People's voice to reduce global environmental risks
Authors: Md Mahbub Hossain, Neetu Purohit
Journal: The Lancet Planetary Health (2018)

We read the editorial of The Lancet Planetary Health (February, 2018) describing how environmental risks have been recognised as the “world's biggest threats” at the 48th annual meeting of World Economic Forum.1The Lancet Planetary HealthThe world's biggest threats are environmental risks.Lancet Planet Health. 2018; 2: e51Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (2) Google Scholar Alongside the meeting, the report of Environmental Performance Index was published, which ranked Bangladesh and India as the second and fourth worst countries, respectively, in terms of their efforts towards improving environmental health and ecosystem vitality.2Yale Center for Environmental Law & PolicyYale University2018 Environmental Performance Index. Global metrics for the environment: ranking country performance on high-priority environmental issues.https://epi.envirocenter.yale.edu/downloads/epi2018policymakerssummaryv01.pdfDate accessed: July 11, 2018Google Scholar Although many parameters are considered for such ranking, tiny efforts from the community are reflections of the intentions of many individuals and provide a ray of hope for a better future. In this correspondence we share a beautiful example from these two low-ranked South Asian countries that shows how the collective and individual efforts of the community—the population at risk—could compel the administrative machinery to bow down and contribute to reducing environmental risks. Unplanned development often ignores pro-planetary initiatives such as natural resources and engages in deforestation in the name of development and expansion. The story of Jessore Road is not an exception. The road has century-old trees that witnessed the shared history of Bangladesh and India. Millions of refugees travelled this road during the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947 and the independence of Bangladesh in 1971. However, with the pace of development, India decided to expand the road to a four-lane highway by felling about 4000 trees in its path.3Singh SS Campaign to save 4,000 trees gains momentum. The Hindu.http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/campaign-to-save-4000-trees-gains-momentum/article18191868.eceDate: April 22, 2017Date accessed: July 11, 2018Google Scholar Citizens raised their voice through online petitions, social media campaigns, community movements, and legal initiatives, which resulted in a stay order on felling of the trees.3Singh SS Campaign to save 4,000 trees gains momentum. The Hindu.http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/campaign-to-save-4000-trees-gains-momentum/article18191868.eceDate: April 22, 2017Date accessed: July 11, 2018Google Scholar, 4Press Trust of IndiaCalcutta HC extends stay on felling trees on NH-112. The New Indian Express.http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2017/sep/08/calcutta-hc-extends-stay-on-felling-trees-on-nh-112-1654250.htmlDate: Sept 8, 2017Date accessed: July 11, 2018Google Scholar Attempts to fell more than 2700 trees on part of the same road in Bangladesh followed the same suit as in India.5Status-quo on cutting trees on Jessore-Benapole road. The Daily Star.http://www.thedailystar.net/country/cutting-of-century-old-jessore-road-trees-stays-by-bangladesh-high-court-1521670Date: Jan 18, 2018Date accessed: July 11, 2018Google Scholar People protested the issue and the High Court stated a planetary statement permitting the government to continue the developmental activities but not by chopping down the trees on the Jessore Road.5Status-quo on cutting trees on Jessore-Benapole road. The Daily Star.http://www.thedailystar.net/country/cutting-of-century-old-jessore-road-trees-stays-by-bangladesh-high-court-1521670Date: Jan 18, 2018Date accessed: July 11, 2018Google Scholar Although the final decisions and their consequences are yet to come, the efforts and mobilisation of citizens of both these countries give us several messages. First, in the era of a more connected world, ease of communication inspires and strengthens the resolve of those with similar viewpoints—in this case, the idea of standing against the decision of cutting off trees. It is also high time that the environmental implications of policy decisions for development are carefully considered before implementation. Furthermore, these examples from Bangladesh and India can inspire global communities to look around themselves and take informed decisions for building and sustaining a healthy and planetary future. We declare no competing interests. The world's biggest threats are environmental risksOn Jan 23–26, global leaders gathered once again in Davos, Switzerland, on the occasion of the 48th World Economic Forum annual meeting. In the past few years the global landscape has changed substantially economically and politically, putting our planet seriously in danger, and for the first time these environmental threats were put at the centre of the debate. According to the World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report 2018 , released a week before the meeting was held, the most pressing threats that are perceived as having the biggest impact in the next 10 years are extreme weather events and natural disasters, failure of climate change mitigation and adaptation, water crises, biodiversity loss, and air and soil pollution. Full-Text PDF Open Access