As the 50th Earth Day is being observed today – April 22, 2020, we share some thoughts from some industry leaders on the importance of doing our part in leaving a better earth for ourselves and our future generations. We should keep in mind that every day should be Earth Day. Let us practice sustainability in every aspect of our lives.
Saravanan Panneer Selvam, General Manager, Grundfos India: “Our planet is going through some unprecedented times currently. The effect of COVID-19 on human being and the economy has been devastating. This situation has also brought to the forefront the importance of mitigating climate change to contain this existing virus as well as prevent future potential pandemics. The impact of this coronavirus pandemic cannot be understated on the environment. With lockdowns across various countries in the world, we see the positive benefits to the reduction of pollution and carbon emissions. In the case of India, we are witnessing a reduction in air pollution, wildlife is thriving, and even improvement in the water quality of many rivers, including the Ganga. These are encouraging signs and indicate that it is possible to take large-scale climate action to improve environmental health. This Earth Day, I think we can all commit not only to stay home and limit the spread of COVID-19 but also step up our climate action efforts to safeguard the planet.”
Dr Vishwakumara Kayargadde, COO, Saankhya Labs: “While the world is going through one of the worst pandemics of our lifetime, we are also simultaneously experiencing one of the most pressing challenges – climate change. With the current lockdown being imposed in many parts of the globe, we have seen nature recuperate quickly from human exploitation that has occurred over the years. There have been improvements in air quality, wildlife sightings in backyards, wild animals walking down urban streets as well as calm and quiet in our cities and towns. While all of this is truly an amazing sight, no sooner the lockdown is lifted and life returns to normal we will see the steady increase in the exploitation of the earth’s natural resources for our selfish needs. That said, COVID-19 should serve as a wake-up call and push us to reflect upon the impact our decisions have on our surroundings. We should take this as an opportunity to make things right. As citizens, we can begin by opting for energy-efficient, eco-friendly solutions that have limited or no environmental impact, helping us preserve Mother Nature. Companies can do their bit by building sustainable technologies that not only consume less energy but also have a net-zero impact on the environment, including increased WFH as a new normal. Similar to the world coming together to fight this coronavirus pandemic, as we observe the 50th year of Earth Day, we should collaborate with each other to help build a sustainable future.”
Kishan Jain, Director at Goldmedal Electricals: “While we are going through one of the worst possible pandemics in the form of COVID-19, climate change also remains a critical challenge facing our world today. The pandemic is helping us realise how the decisions we make today, can impact our surroundings in the long run. With the 50th anniversary of Earth Day is observed globally, as citizens, we can begin by adopting energy-efficient products and solutions like LED lighting which can save up to 70 per cent energy, as well as by investing in IoT and connected devices that are sustainable in nature. The government on its part is working towards instilling energy-saving habits such through the promotion of energy-efficient lighting products on urban and rural streets, government buildings, parks and other public places. Industry too should focus on building sustainable solutions and make use of innovative technologies such as the internet of things (IoT) and smart appliances, which significantly reduces energy wastage and bring down costs. This Earth Day, let us all take a pledge to take all the necessary steps towards the creation of a sustainable environment for future generations.”
Ramesh Kalanje, Vice President, Center of Excellence, Commvault: “April 22, 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of World Earth Day. The theme for this year has been aptly chosen as climate action – an opportune reminder about not only sparking awareness around how we can protect the planet we inhabit, but also underline why it matters that each one of us does our bit.
As the concentration of carbon dioxide continues to increase, every organisation and individual need to do their bit to ensure, we’re adopting sustainable consumption practices in every facet of our life. While the empowering impact of the Internet is known to all, it’s seems like a pity that most don’t understand the implications of not using it properly. Whether it’s the energy our digital devices are radiating, or the power consumed for our internet access – each action we partake in releases a few grams of CO2 into the environment.
As part of UN’s global taskforce “Business Avengers”, our ethos has always been driven by the advocacy of using science and technology to impact the reduction of carbon footprint and ensuring responsible consumption and production. With IT industry surpassing carbon footprint levels of even aviation industry – it is high time to drive more awareness to improve the technology that aids us in the journey to improve efficiencies in an environmentally-conscious manner. To this end, we are powering a promising expedition in the South Pole by sustainable energy resources; in addition, our employees continue to champion greener friendly approaches across the globe.
Our commitment towards the planet also extends to our partners and customers where we continue to counsel them on offsetting the carbon footprint of data by responsible sourcing, use, reuse and recycling. With a global pandemic looming over us, the time is now – to fight this battle against time, to protect our planet from unforeseeable threats, and to unite and work towards a greener and sustainable future.”