IIT Bombay celebrated World Environment Day today by conducting various cleanliness drives in coordination with the Dean IPS office, Estate Office, Public Health Office, NSS, Abhyudaya and Team Shunya on campus.
KV School students also joined in a nature walk. The Public Health Officer interacted with the students and stressed the importance of preserving our environment. A zero-food waste drive was observed in the hostel messes. The door-to-door awareness campaign was also done.
This year, the Environmental Science and Engineering Department at IIT Bombay, in collaboration with the Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC), celebrated World Environment Day on 5th June 2024. To raise awareness about environmental issues, a virtual talk was organized by Dr. Sanat Kumar Saha, Emeritus Professor at KIIT, a former member of the West Bengal State Council of Higher Education, and a distinguished environmentalist, educationist and philanthropist. Dr. Saha currently serves as the Honorary Professor of Environmental Science at Rani Rashmoni Green University in Tarakeshwar, under the Government of West Bengal, and is a respected member of the university's Statute Committee.
The talk was moderated by Professor Subhankar Karmakar, the Head of the Environmental Science and Engineering Department, along with Prof. Indrajit Chakraborty. Dr. Saha delivered an enlightening presentation on "Energy Security and Environmental Protection: An Indian Perspective," offering a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted challenges facing our environment today. He emphasized the urgent necessity for global cooperation in the realm of environmental protection, underscoring that safeguarding the environment transcends local and national boundaries and constitutes a critical global concern demanding collective action.
Throughout his address, Dr. Saha delved into a myriad of pressing environmental issues, providing a broad and nuanced perspective. He highlighted significant events such as the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia and the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, illustrating their pivotal roles in shaping international environmental policies. Furthermore, he explored innovative solutions, including waste-to-energy conversion and addressed ongoing problems related to air and water pollution. These discussions collectively offered a holistic understanding of the importance of environmental conservation for our future.
Dr. Saha’s informative and inspiring address underscored the importance of a concerted effort to ensure environmental sustainability and energy security, particularly within the Indian framework, while also stressing the global nature of these challenges.