opinion

April 22 is Earth Day.

To protect the earth, the cradle of life, and maintain a clean ecological environment is an important undertaking of all mankind.

But at present, the ever-increasing human activities have made a big impact on the global environment.

Global warming, ozone depletion, sandstorm, etc. have caused serious atmospheric problems.

The World Meteorological Organization recently announced that the global average temperature in 2024 was 1.55℃ higher than before the Industrial Revolution, exceeding the limit of 1.5°C, which was set as an ideal goal by the Paris agreement on climate change ten years before, for the first time.

As the global temperature rises every year, glaciers in the Arctic melt gradually to flow into the sea. If such a change fails to be stopped, the Arctic ice is estimated to completely disappear by 2030 and the sea level to rise by 7.1 metres by 2100. 

According to research data, the amount of ozone at the centre of the ozone hole in the sky over the Antarctic remarkably diminished as compared to that 20 years ago. By late October 2023, the area of the ozone hole there was over 26 million square kilometres, nearly double that of the Antarctica. Ozone destruction increases human exposure to ultraviolet rays, causing skin cancer, cataract and all other kinds of diseases.

Now that sandstorm rages across the world ceaselessly, the sand dust not only enters the respiratory system of humans to cause various diseases but also reduces solar radiation to hinder the growth of plants and pollute the environment.

The marine environment is also seriously being affected.

As marine development is activated along with the rapid economic growth since the late 20th century, a lot of industrial waste water, domestic sewage, plastic waste and all kinds of other waste are flowing into the sea, destroying the marine ecosystem.

If the marine environment is not destroyed and ecological balance is not disrupted, mankind can reportedly produce 3 billion tons of seafood at sea annually.

To protect the ecological environment of the Earth is an important issue related to the existence of mankind.

That is why many countries around the world are moving towards the development and use of renewable energy resources that make the global environment cleaner and meet the increasing demand for energy.

The DPRK also conducts the work to exploit natural energy resources.

Solar power stations have been built across the country to make effective use of solar energy resources. A large number of households in the Jangchon Vegetable Farm in Sadong District, Pyongyang, and many other farms and units produce hot water using solar water heaters for the supply of heating and domestic water.

Geothermal water is used for heating on Ryomyong Street and Mirae Scientists Street in Pyongyang. In particular, electricity-saving, roof and wall greening and other green architectural techniques capable of effectively using solar, geothermal and other natural energy resources have been introduced into Ryomyong Street which can be claimed to be an energy-saving and green street.

The country also carries on the production of methane gas using biomass energy and of electricity using wind power and the construction of tidal power stations.

To positively protect the marine environment, offshore farms and fishery stations actively create artificial reefs and release fry. The construction of marine farms is also pushed ahead in order to increase seafood production by introducing various farming methods and to protect the marine ecological environment.

Meanwhile, positive efforts are channelled into research into marine ecology along with the proper management of marine ecological reserves.

The DPRK promotes exchanges and cooperation with international organizations including the UN Environment Programme.

It is the duty of all of us to positively protect and preserve the ecological environment of the Earth and hand it down to posterity.