If not now, when? If not us, who
If not now, when? If not us, who
MUMBAI, June 4 (The CONNECT) - In a first-of-its-kind citizens’ environmental mobilisation across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), several environmental groups and citizen platforms have come together to launch the ‘Climate Action Now’ (CAN) initiative on World Environment Day, seeking urgent action and accountability amid mounting ecological concerns.
Alarmed by rising heatwaves, shrinking green cover, destruction of wetlands and biodiversity loss, the groups will participate in a half-day roundtable conference in Navi Mumbai on Thursday, June 4, to discuss a year-long citizens’ environmental agenda for the MMR.
Christened ‘CAN by NatConnect Foundation’, the event has drawn support from Sagar Shakti, Swarnsrishti Habitat Restorer Foundation, Parsik Greens, Sajag Nagrik Manch, Powai ALM, Save Flamingos/Mangroves, Save Belapur Hills and Human Chain Online.
Mumbai Climate Week — the global conversation on climate action led by social impact organisation Project Mumbai — has extended support to the initiative.
Project Mumbai founder and CEO Shishir Joshi said the organisation supports both the cause and the conversation around environmental action.
“CAN is a citizens’ call for urgent and accountable action before the damage becomes irreversible,” NatConnect director B N Kumar said.
The inordinate delay in granting legal protection to wetlands and mangroves, reckless destruction of green cover and unchecked quarrying are wreaking havoc on the environment across the region, he regretted and asked: “If not now, when? If not us, who?”
“All the gains of the financial capital, infrastructure development, and the IT and ITES industries will be lost if development is not balanced with environmental care,” he said.
Nandakumar Pawar, director of Sagar Shakti, said rapid urbanisation across the Mumbai region had drastically altered hills, wetlands and natural habitats, forcing wildlife into retreat while intensifying urban heat stress.
“The traditional fishing community’s very existence is under threat due to reckless development carried out in the name of infrastructure expansion,” Pawar said.
Citizens could no longer remain silent spectators to environmental degradation, Jyoti Nadkarni of Swarnsrishti Habitat Restorer Foundation said.
“This is not about protest alone. It is about protection, responsibility and safeguarding the future of our city,” Sudhir Dani of Sajag Nagarik Manch said.
Sandeep Sareen of Navi Mumbai Environment Preservation Society (NMEPS) called for long-term climate resilience planning involving citizens, experts, activists and resident groups.
Palm Beach Greens convenor Shrikant Patki stressed the need to adopt the globally recognised “3-30-300” urban greening formula across Navi Mumbai.
“The formula ensures every citizen can see at least three trees from home, every neighbourhood has a minimum 30 per cent tree canopy cover and every resident lives within 300 metres of a green space,” Patki said.
Pamela Cheema and Milan Bhat of the BMC-appointed Advanced Local Management Committee (ALM) for Powai appreciated the CAN initiative and said awareness among citizens must translate into action to arrest environmental degradation across the Mumbai region.
