ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENTS: NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

An environmental movement is a collective effort by individuals, communities, organisations or governments to protect the environment, conserve natural resources and promote sustainable development.

Environmental movements often emerge when people become concerned about issues such as:

• Deforestation
• Pollution
• Loss of biodiversity
• Displacement due to development projects
• Climate change
• Water scarcity
• Destruction of natural habitats
• Unsustainable exploitation of resources

These movements may use public awareness campaigns, peaceful protests, community participation, petitions, research, legal action and media campaigns.

Importance of Environmental Movements

Environmental movements have contributed to:

1. Creating environmental awareness
2. Protecting forests and wildlife
3. Encouraging sustainable use of resources
4. Giving local communities a voice
5. Influencing environmental laws and policies
6. Highlighting the social effects of environmental degradation
7. Promoting international cooperation
8. Encouraging citizens to participate in environmental protection

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENTS IN INDIA

Bishnoi Movement – Rajasthan: The Bishnoi community of Rajasthan has a long tradition of protecting trees and wildlife.

One of the best-known episodes occurred in 1730 at Khejarli, where members of the Bishnoi community resisted the cutting of Khejri trees.

Amrita Devi Bishnoi, along with other members of the community, is traditionally remembered for opposing the felling of trees. Many people sacrificed their lives while protecting the trees.

Importance: The movement demonstrates:

• Community-based conservation
• Protection of trees and wildlife
• Traditional ecological knowledge
• The cultural importance of nature conservation

The Khejarli episode later became an important historical inspiration for environmental movements in India.

Chipko Movement: The Chipko Movement began in the Himalayan region of present-day Uttarakhand in the 1970s. The word “Chipko” means “to hug” or “to cling.”

Villagers physically embraced trees to prevent them from being cut down.

Important Figures: The movement is associated with environmental activists such as:

• Sunderlal Bahuguna
• Chandi Prasad Bhatt
• Gaura Devi

Women from village communities played a particularly important role.

Major Objectives

• Protection of forests
• Prevention of commercial deforestation
• Protection of local livelihoods
• Conservation of soil and water

Importance: The Chipko Movement demonstrated that local communities can play a major role in environmental conservation.

It also highlighted the relationship between forests and:

• Water
• Soil
• Agriculture
• Fuel
• Livelihoods

Appiko Movement: The Appiko Movement emerged in Karnataka in 1983.

The movement was inspired partly by the Chipko Movement.

The Kannada word “Appiko” means “to hug.”

Objectives

The movement focused on:

• Protecting forests
• Preventing unnecessary felling of trees
• Promoting afforestation
• Using forest resources sustainably

Importance

It demonstrated that forest conservation movements could develop in different parts of India according to local environmental conditions.

Silent Valley Movement: The Silent Valley Movement took place in Kerala during the 1970s and 1980s.

It focused on opposition to a proposed hydroelectric project in the Silent Valley, an ecologically significant tropical forest area.

Scientists, environmentalists and citizens raised concerns about the potential impact on the forest ecosystem and biodiversity.

Important Figure: Sugathakumari, a prominent Malayalam poet and environmental activist, was associated with the movement.

Outcome: The movement contributed to increased public and governmental attention to the conservation of Silent Valley. The area was subsequently protected as a national park.

Importance: The movement demonstrated the importance of:

• Scientific research
• Public participation
• Biodiversity conservation
• Protection of ecologically sensitive areas

Narmada Bachao Andolan: The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) emerged in the 1980s around large dam projects on the Narmada River.

It brought attention to the environmental and social consequences of large-scale dam development.

Associated Figures: The movement is particularly associated with:

• Medha Patkar
• Baba Amte

Major Concerns: The movement raised concerns about:

• Displacement of communities
• Rehabilitation
• Loss of forests and agricultural land
• Environmental consequences of large dams
• Rights and livelihoods of affected people

Importance: The movement brought the concept of environmental justice into public discussion. It highlighted an important question: Who bears the environmental and social costs of development?

Save Western Ghats Movement: The Save Western Ghats Movement involved campaigns and public awareness efforts aimed at protecting the Western Ghats, one of India's important biodiversity regions.

The movement drew attention to:

• Deforestation
• Mining
• Industrialisation
• Habitat destruction
• Biodiversity loss

Importance: It encouraged greater public awareness about the ecological importance of the Western Ghats and the need for sustainable development.

Jungle Bachao Andolan: The Jungle Bachao Andolan emerged in the 1980s in Singhbhum region of present-day Jharkhand.

Local communities opposed the replacement of natural forests with commercial plantations.

Major Concern: The movement highlighted the difference between:

Natural forest → Diverse ecosystem

and

Commercial plantation → Limited number of species

Importance: It emphasised:

• Community rights
• Forest biodiversity
• Traditional dependence on forests
• Sustainable forest management

INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENTS

Environmental problems often cross national boundaries. Climate change, ocean pollution, biodiversity loss and air pollution cannot be addressed by one country alone.

