As India gears up for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, touted as the world’s largest democratic exercise, there’s a glaring absence in the discourse – the deafening silence on climate change and environmental degradation.
While the political parties engage in rhetoric and promises to woo voters, the pressing issues of climate change, global warming, and environmental sustainability seem to be conveniently sidelined. The staggering costs of elections, estimated at $10 billion for 2024, pale in comparison to the invaluable cost of neglecting our environment.
The stark reality is that as temperatures rise, heatwaves become more frequent, and flash floods wreak havoc in the northern Indo-Gangetic states. Landslides in Himalayan border states and glacier melting in the Himalayan region are ominous signs of the environmental crisis unfolding before our eyes.
Air pollution, water scarcity, and the lack of access to clean and fresh drinking water are pressing concerns affecting every Indian citizen. The disappearance of green spaces in cities and villages is not just an aesthetic loss but a dire threat to our ecosystem.
Indian cities, once known for their greenery and natural beauty, are rapidly transforming into concrete jungles and heat islands. The unchecked urbanization and rampant construction have exacerbated the heatwave effect, forcing people to rely heavily on air conditioning for cooling, further escalating energy consumption and carbon emissions.
What’s disheartening is the absence of these critical issues from the election agenda of both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the opposition Congress, and other regional parties. The failure to address environmental concerns not only in Lok Sabha polls but also in state assembly elections and local civic polls reflects a dangerous indifference to the impending environmental catastrophe.
It’s time for political leaders to prioritize environmental sustainability and incorporate climate change mitigation strategies into their policy frameworks. Ignoring these pressing issues in favor of short-term electoral gains is a grave disservice to future generations and the planet.
As responsible citizens, we must demand accountability from our elected representatives and urge them to take urgent action to mitigate the impacts of climate change and safeguard our environment for generations to come. The time to act is now, before it’s too late.
