Every year on June 5th, World Environment Day serves as a global reminder of our planet’s fragile health and our shared responsibility to protect it. In 2025, Bollywood actress Sandeepa Dhar delivered a message that strikes at the core of the environmental crisis: “We’re dismantling the machinery that keeps us breathing.” This stark statement carries profound meaning, compelling us to reflect on how human activities have been systematically destroying the natural systems essential for life.
As the world grapples with escalating climate change, air pollution, and biodiversity loss, Dhar’s words emphasize the urgency of safeguarding the very ecosystems that sustain our existence. Her message is a wake-up call for individuals, governments, and industries alike to re-examine their impact on the environment and commit to sustainable actions.
Understanding the “Machinery” Behind Our Breath
When Dhar speaks of the “machinery that keeps us breathing,” she is drawing attention to the intricate natural systems that purify the air, regulate the climate, and maintain the delicate balance necessary for life on Earth. This machinery is composed of forests, oceans, wetlands, and the atmosphere—working in unison to produce oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, and filter pollutants.
Forests, often referred to as the lungs of the planet, absorb vast quantities of CO₂ while releasing oxygen through photosynthesis. Oceans serve as giant carbon sinks, absorbing nearly a third of human-generated CO₂ emissions and supporting marine biodiversity. Wetlands act as natural water filters and carbon reservoirs. Together, these ecosystems form a biological “machine” essential to human survival.
Yet, in the last few decades, this machinery has been relentlessly dismantled. Rampant deforestation, industrial pollution, urban sprawl, and climate change are overwhelming these natural systems. The consequences are visible everywhere—rising air pollution, erratic weather patterns, shrinking forests, and dying coral reefs. Dhar’s message compels us to acknowledge that the air we breathe, often taken for granted, depends on the health of these interconnected systems.
The Rising Role of Celebrities in Environmental Advocacy
In recent years, celebrities have increasingly used their platforms to advocate for social and environmental causes. Sandeepa Dhar’s candid reflection on World Environment Day is a testament to this growing trend, where public figures embrace responsibility to inspire awareness and change.
Celebrities have a unique ability to reach diverse audiences and influence public opinion. When they speak about pressing environmental issues, they not only spread knowledge but also normalize eco-conscious behavior among their fans. Dhar’s message goes beyond awareness—it instills a sense of urgency and personal connection to the environment.
Her contribution is part of a broader cultural shift where sustainability is becoming integral to entertainment and celebrity branding. This helps generate momentum for environmental campaigns, policy advocacy, and grassroots movements worldwide. By aligning with global causes, celebrities help transform abstract problems like climate change into tangible, relatable challenges demanding immediate action.
The Environmental Crisis: An Urgent Reality
Despite decades of warnings from scientists and activists, the environmental crisis intensifies. Global temperatures have risen significantly, pushing ecosystems beyond their limits. The latest reports from climate scientists paint a grim picture: irreversible damage to coral reefs, massive glacier melts, and more frequent and severe natural disasters.
Air pollution remains one of the leading causes of premature deaths globally. According to the World Health Organization, millions die every year due to exposure to polluted air, with the highest burden falling on low- and middle-income countries. This crisis is intricately linked to how we manage natural resources and the energy we consume.
The dismantling of Earth’s natural “machinery” accelerates these trends. As forests are cleared for agriculture and development, carbon sinks vanish, and biodiversity is lost. The oceans, burdened by plastic waste and acidification, struggle to support marine life that also contributes to oxygen production. Dhar’s words remind us that this is not an abstract threat but a direct assault on the systems that keep us alive.
Why World Environment Day Holds Special Significance Today
Since its inception by the United Nations in 1974, World Environment Day has evolved into the most prominent platform for environmental action. Each year, it spotlights a theme that highlights an urgent ecological issue, encouraging governments, businesses, and individuals to take responsibility.
In 2025, the theme resonates deeply with Dhar’s message by emphasizing the importance of natural ecosystems in maintaining air quality and climate stability. This alignment underscores how crucial it is for all sectors of society to recognize their role in environmental degradation and their capacity to foster healing.
Local and Global Dimensions of Environmental Challenges
While the environmental crisis is a global phenomenon, its manifestations vary by region. In India, where Dhar’s influence is significant, air pollution is among the world’s worst, with major cities often recording hazardous air quality indices. These conditions lead to respiratory illnesses, reduced life expectancy, and increased healthcare burdens.
At the same time, rural areas face severe deforestation and water scarcity, impacting agriculture and livelihoods. Coastal communities deal with rising sea levels and eroding shorelines. Dhar’s message draws attention to this local-global nexus—how actions in one place can have ripple effects worldwide, given the interconnectedness of Earth’s systems.
This interconnectedness means that protecting local ecosystems is vital not only for regional health but also for global environmental stability. Urban forests, wetlands, and green spaces act as buffers against pollution and climate extremes. Restoring these areas can reverse some damage and improve quality of life for millions.
