Reshmanraaj Singam 10 Cambridge 14/02/2021

Interact Club: Environmental Report

“We can solve the problems we now face by embracing this reality.
If we take care of nature, nature will take care of us.”
- David Attenborough
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The origins of mankind can be traced back into the farthest reaches of antiquity, yet the
formation of earth stretches deeper into the aeons of time. From an agglomeration of rocks and
other materials, earth developed slowly and progressively into a habitable planet, and soon
began to harbor life. Through countless millennia, organisms evolved and thrived in many areas
across the globe. A group of mammals soon evolved, and a particular group evolved so far as to
attain several attributes and abilities which would allow it to soon become a major part of the
world it resides in. This group is known as Homo Sapiens, or in colloquial terms, human beings.
We are a species that recognises consciousness, that has a reasoning faculty, and one that is
extremely intelligent in developing and utilising complex phenomena. We have grown,
however, to be too good and too smart for the sake of our own home. We have directly and
indirectly caused a myriad of problems for the planet we live in. The face of the earth now
presents before humanity the results of our careless actions. It is of the greatest futility now to
ignore grave and evident problems such as global warming and pollution. For if we avoid these
problems, we are merely avoiding the chances to save ourselves from an ominous plight which
awaits us.

Human advancements have brought several benefits to our population, and have served to
only increase the quality and security of our lives. However, through this growth and
development, we have brought upon ourselves many consequences to face. Pollution is
rampant, and has been a great detriment to the world’s ecosystems for decades. This
contamination of the environment results in a deterioration of the land, air, water, sound and
visual qualities that we depend upon to live. Intertwined with this issue lurks another great
threat to our world; global warming. The earth incessantly heats, which brings several other
problems to nature. These issues disrupt the stability of nature, and cause our world to steadily
decline into ruin. Extinction of numerous species has been of normal news recently, yet these
disappearances of organisms cause great imbalances and disturbances in the environment.
Therefore, as beings which have overcome several catastrophes and hardships prior to this, what
makes this adversity insurmountable? We are almost helpless when we are apart, but when we
are united we can form the mightiest impacts to ever be felt. It is our responsibility, ergo, to take
action, and to encourage hope towards a better future, where we can coexist with nature just as
our ancestors once did.
 Raising awareness about this issue is the first step in our journey to save our planet. We
must elucidate the problem which hangs over us, and inspire awareness everywhere in society.
Education for the younger generation is crucial, for they are the future men and women who
will recognise the importance of environmental care. Educating the general public is also just as
vital, and raising awareness can lead to more investments of time and resources which fund acts
that help tackle our environmental problems and preserve nature. As this becomes a greater part
of societal affairs, governmental bodies can implement strict policies and rules which are aimed
at preserving the environment by limiting things such as deforestation, and fining those who
pollute excessively. These cause gradual change overtime, and can certainly result in
terraformed cities with sustainable ways of living in harmony with nature.

Nonetheless, this first step seems to be the only required step for the masses to rectify the
issue. This preconceived notion, that we are safe if we start being environmentally conscious, is
a terribly dangerous one. Hitherto, we have been rather slow and late on making changes. This
delayed response forces us to make changes now with innovation, technology and cooperation
at an unprecedented rate, which the first step can hardly resolve. As we fund more research and
studies, we must develop much more advanced ways of dealing with our resources. Renewable
energy sources, like solar energy harnessed from the sun, must be immediately utilised instead
of fossil fuels. Biodegradability and eco-friendly attributes should be brought about on a much
wider scale, which helps with effective waste management. Hunting, fishing and other activities
should be strictly governed and monitored to specific regions where adequate supplies are
available. As we slowly transition into this kind of society, we must adopt a plant-based
approach to our diets, incorporating vegetables and fruits over meat alternatives.

Once we have begun to accustom ourselves with our new ways of living within our planet
as soon as possible, can we truly exclaim that we have made it to the near end of the tunnel. Be
that as it may, we must not rejoice too early and never to celebrate something that has never
been fully and truly accomplished. This is a problem that transcends several aspects of our lives
and society, and requires groundbreaking unity and dedication to fully come into fruition. Just
as change is necessary to the entirety of this process, so is maintenance and an understanding
that this change is inevitable. It is called upon us, as human beings, to tend towards our duties as
cosmopolitans. Netizens of the world we may be, and proper netizens only if we care for it.
David Attenborough is certain of one thing after a lifetime’s exploration of the natural world;
“This is not about saving our planet, this is about saving ourselves”.