It is all about negotiating our survival matrix with whatever tools or systems we can harness for the sake of all living entities.
Humanity is at the crossroads of ambiguity when it comes to the very existence of the living planet today. It could be due to the projected reverses of artificial intelligence when fully integrated into our systems, or the Covid-like more perilous calamities waiting in the wings or the dreaded environmental distress on its way.
We are aware of or adore words of wisdom from the wise i.e. ” Forget the past, Forget the future and live a perfect present.”
But as things evolve at present it becomes very imperative that what the future holds for us and how to restrain the same in our favour assumes paramount importance or genuine concern.
I prefer to focus on the most visible of the three ,the approaching environmental fallouts about to descent on us like more than a giant meteor strike.
To mitigate such reverses the United Nations has initiated tangible steps to contain the same since the year 2015 by
establishing a forum christened as Conference of Parties ( COP’S) involving
195 member nations.
Deliberations are being conducted on an yearly basis to implement various objectives envisaged viz- Helping the developing nations financially by the developed ,transfer of technologies to poor states to fast-track regulations on carbon mitigation etc. The outer deadline agreed is 2070 and by that time CO2 levels have to be pulled back to pre- industrial times averages ( The 18th century benchmark of 300 ppm) from the current and operative 420ppm.
In my opinion the most important step is yet to be chalked out or addressed passionately.
It is simply all about preparing the psyche of us humanoids ruling Planet Earth.
8.3 Billions of us unevenly spread around 196 countries of the world should be made aware of the slow death sequencing and mould them into a change management mode which warrants requisite regulatory to discipline them into a greenhouse gases mitigation territory.
And when we talk about it we have out there lots of regulatory practices by which the populace are ruled across the globe.
Therefore let us venture into and get hold of the statistical data to reveal such a miserable mix-up .
196 countries are members of the United Nations . Among them there are Authoritarian countries , Semi democracies or Anocracies, Countries with Kingship or Monarchies, Semi Monarchies, Federal Absolute Monarchies, Elements of Democracy embedded in Theocracy, Federal Parliamentary Republics ,Flawed Slightly deficient Democracies(Incidentally India could be placed into this category)and finally full-fledged Working Democracies.
It is agitating to comprehend that out of the 196 multifaceted configurations a total of the core Democracies are just 20 or so.
And therefore the general behavioural patterns of we humans exhibit a corresponding heterogenous characteristics across the spectrum.
Let us begin with the first element of the header- Anthropocentrism
It is a philosophical as well as a Psychic approach that establishes humanity alone at the centre of the universe thereby cementing their speciesism or species pride over everything else inclusive of the very environment they are an integral part of.
It is a behaviour or attitude based exceptionalism. In the projection of the above self-centrism, needs and Wellness
of the rest of the other entities are repudiated into a corner.
The natural world and the environment are taken for granted as resources to be exploited for their own benefits only thereby callously ignoring the damages being inflicted on the way.
Anthropocentrism quite often neglects the reciprocal relationships between the humans and the natural world by ignoring their inter-dependence for survival.
In the process survival and retention of a harmonic system in equilibrium for Posterity is totally compromised.
Let us dissect the concept of Ecocentrism
It is a concept that emphasizes the intrinsic or inherent worth or essence of humanoids and the rest of the living world , the very backbone of the Ecosystem.
And Ecocentrism highlights the strength and healthy existence of an inclusive world order. In other words Ecocentrism considers the natural world as an interconnected holistic system rather than a collection of individual parts.
The concept promotes, the idea of interdependence and well being of one affects the well being of others Ecocentrism promotes empathy and concern for all living things ,promotes sustainable development, environmentally conscious behaviours and attitudes such as reducing conventional systems by alternative energy resources.
But the million dollar question is- How to mould the psyche of the self centric style of humanity when it comes to accommodating other species and systems as well.
The only way to downgrade the species pride is, by diluting the fundamental rights by world governments ( If not all, the vast majority) under the UN mandate. Too much of personal freedoms or basic rights are the curse of the hour globally. By allowing only limited and very requisite rights, by curtailing those which are detrimental to an effective climatic implementation plan to the individuals can effectively tame irresponsible attitudes to achieve relevant milestones to realize a zero carbon social order.
