International Day of Sun

By: N. Munal Meitei
The United Nations Environment Programme initiated the “International Day of the Sun” every year on the 3rd May to encourage the solar power and other renewable energy resources. Sun, the closest and brightest to Earth with massive flaming star is one of about 100 billion in our galaxy, the Milky Way. Even at a distance of 150 million kilometers, its gravitational pull holds the planet in orbit. At its average distance, light travels from the Sun to Earth in about 8 minutes and 20 seconds.
The Sun has extremely important influences on our planet. It drives weather, ocean currents, seasons, and climate and makes plant life possible through photosynthesis. It is in the center of our solar system and Earth’s rotation is responsible for day and night. The  word sun derived from old English sunne. It is the most important provider of energy for the living beings. It is the Earth’s relationship to the Sun, and the amount of light it receives, that is responsible for the seasons and biodiversity.
The energy from Sun warms the planet, prevents us from chilling down about absolute zero temperatures. Our atmosphere catches the power as heat, holding the whole planet a pleasant, comfortable and warm temperature. Sun’s heat makes clouds making rains. So most places on Earth gets water and plants survive.
The celebration of Sun Day begun in 1978 when the US president, Jimmy Carter decided to devote a day to the advocacy of the solar power and energy under the aegis initiated by Denis Hayes. The purpose of Sun Day is to attract the attention of the public to the benefits and opportunities presented by sustainable energy sources and their use as the solution for the prevailing ecological challenges. We wish to take part this day for a more green and ecologically conscious future of the mother earth.
Renewable energy can play an important role in energy security and in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Using renewable energy can help to reduce energy imports and reduce fossil fuel use which is the largest driver for climate change putting all of us in the environmental catastrophes like extreme whether, heat waves, wild fires, heavy cyclones and storms, draught, famine, pollution, sea level rise, biodiversity lost, illegal immigrants, un-employments and pandemics etc. visibly losing Earth’s vitality and pristineness. India saw the warmest Mach this year since IMD began keeping records 122 years ago amid a 71% rain deficit and the whole country is expected to face the hottest year this time.
Using more renewable energy can lower the prices of and demand for natural gas and coal by increasing competition and diversifying our energy supplies. And an increased reliance on renewable energy can help protect consumers when fossil fuel prices spike. Without heat from the Sun, Earth would freeze. There would be no winds, no clouds, no water and no live.
Sun is essential to agriculture which takes the key role in human civilization. Drying food using sun light prevented crops from spoiling. This surplus of food allowed for denser populations and structured societies. Solar power – the conversion of sunlight into electricity – is yet another application of the modern technologies. Maximizing the solar technologies could reduce the energy dependency on fossil fuels. This change could significantly improve the level of environmental pollution in the world. Solar cells have been developed for calculators, watches, commercial buildings, stadiums, telecommunication industries and satellites.
Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas, using to get power sectors produce almost 80% of all our green house gases causing to global warming. Plus, they are non-renewable and limited supply. Combating climate change is the overarching goal of the Paris Agreement. The signatories agreed to limit global warming to well below 2°Cabove pre-industrial levels. This target can only be achieved if we turn into the solar and other renewable energy sectors.
Most sources of renewable energy emits no or low emissions. In addition to deforestation, agriculture and cattle farming, the combustion of fossil energy resources increases the air pollution. Renewable sources such as wind power, hydro power, tidal, geothermal and biomass provide energy without increasing these levels. Current figures indicate that the share of energy consumption covered by renewable energy is increasing worldwide from around 6% in 2000 to around 29% in 2021.
The enormous effect of the Sun on Earth has been recognized since prehistoric times. The Sun was thought of by many cultures as the God. The synodic rotation of Earth and its orbit around the Sun are the basis for all the solar calendars.
The unique feature of using the solar power is that by using the solar power, we do not affect the energy balance of the planet. Solar power is the one of our planet’s most abundant, freely available, less expensive and the most environmentally friendly sources. It allows to avoid the extraction and burning of fuel that is poisoning and suffocating the planet. Today, many devices are manufactured to run on solar batteries for lighting the street, residents of remote settlements away from the cities, owners of private houses and garden plots.
Thus, we all should know the importance of solar energy for the planet and our own survival. Life is possible on the Earth only with the Sun. Therefore, with coming of International Day of the Sun – 2022, let’s use Solar and other renewable energy sources, plant more trees and do everything environment friendly activities for sake of the mother Earth and a green and beautiful planet for the humanity and the future generations.
(Environmentalist, Email: [email protected])