It is no longer Climate Change
Within a tolerable range.
A crisis is what it’s about
With fires, floods as well as drought.
Every week a constant blast,
Far worse than seen in the past.
If we must, we will adapt
Prevention though would be more apt.
There is a cost to adaptation,
It’s rising fast in every nation
As well as for the world at large.
This will be a heavy charge.
In fact we should all conclude
Prevention would be far more shrewd.
It actually would cost much less
And avoid a lot of stress.
In capitalism's early days we see
Social responsibility in some degree.
To dissipate the urban gloom
Both Cadbury, Lord Leverhulme
Then pioneered the company town.
In India this example has come down.
My grandfather probably saw
These examples and found no flaw. He bought faraway marshy land.
His critics just couldn't understand.
They concluded he had gone quite mad
But today we are glad, not sad.
A township then slowly arose
And this is where our business grows.
We provided every needed tool
Housing, hospital and school.
My uncle known as Sohrabji
Way back could clearly see
The environment was under stress
Neglect he knew would be a mess. In saving tigers he played a role.
The environment was a major goal.
Our creek side land was reserved
The mangroves there well preserved.
And all of you should understand,
This was two thirds of our land.
And from my office I gaze out there,
A Mumbai view that's very rare,
With greenery all the way
Until you sight New Bombay.
And now and then, with friends I float
On a gently moving boat,
With pink Flamingos in full flight,
To my mind a splendid sight.
And now it is our aspiration
To pursue research and conservation And spreading awareness all around.
This strategy is very sound.
Under my cousins Pheroza and Jamshyd
I’m very sure that we’ll succeed.
At first there was benign neglect
But thanks to research we could select
An approach that is more integrated
This is widely appreciated.
Many innovations have been tried
Our mangroves are ISO certified.
We were the first of the block
Of all our species we’ve taken stock.
Our fishermen’s livelihoods are preserved
Flood prevention is usefully served.
Carbon is sequestered, we all know
As our mangroves steadily grow.
It is indeed a cause for good cheer
That it’s 60,000 tons each year.
Over a million tons is now the stock
So much Carbon we could lock.
For us it’s clearly understood
Preserving mangroves is really good.
And for all the good work that’s been done
Many sustainability awards have been won.
All this is great cause for celebration
But more can be done with collaboration.
And all of us should now rejoice
That WWF and Godrej and Boyce
Are training the youth of nine coastal states
This should open the knowledge floodgates
And enlightened citizen participation
Enables mangrove preservation
Which leads to biodiversity conservation
And several benefits to the world and our nation.
Godrej and Boyce’s recent mission
Was setting up the Indian Wetland Coalition.
There are many partners we can see,
Wetlands International, WWF and GIZ.
India’s Ministry of Environment is very much there
Forests and Climate Change, CII have a share.
This extensive collaboration
Is very good for the nation.
Mangroves are good for soil retention
They ensure flood prevention.
Biodiversity is maintained
Ecotourism can be attained.
Profitable fishing is sustained.
And from trees much can be gained
Pongamia is a case indeed.
If we plant it we can succeed
It can tolerate salinity.
And it has the ability
With just a little bit of toil
To provide us with protein and oil
And useful chemicals as well
Multiple benefits as you can tell
Including carbon sequestration
An essential benefit for any nation.
So collectively let’s all unite.
Let’s keep the benefits in sight.
And if we do what’s just and right
I am sure with all our might
Successfully we will get there
To a brave new world that’s green and fair.