Let us look into some possible fundamental rights dilutions to achieve a smooth transition into a carbon neutral world order-
- Right to freedom of movement
Policies are to be formulated to reduce emissions from transportation by strictly implementing the use of electric , hybrid, hydrogen or biofuel mobility enablers (some of the major airlines have already started using biofuel in their intercontinental flights through the aviation mobility corridor between 30000 to 43000 feet elevations which incidentally tops the pollution bracket) ,car pooling or public transportation instead of people resorting to whatever they can as being prevalent now.
- Right to consume energy
Governments should implement policies to reduce energy consumption such as energy efficient appliances , systems, smart-grids etc.
- Right to travel
Administrations should be enabled to introduce carbon pricing or taxes on air travel to discourage unnecessary aviation traffic. Questions can be raised viz- In a restricted fast track connectivity environment how can the world progress exponentially in areas of industrialization, productivity and commercialization etc. The answer is simple- survive first and develop later.
- Right to consume meat and animal products
Administrations should promote or incentivize plant based dietary regimes, Sustainable Agricultural practices such as regenerative agriculture, Agroforestry to reduce the environmental impacts on the Climatic system as a whole. In this aspect the culprit is Methane.
- Right to waste generation
Waste reduction and recycling programmes should be compulsorily imposed on individuals, industries, Agro-enterprises as well as across all levels of human involvements or foot prints.
- Right to use fossil fuels
Fossil fuel for cooking and heating should be totally banned and instead promote on a must basis biomass, solar power and renewable electricity.
- Adherence to building codes and Zoning.
Citizens will have to be restricted to adhere to building codes or zoning regulatory to promote energy efficient design and construction, compulsory installation of solar panels on building structures having built up area above six hundred square feet etc.
- Water Conservation
Compulsory introduction of water conservation measures in all avenues of human habitation must be vehemently introduced.
- Right to Property
Governments should have freedom to acquire or restrict property rights to implement renewable energy projects without infringements from occupants in general.
- Public education campaign
A fast-track compulsory systems should be initiated to educate the masses in total viz-
General public, Students in schools ,colleges and even civil services aspirants on environmental science and sustainability aspects to make them combat ready to tackle climatic reverses.
- Population control
The most alarming or high threat scenario when it comes to green house gas mitigation is the population explosion we are destined to put up with. We can’t afford to multiply the way we do since the start of the Industrial revolution.
Elaborating-
0nly 30% (150,000,000 km2)of Mother Earth is occupied by land. And out of which only 30 %(45 to 50 000,000 km2)is habitable by humans.
The world population at the turn of the 20th century was 1.8 billions. And by the turn of the 21st century it shot up to 6.4 billions which as of today(2025) stays at 8.15 billions.
Look at the quantum leap. This alarming phenomenon ,in spite of the knowledge that it is detrimental to the very human existence, is the basic trigger of environmental pollution we are suffering from.
A strict mechanism to control human growth in exponential scales is the most urgent issue to be addressed by the UN.
And along with the same ,educating and implementing a switch over to renewable energy resources in whichever ways possible to contain fossil fuel specific systems, to the stakeholders remains the single track solution to subvert the threat-induction on our faces. And this warrants strict imposition at domestic, Agricultural as well as industrial level applications.
But as a civilized comity of nations, all the highlighted dilutions of rights should be proportionate, non-discriminating and respecting basic human rights, right to expression and human values to the core.
While saying this I am going back in times, precisely 1975 when emergency rule was in operation and though it was a glorious period for law abiding citizens we have to admit that excesses were committed.
And therefore plugging such reverses the governments of the world should kickstart the dilution of human rights programme to safeguard the survival of ours and the following generations by taking back all the Climatic parameters to the pre-Industrial averages.
We, the single initiators of the mess up, hidden deep, have a Community Social Responsibility (CSR) to neutralize the equations what we have distorted to the hilt. Let us build up the singular responsibility of compromising our defaults when we remain in our flesh and blood
A Life systems parameter runs like this-
” Your existence can be genuinely and realistically fulfilled only when you reach out for others as well “
