Temsukala Longkumer
Department of Journalism & Mass communication, NU Lumami
Nagaland, which is endowed with rich biodiversity and cultural wealth, is slowly going greener, motivated by increasing environmental consciousness and science communication interventions. While global environmental concerns for climate change, pollution, and resource depletion are on the increase, it has become a necessity to adopt sustainable living, impacting consumerism, corporate strategies, and government policies.
Green marketing that supports ecologically friendly products and services is gaining pace in the state, especially in cities like Dimapur and Kohima. Consumers are increasingly making eco-sensitive choices, preferring biodegradable packaging, organic produce, energy-saving appliances, and eco-fashion.
Nevertheless, the growing awareness notwithstanding, factors like high price points, absence of waste management infrastructure, and limited access to green products are acting as inhibitors to large-scale adoption.
Science communication is also important in tackling these issues by informing the public about the advantages of environmentally friendly practices, encouraging environmentally friendly consumption patterns, and stimulating companies to become greener in their production processes. Several programs, such as environmentally friendly companies, organic agriculture, waste management schemes, and clean energy technologies, are being implemented throughout the state to prevent harm to the environment.
Business people are investing in eco-friendly items like bamboo toothbrushes, biodegradable cutlery, and natural fibres, responding to international patterns of green consumption. Farmers, on the other hand, are being educated in organic agriculture methods, minimizing the use of chemical fertilizers, and adopting agroforestry practices to sustain soil fertility and diversity.
Management of waste continues to be an important problem in cities, as more plastic contamination endangers the environment. Yet, public awareness campaigns that advocate waste segregation, composting, and recycling have begun gaining momentum, nudging individuals and companies towards the practice of proper disposal.
Furthermore, renewable energy options, most notably solar power, are also being pursued in order to lower reliance on non-renewable energy.
These notwithstanding, however, Nagaland continues to experience major challenges towards embracing sustainability as a way of life. The exorbitant price of green goods continues to discourage most customers, while companies grapple with cheaper methods of manufacturing environmentally friendly products.
Additionally, the absence of government incentives and policy backing towards sustainable projects hinders progress. To overcome such impediments, more robust partnerships among policymakers, researchers, companies, and communities are required.
Science communication has to be empowered through online media, outreach programs for the community, and education programs to effectively communicate the need for conserving the environment and the advantage of living sustainably. Colleges and schools can take a leading role by making environmental education a part of their curriculum, inculcating the culture of sustainability right from the early years. Also, using social media and local media channels to disseminate information regarding green practices can make the gap between knowledge and action narrower.
The place of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in green marketing cannot also be ignored since companies that pursue sustainability not only help in environmental conservation but also improve their image and the confidence of consumers.
The blending of the old Naga ecological wisdom with contemporary scientific innovation can further reinforce sustainability as indigenous people have long been practicing conservation of resources, organic farming, and ethical consumption.
Renewing such old practices based on scientific provenance and consumer sensitization could act as an inspiration for a sustainable way of living.
Future planning for sustainability in Nagaland will involve multidisciplinary planning through support with regulation, finance incentives, and ongoing education. Government intervention could involve offering tax rebates for green industries, subsidy on green adoption of energy sources, and rigorous regulations over the disposal of plastic waste so as to accelerate momentum. Consumers need to be enabled with appropriate information to enable them to make green choices, driving demand for sustainable products and compelling businesses to create greener options.
Through the right combination of science communication, policy action, and community outreach, Nagaland can be a model in green living, leading other states and nations towards an environmentally sustainable future. Through persistent efforts, the vision of a greener Nagaland—where economic growth aligns with environmental conservation—can be achieved, ensuring a healthier, more resilient ecosystem for future generations.
