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Business Standard
a day ago
- General
- Business Standard
World Environment Day 2025: India leads with massive plastic-free campaigns
As the world prepares to mark World Environment Day on 5 June 2025, the spotlight this year falls squarely on one of the planet's most pressing threats – plastic pollution. With plastic waste choking oceans, piling up in landfills, and entering food chains, this year's theme calls for urgent action to reduce, reuse, and recycle. The global campaign aims to unite governments, communities, and individuals in a shared mission to curb plastic use and safeguard the environment for future generations. Ahead of Environment Day 2025, India has launched a nationwide initiative titled "One Nation, One Mission: End Plastic Pollution." Environmentalist and social activist Viral Desai, also known as the "Greenman," will start a 7-day tree-planting campaign on June 5 in honour of World Environment Day, and UP has mobilised 22,000 schools to fight "plastic pollution," among other campaigns that have been started before World Environment Day 2025. What is the theme of World Environment Day 2025? The World Environment Day 2025 theme is 'Beat Plastic Pollution', continued with the #BeatPlasticPollution campaign tagline. This theme draws attention to a worldwide issue that still endangers human health, marine life, and ecosystems. The theme urges all parties involved, from citizens and businesses to legislators to cut back on plastic pollution. The theme for Environment Day 2025 encourages eco-friendly substitutes such as biodegradable packaging, reusable containers, and cloth bags. Everyone is urged by the campaign to make thoughtful decisions that will lessen the use of plastic. In anticipation of World Environment Day 2025, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change began a nationwide mass mobilisation campaign on May 23 called "One Nation, One Mission: End Plastic Pollution." In a pre-campaign video, Union Minister for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav urged everyone to embrace sustainable living to eradicate plastic pollution, moving beyond awareness to group action. In an official release, 'This campaign highlights India's unwavering commitment to environmental protection and sustainability, aligned with India's flagship initiative – Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment)". "Tik Tik Plastic" is a powerful environmental awareness campaign that has been introduced in Mumbai. A short film starring Bollywood star Ajay Devgn has been released as part of the promotion. Ahead of the World Environment Day 2025, set to take place on June 5, 2025, the BMC posted the short film on the social media site X (Twitter) on Sunday. Every citizen is urged to take action by the short film and its message, protect the environment, use less plastic, and ensure a healthier planet for future generations. With an emphasis on this year's worldwide theme, "Ending Plastic Pollution," East Coast Railway (ECoR) has launched a comprehensive awareness and action campaign from May 22 to June 5 in honour of World Environment Day 2025. This program highlights Indian Railways' dedication to pollution prevention and environmental sustainability by promoting a plastic-free environment in trains, station premises, and railway stations. • Viral Desai's 'Tree Plantation' campaign In honour of World Environment Day, environmentalist and social activist Viral Desai, also referred to as the "Greenman," will launch a 7-day tree-planting campaign on June 5. The initiative to plant 1,000 trees at Surat and Navsari in Gujarat demonstrates Desai's persistent dedication to urban greening and conservation. The program will increase green space and increase public awareness of residents' ecological responsibility. The initiative is highly strategic, promoting ecological improvement, civic engagement, and climate resilience. • UP organises its education system for a huge environmental awareness campaign 1. The state's Directorate of Environment has mandated all 75 districts to execute student-centred activities under the 2025 theme, "End Plastic Globally." 2. A 100-foot collaborative art piece created from recycled materials, 45-minute expert-led workshops, and 12 street plays performances by school groups are all part of the main event at Lucknow's Regional Science Centre, Aliganj. It is anticipated that 30 schools in Lucknow will send around 5,000 students to the main event. 3. Sushant Sharma, the director of environment, confirmed that 22,000 government schools, state-wise, will have local events simultaneously. Additionally, 147 recognised NGOs are organising community cleanup campaigns at significant bodies of water. During awareness walks facilitated by National Service Scheme volunteers, urban local bodies will distribute 50,000 cloth bags in marketplaces. 4. Using microscopes and interactive displays, environmental experts from Lucknow University will lead special workshops that explain the 100-year degradation cycle of plastic items. For student-led plantation campaigns, the state horticulture department has set aside 25,000 saplings, along with monitoring systems to check the survival rates of the saplings for 6 months after the event. To commemorate World Environment Day 2025 and promote the 'Fit India Movement', the Department of Youth Services and Sports (YSS) J&K planned many exciting events in several UT districts. 132 people participated in Ramban's cyclothon, and Rajouri's Sundays on Cycle for all zones promoted eco-friendly transportation.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Protect whatever is left of Aravallis, combat illegal mining, environmental group urges Haryana government
