Message on World Environment Day (WED)- 2009

Hundreds of countries celebrate 5th June, as World Environment Day. This years theme is 'Your Planet Needs You' - Unite to Combat Climate Change and the broader consequences of environmental change and what societies can do in response.

Combating climate change and preserving ecosystems calls for each individual’s efforts, no matter how small, one can contribute for the sustainable development.

The environmental implications of global warming are profound for Ecosystems: mountain to ocean and poles to the tropics.

The crisis waked us to reality. With the climate crisis, business and governments imbibed that, far from costing the Earth, addressing global warming can actually save money and energize economies. While the estimated costs of climate change are incalculable, the price tag for fighting it may be less than ever imagined. Some estimates indicate this cost at less than one percent of global gross domestic product – an affordable price indeed for waging a global war.

Even better news is that technologies already exist or are under way to make the consumption of carbon-based fuels cleaner and more efficient besides harnessing the renewable power of sun, wind and waves. The private sector, in particular, is competing to capitalize on what they recognize as a massive business opportunity.

The message of World Environment Day 2009 is that we all are part of the solution, as an individual, non-governmental organization, educational organization, community and youth group, business, industry/media organization. Being an apex organization for pollution control, Central Pollution Control Board is dedicated to work in the national endeavour for a better and pollution free environment. Thus on this environment day, an urge emerges for everyone to fulfill the social responsibility towards protecting environment in right earnest so that future generation shall be healthy and wiser.

Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)