Every year on July 28th, people around the globe observe World Nature Conservation Day. At the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1972, World Nature Conservation Day was formally established. The United Nations General Assembly formally declared July 28th to be a day to raise awareness of the value of safeguarding nature, acknowledging the critical need for international environmental action. This day serves as a reminder of the importance of conserving our natural resources and protecting the environment for future generations.
This day stresses the need to preserve a healthy environment and natural resources to maintain a stable and healthy society. One of the main objectives of World Nature Conservation Day is the preservation of endangered plants and animals. Also, the celebrations emphasize keeping the various components of nature such as Fauna, Flora, soil water, energy resources, and air intact. In addition, World Nature Conservation Day underlines the need for preserving the environment for future generations. The Theme for World Nature Conservation Day 2025 is ‘Connecting People and Plants, Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation’.
Environmental degradation is a major contributor to climate change. Deforestation, overfishing, and other unsustainable practices lead to the destruction of habitats, the release of greenhouse gasses, and the disruption of natural carbon sinks. Pollution of our land, soils, waterways, beaches and seas affects multitudes of species, and comes from a range of sources. Routine industrial emissions or spills, oil running off roads into rivers, and leaks from landfill waste sites are all culprits, as is litter.
Top issues include habitat loss and fragmentation, limited water for environmental flows, invasive species and climate change. Urban sprawl and industrial development often encroach on protected areas, such as national parks and wildlife reserves. This compromises the effectiveness of conservation efforts and places unique ecosystems and species at risk. The unsustainable use of natural resources has led to their depletion and caused significant environmental damage. Over-exploitation of resources such as forests, minerals and water has resulted in pollution, loss of biodiversity, and soil erosion.
The destruction of nature defrauds countries and society, jeopardizing the resources that currently generate around half of global GDP, or an estimated US$44 trillion. The impact of losing wild pollinators, marine fisheries, and timber from tropical forests – just a fraction of ecosystem services – could reduce global GDP by an estimated $2.7 trillion annually by 2030. According to the 2024 State of Global Air report, air pollution accounted for 8.1 million deaths globally in 2021, becoming the second leading risk factor for death. The report also found that pollutants like outdoor fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which comes from burning fossil fuels, caused more than 90 per cent of global air pollution deaths and were found to be the “most consistent and accurate predictor of poor health outcomes around the world.”
The provisional State of the Global Climate report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirms that 2023 is set to be the warmest year on record. Data until the end of October shows that the year was about 1.4 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial 1850-1900 baseline. The past nine years, 2015 to 2023, were also the warmest on record. “Greenhouse gas levels are record high. Global temperatures are record high. Sea level rise is record high. Antarctic sea ice is record low. It’s a deafening cacophony of broken records,” said WMO Secretary-General Prof. Petteri Taalas. This report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) finds that current pledges under the Paris Agreement put the world on track for a 2.5-2.9°C temperature rise above pre-industrial levels this century – far above the 1.5°C limit that would avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
The report also finds that none of the G20 countries are reducing emissions at a pace consistent with their net-zero targets. The report calls for all nations to deliver economy-wide, low-carbon development transformations, with a focus on the energy transition. Global temperatures are likely to surge to record levels in the next five years, fueled by heat-trapping greenhouse gases and a naturally occurring El Niño. According to this report issued by the World Meteorological Organization, there is a 66% likelihood that the annual average near-surface global temperature between 2023 and 2027 will be more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels for at least one year. There is a 98% likelihood that at least one of the next five years, and the five-year period as a whole, will be the warmest on record. The Paris Agreement refers to the 1.5°C threshold for long-term warming over many years. This report predicts the level will be breached temporarily, with increasing frequency, but not permanently.
Role of digitalization in protecting environment
Technology can help reduce greenhouse gas changes by generating less carbon dioxide emissions through the use of energy that relies on renewable sources such as solar or wind power. By ensuring that technology is used ethically and responsibly we will be ensuring a safer environment for ourselves and for the future. Sustainable Digitalization involves encouraging the development and use of technologies with sustainability considerations in mind, i.e. sustainability by design.
This ensures that technological advancements prioritize ethical considerations and environmental sustainability throughout their lifecycle. Top Technologies to Use for Environmental Protection are now Internet of Things (IoT) and Environmental Monitoring, Renewable Energy Technologies, Green Building and Sustainable Architecture, Electric Vehicles (EVs), Waste Management and Recycling Technologies, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning etc. Water Purification Technologies, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) etc.
Technology is transforming environmental protection by providing innovative solutions and strategies to address the growing environmental challenges facing the world. From remote sensing and IoT devices to renewable energy and AI, technology is helping us monitor, manage and mitigate environmental issues more effectively. There should be comprehensive strategy among world countries for the conservation of nature by utilizing upcoming digital technologies.
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