'Include environmental issues in party manifesto'

An activist here Sunday appealed to all political parties to make environment their election agenda for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Addressing media persons at the Press Club of India here, eco-activist Balbir Singh Seechewal drew people's attention towards the deep environmental crisis faced by India.

"I want to appeal to the people to not vote for candidate who aren't serious about the environment," he said.

Seechewal also appealed to senior political leaders of various parties to include environmental issues in their party manifesto.

He also referred to the Copenhagen Accord, which urged countries to fight climate change, and said India has to reduce carbon emission by 20 percent by 2020.

"As we have not been able to arrest the rise of carbon emissions, there is an urgent need to take stringent steps accepting it as a national challenge," he said.