Lucknow, April 22, 2026: The Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) commemorated World Earth Day 2026 with a strong message of environmental responsibility and public action, aligning with the global theme "Our Power - Our Planet." The theme underscores the urgent need to accelerate clean energy transitions, promote responsible lifestyles, and empower communities to protect the Earth for future generations.

Addressing scientists, students, teachers, and visitors, Prof. M. G. Thakkar, Director, BSIP, delivered a powerful call for developing civic sense and environmental sensitivity in everyday life. He cautioned that human negligence is visibly damaging the planet.

"Today we speak of greening the Earth, yet we deface it with tobacco spit and litter. We order hot food packed in plastic, harming both the environment and our own health. If we do not become sensitive to Mother Earth now, we will have to face severe consequences," Prof. Thakkar said. Connecting the Earth Day theme "Our Power - Our Planet" with present-day challenges, Prof. Thakkar emphasized that renewable energy and responsible consumption are central to restoring ecological balance.

"Mother Earth is clearly urging a call to action. Oceans are filling with plastic, extreme heat, floods, and wildfires are intensifying, and millions are being affected. The power to change this lies in our choices," he said.

He highlighted that climate change, accelerated by deforestation, land degradation, unsustainable agriculture, and fossil-fuel dependence, demands urgent systemic transformation.

"Ecosystem restoration is not just about planting trees. It is about transforming our energy systems, reducing carbon emissions, and shifting towards renewable energy sources that empower both people and the planet," he added, encouraging students and scientists to adopt small but meaningful lifestyle changes.

Our Planet Earth: Past, Present & Future

The Chief Guest of the programme, Prof. Dhruv Sen Singh, Head, Department of Geology, University of Lucknow, delivered an insightful lecture titled "Our Planet Earth: Past, Present & Future." Underscoring the urgency of environmental stewardship, he remarked, "There is no home like Planet Earth. If we fail to protect our Mother Earth today, humanity itself will face extinction."

He explained that while climate change is a natural process operating over geological time scales, human activities have drastically accelerated it.

"Earth provides all life-supporting systems free of cost, yet human actions are degrading them at an alarming rate, leading to more frequent natural disasters and extreme events," he observed.

Prof. Singh strongly advocated reducing plastic use, transitioning from non-renewable to renewable energy sources, and responsibly addressing the rising energy demands of a growing population.

He urged students and young researchers to prioritize protecting Earth rather than focusing solely on the search for life on other planets, emphasizing that Earth's unique integration of the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere makes it exceptionally conducive to sustaining life.

Pledge for the Planet

As a collective commitment to sustainability, all staff members, students, and participants took a pledge to protect and preserve Mother Earth for sustainable development, administered by Prof. Dhruv Sen Singh.

The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from students and teachers of Integral University, Techno Institute, S.S. International Public School, University of Lucknow, and Bhagwan Baksh Singh Degree College. Participants also visited Asia's only Museum of Palaeosciences at BSIP, where they explored the botanical and geological history of Planet Earth, gaining insights into its evolution, resilience, and fragility.

Launch of Palaeoscience Today, popular science quarterly

As part of the Earth Day celebrations, BSIP released the latest volume of its quarterly popular science magazine, Palaeoscience Today, reinforcing the Institute's 'Lab to Society' outreach mission. The magazine was released by Prof. Thakkar (Chief Editor) along with members of the editorial board - Dr. Firoze Quamar, Dr. Nimish Kapoor, Dr. K. G. Misra, and Dr. Swati Tripathi. Palaeoscience Today is available on BSIP's website www.bsip.res.in.

The Earth Day 2026 programme at BSIP concluded with a clear and compelling message: There is no home like Planet Earth. Our power lies in our choices. Today, let us choose our planet.