Environmental conservation is not something that only our world leaders can do, it actually starts with us at our homes. A small step like segregation of waste into wet and dry, or biodegradable and non-biodegradable can go a long way towards reducing the problem of waste disposal that burdens our nations. Small acts like switching off power consuming appliances and car-pooling or using public transport can help ease the world energy crisis.

On a school/university/industry level, we need to strongly advocate for use of more renewable energy sources such as solar energy in order to become self-reliant and energy efficient.  A lot of people do not participate in environmental conservation simply because they are unaware of the magnitude of the problem that plagues us. Awareness campaigns to raise environmental literacy are essential so that people of all generations rise to the call of environmentalists. 

In India, a lot of such activities are already underway. The Swachh Bharat or Clean India program is one of them that I have had the good fortune of being part of. This program focuses on making India and its public places clean by collective participation. The organic food growth and consumption are also making headlines with many more people going organic with their dietary lives. Introduction of the metro rail system in major cities has eased the traffic burden and promoted the use of public transport.  More and more people are becoming aware of the environmental crisis, thanks to the media, education system and awareness campaigns of the government and NGOs. 

Our small actions in our day-to-day lives can be a huge step for humanity towards a more cleaner and greener environment. I hope this new year equips us with the energy to make such eco-friendly decisions.