This has resulted in international environmental campaigns and movements.

Modern Environmental Movement: The modern international environmental movement gained significant momentum during the 1960s and 1970s.

Growing concerns about:

• Industrial pollution
• Chemical contamination
• Nuclear risks
• Deforestation
• Wildlife loss
• Pollution of oceans and rivers

led to greater public awareness.

The publication of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring in 1962 played an important role in drawing attention to the environmental effects of pesticides.

Earth Day Movement: Earth Day is observed annually on 22 April.

The first Earth Day was held in 1970 in the United States.

It developed as a major public environmental awareness campaign.

Objectives

• Create environmental awareness
• Encourage environmental responsibility
• Promote citizen participation
• Highlight issues such as pollution, climate change and biodiversity

Today, Earth Day is observed in many countries.

Stockholm Conference – 1972: The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment was held in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1972.

It was a major milestone in international environmental cooperation.

Importance: The conference:

• Put environmental issues firmly on the international agenda.
• Encouraged international cooperation.
• Led to the establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The Stockholm Conference is often considered a landmark in the development of international environmental governance.

Greenpeace: Greenpeace emerged internationally in the early 1970s. It is an international environmental organisation known for campaigns concerning issues such as:

• Climate change
• Oceans
• Forests
• Nuclear risks
• Biodiversity
• Fossil fuels

Greenpeace is known for using public campaigns, research, media communication and non-violent direct action to draw attention to environmental issues.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF): The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) was established in 1961.

It works internationally on issues such a

• Wildlife conservation
• Biodiversity
• Forest conservation
• Climate
• Freshwater ecosystems
• Sustainable resource use

Its work demonstrates the role of international organisations in conservation.

Anti-Nuclear and Environmental Movements: During the second half of the 20th century, environmental activism also became connected with concerns about nuclear weapons, nuclear testing and nuclear energy.

Activists raised questions about:

• Radioactive contamination
• Human health and environmental risks
• Nuclear waste
• Nuclear accidents

These concerns contributed to broader discussions about energy choices and environmental safety.

Climate Change Movement: In the 21st century, climate change activism has become a major international environmental movement.

Young people and civil society organisations have organised:

• Climate strikes
• Awareness campaigns
• Public demonstrations
• Digital campaigns
• Educational programmes

Fridays for Future: Fridays for Future is an international youth-led climate movement that became prominent from 2018 onwards.

It calls for stronger action on climate change and increased attention to scientific evidence on climate risks.

International Agreements and Environmental Action: Environmental movements have also contributed to increased international attention and cooperation.

Montreal Protocol – 1987: The Montreal Protocol addresses substances that deplete the ozone layer. It is widely recognised as a major example of international environmental cooperation.

Rio Earth Summit – 1992: The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

It addressed:

• Sustainable development
• Climate change
• Biodiversity
• Forests
• Environmental protection

Important outcomes included Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration.

Kyoto Protocol – 1997: The Kyoto Protocol established legally binding greenhouse-gas emission reduction commitments for developed countries that were parties to the protocol during its commitment periods.

It represented an important stage in international climate policy.

Paris Agreement – 2015: The Paris Agreement is an international climate agreement adopted under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Its central aim is to strengthen the global response to climate change and limit the increase in global average temperature while pursuing efforts toward a more ambitious temperature goal.

Countries submit and periodically update their national climate plans.

Role of Media in Environmental Movements

Media can help environmental movements by:

1. Creating Awareness: News reports, documentaries and social media can explain environmental problems.

2. Giving Visibility to Local Issues: A local environmental problem can gain national or international attention through media coverage.

3. Mobilising Public Participation: Social media can help people participate in campaigns, petitions and awareness activities.

4. Environmental Journalism: Journalists investigate:

• Pollution
• Deforestation
• Climate change
• Environmental violations
• Wildlife issues

5. Visual Communication: Photographs, documentaries, infographics and short videos can make complex environmental issues easier to understand.

6. Citizen Journalism: Citizens can use smartphones and social media to document environmental problems in their communities.

Environmental Movements and Social Media

Modern environmental movements use platforms such as:

• Instagram
• YouTube
• X
• Facebook
• Podcasts
• Blogs

Hashtags, short videos, infographics and online petitions can rapidly spread environmental information.

However, digital campaigns must also be supported by reliable information, because environmental misinformation can spread quickly online

Environmental movements have played an important role in bringing environmental issues into public discussion.

In India, movements such as Chipko, Appiko, Silent Valley and Narmada Bachao Andolan highlighted issues of forests, biodiversity, development, displacement and community participation.

At the international level, organisations and movements such as Greenpeace, WWF, Earth Day and Fridays for Future, along with international initiatives such as the Stockholm Conference, Rio Earth Summit and Paris Agreement, have contributed to global environmental awareness and cooperation.

For media students, environmental movements also demonstrate the power of communication, journalism, visual storytelling and digital media in creating awareness and encouraging public participation.