How do you want to celebrate World Environment Day in Bangalore?

Wondering what you can do to celebrate World Environment Day? Here’s a list of events that you can participate in. Also read tips to reduce your carbon footprint.

What better way to celebrate the arrival of the south-west monsoon in Bangalore, than commemorating World Environment Day (WED)? Organised by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Environment Day is an international day celebrated on June 5th every year, to raise awareness and encourage action for the environment.

World-over events such as clean-up campaigns, tree planting drives, recycling drives, awareness campaigns, film screenings and the like are conducted. Though each of these events are but a blip on the global radar, they contribute towards a bigger movement. 

Why should you be a part of WED?

The United Nations designated 2014 as the International Year of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). In line with this, the theme for WED 2014 is ‘Raise Your Voice, Not The Sea Level, with a focus on climate change and its impact. According to UNEP, the global sea level has risen by 10 to 25 cm (up to 10 inches) in the last 100 years. The primary reason for this is global warming, as a result of increase in greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn cause the ocean levels to rise.

Though India does not feature in the list of island states, what we do impacts the lives of those around the globe. At present, we are the world’s third biggest emitter of CO2 after China and the United States. We have examples at home too. In 1998, a bleaching event in the Andamans and Nicobar islands affected almost 70% of the coral reef ecosystem; this was attributed to the elevated ocean temperatures. According to a 2007 report by the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, if global temperatures were to rise by a mere 2°C, some parts of Chennai and Mumbai could be submerged.



How much more time before our cities are submerged? Pic: InformationIsBeautiful.net

(Click on the picture to enlarge)

It is very likely that the present generation, maybe even the next couple of them, will continue to enjoy the world, in spite of global warming rising and increasing sea levels. But what happens after that? What is the legacy we will leave behind for the future generations? Now more so than ever, it is critical that we realise the impact of our actions and take steps to control the change that we have brought upon ourselves.  

Celebrate with the city

Across the city, various citizen groups and organisations are hosting a variety of events that you can participate in. Pick one that resonates most with you and make your way there.

Event: Tree Planting Drive

Organiser: Bangalore Mountaineering Club in partnership with SayTrees

Date: June 5th

Time: 9 am

Venue:  Kasavanahalli Lake, Harlur road, near Sarjapur Circle

Participation Fees: Rs 200 per sapling

Click here for more info


Event: Tree Planting Drive

Organiser: United Way of Bengaluru with Uttarahalli Magakere Walkers’ Association and BBMP

Date: June 5th

Time: 9:30 am to 12:30 pm

Venue: Uttarahalli Lake

Click here for more info


Event: Talk – Raise Your Voice, not the Sea Level

Organiser: Karnataka State Pollution Control Board

Date: June 5th

Time: 11 am

Venue: 3rd Floor, Tejasvi Auditorium, Parisara Bhavana, Church Street

More info: Kiran – 8971336394


Event:Tree Planting Drive, Bird Watching, Plant, Butterfly and Insect identification and Documentary Screening

Organiser: Atree

Date: June 5th

Time: 9 am to 1 pm

Venue: Atree office, Royal Enclave, Sriramapura, Jakkur Post

Click here for more info


Event: Tree Planting Drive

Organiser: Rhythm of Nation (RON)

Date: June 5th

Venue: Anywhere

Click here for more info


Event: Movie Screening on the shrinking Arctic and Discussion

Date: June 5th

Time: 6.45 pm to 8 pm

Venue: Suchitra Film Society, B V Karanth Road, Banashankari II Stage

Click here for more info


Event: Tree Planting Drive 

Date: June 5th 

Time: 7 am to 9 am 

Venue: Sankey Park, Malleshwaram


Event: Sapling Distribution

Organiser: Trio World School

Date: June 5th

Time: 11 am to 12:30 pm

Venue: Cubbon Park Gate

More info: 9663365881 


Event: Play – Jungle Book

Troupe: Rangbaaz Group, Mumbai

Date: June 5th and 6th

Time: 7 pm (also at 3.30 pm on June 6th)

Venue: Rangashankara, 36/2, 8th Cross, J.P Nagar

Click here for more info


Event: Organic Terrace Gardening Workshop

Date: June 7th

Time: 10 am to 4 pm

Venue: Vittal Mallya Scientific Research Foundation (VMSRF), BTM II Stage

Click here for more info 


Event: Distribution of Bird Baths

Date: Free with purchases of Rs 2500, till stocks last

Time: 11 am to 7 pm

Venue: The MySunnyBalcony Garden Store, Ulsoor and MySunnyBalcony at Serenity, Jayamahal

More info: 080 4111 3421, www.mysunnybalcony.com


Event: Book Reading – A Hint of Jacaranda and The God of Green and Growing Things

Date: June 8th

Time: 11:30 am to 1:00 pm

Venue: Urban Solace, Ulsoor

Click here for more info

What can you do?

Even if you are unable to attend an event to celebrate World Environment Day, there are small changes that you make in the way you live your life that will surely make a difference. Here are some tips to reduce your carbon footprint. 

  • Use public transport or carpool. Better still, walk or cycle to work.

  • Switch from incandescent bulbs to CFL or LED bulbs.

  • Turn off the lights and appliances when not in use.

  • Unplug your appliances when not in use

  • Buy energy efficient appliances.

  • Dispose e-waste responsibly.
  • Use both sides of the paper for printing.

  • Carry your own shopping bag for groceries.

  • Stop buying bottled water. Carry your own bottle from home.

  • Recycle all that can be recycled.

  • Upcycle your old stuff.

  • Grow your own food.

  • Do not waste food.

  • Consider going vegetarian, or if that’s too difficult replace a couple of your meaty meals in a week with vegetarian ones.

  • Plant a tree in your compound.

Folks, in case you happen to celebrate the day in a special way or attend a unique event, do share the details with us on the comments thread. Here’s wishing all of you a Happy World Environment Day 2014!

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