Bhubaneswar: Experts, academicians and environmental stakeholders stressed the need for sustainable and long-term solutions to air pollution, climate change and water-related challenges at the Earth Again Conference 2026, organised by the Sambad Group, in the Odisha capital on Friday.  

Speaking during a session on Air Quality & Water Conservation Dr Debadatta Swain, Associate Professor at the School of Earth, Ocean and Climate Sciences, IIT Bhubaneswar, said air pollution could broadly be studied in two categories—areas with industries and those without industrial activity.

He called for a detailed roadmap to identify the sources of pollution in different regions and formulate appropriate solutions. “Air pollution is never generated from a single location,” he said, stressing the importance of technology in identifying pollution sources.

Dr Swain said satellite-based monitoring could help identify the origins of pollution and facilitate targeted interventions. He also emphasised the need to assess both the positive and negative impacts of setting up industries before projects are established in any area.

According to him, local communities should be involved in such assessments and consultations so that their views are taken into account before industrial projects are undertaken.

Speaking on climate change, Liby Johnson, Executive Director of Gram Vikas, said changing weather patterns were increasingly affecting farmers. While some areas receive rainfall, other areas often remain dry, creating difficulties for agricultural communities.

Johnson stressed the importance of water conservation and greater awareness among farmers. He said timely information about weather conditions could help farmers take preventive measures to protect their crops. For instance, advance information about fog could enable farmers to take appropriate steps to safeguard crops.

He also called for collective responsibility for addressing water scarcity and conserving water resources. Referring to survey findings, Johnson said many people had continued to remain deprived of access to safe drinking water for decades. He stressed that education and awareness about rainwater harvesting and conservation were essential.

Namrata Misra, CEO of BCKIC and adviser to KIIT-TBI, besides being an Assistant Professor at the KIIT School of Biotechnology, said several targets and initiatives were already being pursued to address air and water pollution.

However, she stressed that the objective should not be limited to solving an immediate environmental problem. Instead, efforts should focus on developing solutions that remain effective over the long term and prevent future generations from facing the same challenges.