Technological and Medical Sciences University (IGTAMSU),
Arunachal Pradesh where the Chancellor Dr. Markandey Rai,
the Pro Chancellor Dr. Utkarsh Sharma, the Registrar Ramesh
Chandra, the Controller of Examinations Brajesh Chaubey and
the Head, Commerce and Management Department, IGTAMSU also
besides presenting their views agreed to promote
environmental education and awareness in Arunachal Pradesh
in particular and in South Asia in general with a view to
depolluting the present environment.
All such persons who had been working with the Indian
Institute of Ecology and Environment (IIEE) since its
inception in 1980 besides many of the alumnus of IIEE
participated in the Webinar organized on this occasion.
Dr. Priya Ranjan Trivedi also announced that besides the
Books and Occasional Monographs on different aspects of
Environment, other area to be covered during the year 2020
include Spiritual Emergency, National Security, Divinity,
Green Computing, Green Technology and COVID-19
.