‘Risk’ defined as exposure to danger, has many variable, individual dimensions. There is also the reality of collective risk—unambiguous, unsparing and ubiquitous, cutting across lines of economy, demography and geography. Every year, the World Economic Forum publishes its Global Risks Report, which assesses the risks to our life and livelihood as a single global entity. And this year’s report makes it clear that intensifying environmental dangers trump both political and economic concerns as far as the world is concerned.

Indeed, from water and food crises to climate change, depleting forests and extinction of species to the impact of population explosion and the consequences of migration and frenetic urbanisation, the world is going through an environmental churn that has the potential to become a catastrophe.

However, while some are content to scream ‘doomsday’ from the comfort of the armchair, others have made it their mission to act. To mark our 13th anniversary and ring in World Environment Day on 5 June, we turn the spotlight on silver change-agents who have made the planet their muse and sustainability their mantra. They are testament to the power not just of an idea but the resolve and stick-to-itiveness to see it through—they are the harbingers of hope for the country, for the planet.

AGRICULTURE

• M S Swaminathan

FORESTS

• Chandi Prasad Bhatt

WILDLIFE

• Ullas Karanth

WATER

• Ayyappa Masagi

WASTE MANAGEMENT

• Jyoti Mhapsekar

ENERGY

• ‘Solar’ Suresh

SUSTAINABILITY

• NGO Kanika

EXCLUSIVE COLUMN

• Jagdish Krishnaswamy

EXCLUSIVE COLUMN

• Ranjit Lal

Photo: 123RF.com
Featured in Harmony — Celebrate Age Magazine
June 2017