Kolkata, 7th March, 2024: In a significant step towards addressing the impending challenges posed by air pollution and climate change on Kolkata’s rich cultural heritage, Victoria Memorial Hall in collaboration with SwitchON Foundation organized a discussion on “Kolkata’s Cultural Heritage: A Threat Due to Air Pollution and Climate Change”. The event marks the opening ceremony of the Move for Earth Symposium, an annual event of SwitchON Foundation for Climate action. 

This event brought together stakeholders like policy think tanks, environmentalists, heritage conservationists, experts, and concerned citizens to engage in meaningful and relevant discussions to address contemporary threats to cultural heritage and ensure a resilient and sustainable future for our cities. The workshop facilitated the exchange of adaptive measures, innovative technologies, and best practices to mitigate the detrimental effects of climate change and air pollution on cultural heritage. Around 100 people including institution heads of NGOs, CSOs, academia, media and environmental experts joined the event and participated in the open forum.

The event was addressed by Ms. Barbara Voss, Consul General, The Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany. The panel discussion had experts like Mr. GM Kapur, Chairperson, The Heritage Committee, BCC&i & State Convenor, INTACH, Ms. Karuna Singh, Regional Director Asia, Earth Day Network, Ms. Monica Khosla Bhargava, Founder, Kham Consultant and Mr. Debanjan Chakrabarti, Director, E & NE India, British Council.

Shri Samarendra Kumar, Secretary & Curator, Victoria Memorial Hall said, “We believe that by bringing together experts from various fields, we can foster a comprehensive understanding of the challenges we face and work towards innovative and sustainable solutions. Kolkata’s cultural heritage is a shared treasure that demands collective action.”

Kolkata, despite its rich cultural heritage, faces the challenges of being a non-attainment city. Issues such as air pollution, inadequate waste management and urban congestion pose significant environmental concerns. Balancing the preservation of  cultural heritage with the urgent need for sustainable development remains a complex task for Kolkata. The essence of a city lies in its buildings, people and culture; however this very essence faces threat due to air pollution and climate change. It has been observed from our studies that air around Victoria Memorial is one of the worst in the city. Elevated levels of air pollutants, due to vehicular emissions, industrial emissions and landfill sites pose significant threat to the health of people. The impact majorly affects the livelihoods of Kolkata’s residents, particularly those engaged in outdoor occupations such as traffic police, street vendors and rickshaw pullers.

Dr. Shivaji Bhattacharya, Member Board of Trustees said ,“We are extremely thrilled to collaborate with SwitchON Foundation in organizing this event bringing together experts to collaborate and exchange knowledge on the impact of air pollution and climate change on Kolkata’s cultural heritage.” 

Climatic disasters are not only destroying the balance of the natural ecosystem but also negatively impacting human life and significantly impeding progress towards sustainable development. According to Ecohubmap, Sea levels may rise by about one meter by 2100 if carbon emissions continue unchecked, according to a recent survey of experts, and the effects on coastal cities could be devastating. In 30 years, Kolkata could be the worst-hit among Indian coastal cities as sea levels rise due to global warming.  

Mr. Vinay Jaju, Managing Director, SwitchON Foundation stated, “As per the data from the Central Pollution Control Board, it’s evident that the air quality in the vicinity of the Victoria Memorial Hall consistently ranks lower compared to other areas of the city, not just during winter but throughout the year. These not only pose a threat to the monuments but also people living around them.”

The panelists shed light on the intricate interplay between environmental factors and cultural preservation, addressing the urgent need for collaborative strategies to safeguard the city’s invaluable heritage. Key topics explored during the discussion include the identification of specific threats, the assessment of current conservation efforts, and the formulation of sustainable solutions that balance environmental concerns with the imperative to preserve Kolkata’s unique cultural identity. The panel discussion was followed by an open forum, allowing attendees to actively participate in the conversation, share insights, and contribute to the development of a unified strategy. The goal was to create a platform that encourages dialogue, collaboration, and the initiation of concrete steps towards preserving Kolkata’s cultural heritage for generations to come.

Ms. Barbara Voss, Consul General, The Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany said, “It is really encouraging to witness today’s event which focuses on the devastating effects of air pollution and climate change. The environment today is in serious crisis due to air pollution and climate change and it requires commitment to create awareness and promote solutions and actions.”

Commenting on the event, Mr. GM Kapur, Chairperson, The Heritage Committee, BCC&i & State Convenor, INTACH said, “Today’s event is an extremely purposeful and essential initiative for the collective future of the planet and specially for Kolkata given its rich culture and heritage. I congratulate SwithON Foundation and Victoria Memorial Hall for organizing this event including diverse participants to share knowledge and insights.”

The event marked the opening and the first day of the Move for Earth Symposium, the  annual event of SwitchON Foundation. Move for Earth Symposium, is a three day event initiated at VMH. The next two days in Science City Kolkata will engage more than 1000 participants encompassing keynotes, plenary sessions, roundtables, workshops, green pitch sessions, exhibits, buyer seller meets, stalls on sustainable themes and awards and recognitions making it an all inclusive festival cum celebration on sustainable development.

Media Dossier

Online Articles: The Times Of India | United News of India

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