Individual Choices and Collective Impact
Amidst large-scale policy debates and corporate commitments, the power of individual action remains pivotal. Sandeepa Dhar’s words prompt self-reflection on the daily choices we make—our consumption patterns, waste generation, and energy use.
Simple lifestyle changes, such as minimizing plastic use, conserving water, supporting local and sustainable products, and using public transport, collectively contribute to reducing environmental strain. Dhar’s message humanizes the crisis by linking it directly to breathing—something everyone experiences—making it clear that environmental degradation affects every person, not just distant ecosystems.
By adopting eco-friendly habits and advocating for environmental justice, individuals can become agents of change. Moreover, informed citizens can hold governments and corporations accountable, pushing for greener policies and ethical business practices.
The Machinery We Must Protect: Nature’s Vital Systems
The natural world operates as a complex, interdependent system, where the disruption of one component impacts others. Protecting the “machinery” that sustains life means preserving this balance.
Forests are vital carbon sinks, absorbing billions of tonnes of CO₂ annually. They also harbor the majority of terrestrial biodiversity, support indigenous communities, and regulate water cycles. The ongoing deforestation for agriculture, urbanization, and logging threatens these functions.
Oceans cover over 70% of the Earth’s surface and regulate climate through heat absorption and carbon sequestration. Coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds provide habitat, protect coastlines, and contribute to oxygen production. However, pollution, warming waters, and acidification jeopardize these ecosystems.
Wetlands filter pollutants and act as buffers against floods and droughts. The destruction of wetlands worldwide reduces these protective services, making communities more vulnerable to climate impacts.
Sandeepa Dhar’s metaphorical “machinery” is this interconnected network of ecosystems. When one element falters, the entire system suffers, affecting air quality and climate regulation—the very essence of human survival.
The Consequences of Dismantling This Machinery
The repercussions of environmental degradation are far-reaching. Increased greenhouse gas concentrations lead to climate change, resulting in extreme weather events like floods, droughts, and heatwaves. These phenomena disrupt agriculture, displace populations, and threaten food and water security.
Air pollution contributes to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, with vulnerable groups like children and the elderly at highest risk. Biodiversity loss reduces ecosystem resilience, compromising nature’s ability to recover from disturbances.
These impacts have social and economic dimensions, exacerbating inequalities and hindering development. The dismantling of nature’s machinery is not just an ecological crisis but a humanitarian one.
The Role of Policy and Governance in Environmental Protection
While individual action is crucial, systemic change requires robust policies and governance. Governments worldwide must prioritize environmental protection, balancing economic growth with sustainability.
Sandeepa Dhar’s message aligns with the growing demand for climate action in policy arenas. International agreements like the Paris Accord aim to limit global warming, but implementation remains uneven. National and local governments must enforce regulations to curb pollution, protect forests, and promote renewable energy.
Urban planning should integrate green infrastructure, improve public transportation, and ensure sustainable resource management. Industries must be held accountable for emissions and waste, incentivized to adopt clean technologies.
Public participation in environmental decision-making enhances transparency and effectiveness. Civil society organizations, activists, and communities play vital roles in monitoring and advocacy.
Harnessing Technology and Innovation for Sustainability
Science and technology offer tools to repair damaged ecosystems and reduce human impact. Advances in renewable energy—solar, wind, and bioenergy—reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Innovations in waste management, water purification, and sustainable agriculture contribute to resource conservation.
Satellite imagery and AI enhance environmental monitoring, enabling early detection of deforestation, pollution, and climate anomalies. Carbon capture and storage technologies hold promise for mitigating emissions.
However, Dhar’s message reminds us that technology must complement, not replace, respect for nature. Sustainable development requires harmonizing human progress with ecological integrity.
The Importance of Environmental Education and Awareness
Building a sustainable future depends on cultivating environmental consciousness across generations. Education systems should emphasize ecological literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving related to sustainability.
Campaigns like World Environment Day raise public awareness and inspire action. Media and entertainment, including celebrities like Sandeepa Dhar, amplify messages and make environmental issues accessible.
Empowering people with knowledge fosters stewardship and collective responsibility, essential for long-term change.
Conclusion: A Shared Responsibility to Preserve Our Breath
Sandeepa Dhar’s powerful statement on World Environment Day encapsulates the environmental crisis in simple yet profound terms. The “machinery that keeps us breathing” is fragile and in peril, threatened by human actions that prioritize short-term gains over planetary health.
Her words serve as a clarion call to protect and restore the natural systems vital for clean air, climate stability, and life itself. This requires concerted efforts from individuals, communities, governments, and businesses worldwide.
As we reflect on her message, let it inspire us to change our habits, demand accountability, and champion sustainability. The future depends on the choices we make today to safeguard the machinery that allows every breath we take.