We have already committed the world to a grave environmental change. It has been the cumulative action, spread over several decades of so many people all over the world which has caused the degeneration of natural resources and adverse changes in the environment of today.

Though a large share of responsibility of bringing about these changes goes to the industrialized countries of the world, each locality, each region and each country has contributed to it in one way or other. Local or regional problems concerning environment as well as global issues which confront humanity today have to be simultaneously addressed as it is many of the local problems only which add up to assume global dimensions.

Emission of waste gases from small industrial units, smoke coming out of a tiny power plant, automobile exhausts etc. while causing a local nuisance also add a little bit to the global burden of green house gases. Disappearance of a local species of plant or an animal may cause deletion of some of the useful genes from the population of the species.

Pollution of local bodies of water may add up to the water crisis of the locality but could also result in disappearance of some of the important species of aquatic plants or animals finally adding a little to the over all degeneration of biodiversity. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) used and released from each small or large townships while apparently causing no local problems could contribute a little to the ozone depleting substances of the stratosphere.

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A versatile and multi-directional strategy is required to redress the environmental problems both at regional and global levels. It calls for concerted efforts and co-operation of individuals, small or larger communities, governments and international agencies.

However, there is by no means a general agreement among experts regarding the precise action or the ways which should be adopted for the purpose. Diverse means and methods are being used by environmentally conscious people all over the world. In general, most of the efforts being carried out to protect the natural resources, wild life, environment and building up of a sustainable society involve:

1. Environmental Education.

2. Sustainable uses of natural resources.

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3. Checking pollution of environment and stabilizing global chemical cycles.

4. Halting degeneration of biodiversity.

5. Placing a check on population growth.