'Treat The Planet With Respect': President Draupadi Murmu Expresses Concern About Worsening Climate Crisis

President Murmu was invited to speak at the Human Rights Day celebrations organised by the National Human Rights Commission as the chief guest. Also in attendance were the chairperson of the commission and retired Supreme Court judge, Arun Mishra, and United Nations Resident Coordinator for India, Shombi Sharp, who read a message from António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

The president wondered, "What would the animals and trees around us tell us if they could speak? What would our rivers say about human history and what would our cattle say on the topic of human rights?" Lamenting the unconscionable march of human civilisation, she said, "We have trampled on their rights for long, and now the results are before us." Therefore, she urged, we must learn, or rather relearn, to treat nature with dignity. "This is not only a moral duty but is also necessary for our own survival," she added.

In a similar vein, Justice Mishra also spoke about the fundamental duty of every citizen to respect nature, flora and fauna, biodiversity, environment and ecology. The retired judge said, "It is well reflected in our culture and philosophy. We also find the principle of sustainable development goals deeply embedded in Vedic culture. For example, the prithvi sukta of Atharva Veda contains sustainable development principles that we must respect Mother Earth, its soil, sand, rocks, plants, vegetation, et cetera." Stressing on the need for cosmic balance and harmony with the pancha bhoota, or the five great elements, namely, earth, water, fire, air, and space or ether, Justice Mishra explained, "Our scriptures indicate that they have to be preserved and protected. We have the primitive concept of protection of tapovan, abhyaraya (wildlife sanctuary), aranya (forest), shreevan (beautiful forest), and vanshree (forest which provides livelihood)."

On behalf of the UN Secretary-General, a grim prognosis was delivered by Sharp about the new human rights challenges emerging from 'the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution'. Member states of the international organisation, civil society, and the private sector as well as other key actors were urged to 'put human rights at the heart of efforts to reverse today's damaging trends'. After reading out the Secretary-General's message, Sharp also reminded the gathering of India's burgeoning role in international politics, particularly with respect to the concerted global effort to tackle climate change. The UN official said, "As the world's largest democracy…now, as member of the United Nation Human Rights Council, as the president of the Security Council, as president of the G-20, which will coincide with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development midpoint stocktaking summit at the General Assembly next year, the world community looks increasingly to India's leadership in furthering the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and sustainable development for all, leaving no one behind. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam!"

The most recent warning has been sounded by the World Bank in its newest report, in which it has predicted that India may soon face heat waves exceeding the human survivability limit. The trend of experiencing higher temperatures that arrive earlier and stay for longer points towards the inevitability of a punishing environmental condition that would bring economic productivity to a standstill. Worldwide, climate scientists are committing acts of civil disobedience and staging mass-scale demonstrations to demand stronger climate action. Acts of eco-vandalism are also on the rise, with climate activists led by groups such as Just Stop Oil vowing to defy the law until the government commits to halting fossil fuel licensing and production.