Conference on environment for children

Chandigarh: Children & Young Environmentalist Conference on Environmental Protection (CoEP 2020) was organized jointly by Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh and Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh, Ankur School, Chandigarh, Chandigarh Pollution. Control Committee (CPCC-Chandigarh), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), North Region, Chandigarh, Health Care Without Harm & Lung Care Foundation. This conference provided a platform to engage eminent scientists, students, & children together to build a sustainable society, which cares for our common future. This event is first-of-its-kind focusing on children and youth with an aim to create awareness & sensitize them about the environment.

Focusing on the theme of World Environment Day - 'Celebrating Biodiversity,' & considering the current global situation due to COVID19 an online opportunity session was arranged for the school children under which various competitions were held. More than 350 participants registered for the event. In the morning session, class wise performance of school children were done on the themes including making a family tree with a message on Save Environment  (Class 1-2); Slogan writing on Tree Plantation (Class 3-4); Pot painting  (Class 5-6) ; making paper bags  along with slogans (Class 7-8) and creating best out of waste (Class 9-12) .  

In the first session, the moderators Dr. Parminder Duggal, Principal, Ankur School, Chandigarh, Dr. Suman Mor, Chairperson, Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh Dr. Ravindra Khaiwal, Additional Professor-Environment Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh emphasized the saying “we do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children, Considering this , it is a time to reflect on our relationship with Nature and surroundings, and focus on the planet’s long-term survival.
Prof R.K Singla, Dean of Universsity Instructtions, Panjab University while appreciating the efforts of organizers, emphasized that we are experiencing irreversible biodiversity loss at an unprecedented scale. It is collective duty of each of us to preserve environment enough to keep our place habitable for the coming generations. 
Sh. Debendra Dalai, IFS, Director of Environment & Chief conservation of forests & Wildlife, UT, Chandigarh highlighted that the increasing human activities is resulting in adverse health implications and impact on livelihood. He emphasized that it is high time to embark on a regime of sound policy enforcement and aware people about the challenges and the need for environment conservation. 
Prof. A.S. Raghubanshi, Director, Institute of Environment & Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, keynote speaker delivered talk on Understanding our rich Biodiversity and need to protect it. He taught about the fragile nature of the environment that we live in and devise ways on how to preserve it for the generations to come. 
Session 1 was chaired by Prof Gufran Beig, Scientist G, Director System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) Pune, Dr. Vimal K. Hatwal, Joint Director, MoEFCC, North Regional Office, Chandigarh. ,Prof. Arvind Kumar, Chairman, Centre for Chest Surgery, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India; Founder & Managing Trustee: Lung Care Foundation, India Children & Health  highlighted basic aspects of air pollution and focused on Vulnerability of Children to Pollution & Need for Special Care. He stressed on how air pollution is affecting human health and various organs including brain development, IQ, lungs etc. 
Prof. Prashant Kumar Founding Director, Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE) Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Surrey, UK shared his views on COVID & Pollution. How COVID-19, though having bad effect on health, has helped in a positive way to rejuvenate the nature. 
The second session was chaired by Sh. T.C. Nautiyal, IFS, Member Secretary, Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee, Chandigarh and Dr. Vikas Singh, Scientist SE, National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL), ISRO, Gadanki, Tirupati. During the second session, Dr. Suman Mor, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh enlightened the participants on various tools of Engagement with Children on Environmental Communication - Kids, Vaayu & Corona. On this special day dedicated to our Environment, there is need to raise awareness and inspire individuals to take action by changing their lifestyles. She highlighted the ways to boost the interest of school children to involve in environmental awareness activities. She discussed best practices  such as public health shield  and efforts to sensitize children to fight covid-19.

Ms Matrushri Shetty, Director Program, Lung Care Foundation presented on  “Role of Young Citizens in Environment Protection – Leading by Example “. She encouraged and inspired the students that how students can take initiatives to create world record to bring attention to the growing menace of air pollution, anti cracker movements, online campaigns, zero waste movements etc.
Session was chaired by Mrs. Shweta Narayan, Coordinator Healthy Energy Initiative India Dr. Parminder Duggal, Principal, Ankur School, Chandigarh
During this session young budding environmentalists Asees Kandhari (Student, Grade XI) Fridays For Future , New Delhi shared words on promoting renewable energy to combat climate change by making strict decisions to survive on this planet. 
Aarushi Joshi, (Student Grade-X, Ankur School) stated that for better future creating environmental awareness among the masses and by bringing lifestyle changes for the good development of social and economic life is must.
Dr. Ravindra Khaiwal, Additional Professor, PGIMER highlighted the importance for caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
Valedictory was addressed by Prof G.D. Puri, Dean Academics, PGIMER, Chandigarh who appreciated  the efforts of PGIMER and PU to involve children and young in this conference so that they carry this learning forward for the lifetime.  Prof. V.R. Sinha, Dean Research, Panjab University highlighted that this year’s celebrations, called upon people to explore the role of biodiversity and nature in providing the essential infrastructure that supports life on Earth and human development.