The government needs to take immediate action to preserve what remains of the two billion-year-old Aravalli range, People for Aravallis, a collective of environmentalists and citizens, stated in a report on Friday. The report, forwarded to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, stressed that these forests have crucial 'ecological functions of being South Haryana's and Delhi-NCR's critical water recharge zone, only barrier against desertification, pollution sink, climate regulator and wildlife habitat'. Spread over 692 km, the Aravallis cover Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi and Haryana. In Haryana, they are found in the southwest part of the state, covering five divisions: Gurgaon, Faridabad, Mewat, Mahendargarh, and Rewari. Extensively documenting the destruction and deforestation caused by illegal mining and other commercial activities in the Aravallis, the 70-page report makes a host of recommendations to alleviate the situation and salvage what remains. The collective sought to have the entire forest stretch designated a 'Critical Ecological Zone' and to commission independent studies to quantify the value and destruction of the ecosystem services provided by the Aravalli mountain region. It further called for laws against ecological crimes, specifically to penalise those indulging in illegal mining, encroachments, tree felling, poaching, and waste dumping in the Aravallis. The diversion of Aravalli land for real estate projects by the Haryana government should be halted, and the state should withdraw its appeal against the Supreme Court's ban on mining in the area, it said. 'Current ill health of the Aravalli range (as brought out in this Citizens' Report) cannot afford more extraction of natural resources for construction as it is jeopardising the principle of sustainability. To save what is left of the 2 billion year old Aravalli range and the ecosystem services it provides, it is crucial to mainstream alternatives for the use of virgin stone mined from the mountains across Haryana, Rajasthan & Gujarat. The real estate and infrastructure sectors should be directed to find alternative sources for meeting their requirements. Industry can commission independent studies and assessments to seek/source the building materials from alternative sources that they can use for the next 50 years,' it said. The report also sought compensation for those with serious illnesses resulting from mining-induced pollution in the region. It also sought that the government devise and implement an action plan to remove invasive plant species across the Aravalli belt, and undertake the planting of native species. It said the Haryana Forest Department should impose a complete ban on planting trees like papdi and kabli jikar in public places, near roads, and around ponds, as these trees release harmful gases that negatively impact the health of humans and animals. The collective also sought the revival of dried-up rivers and seasonal streams in Haryana, like Dohan and Krishnawati. It also proposed the removal of water-intensive factories near these areas and the Sabu River, as well as all other encroachments, to allow the groundwater to recharge naturally.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
What are Aravalis' main threats? Greens give Centre, state report
Gurgaon: Based on what they say is ground observations made over a year of visits, a group of environmentalists has submitted their findings to the central and state govts, seeking urgent measures to protect the Aravalis. Compiled as a 70-page report titled 'State of the Haryana Aravalis: Citizens' Report Part 1', the findings raise critical questions for water security, air quality and biodiversity of Delhi-NCR, which are intrinsically linked to the wellbeing of the Aravalis. Copies of the report were handed over to Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav and chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday. Rampant violations like construction of illegal farmhouses, colonies and commercial establishments on protected Aravali land have repeatedly come under Supreme Court's scrutiny. Last week, it rapped the state govt for an illegal road being laid at Basai Meo in Nuh with stones quarried from a hillock that led to its collapse. The report contains four main demands – a legal declaration of the entire Haryana Aravali range as 'no-go zones' for mining and stone crushing, introduction of a law that treats destruction of Aravalis as an ecological crime punishable with strict penalties, including action against negligent officials, implementation of strict enforcement and ecological restoration measures, compensation for communities suffering from pollution and displacement, and a policy shift that requires the real estate and infrastructure sector to adopt construction materials other than Aravali-sourced stones. Neelam Ahluwalia, founder member of People for Aravalis, the group that compiled the report, said, "We are hoping the demands for Aravali protection given in this report can act as a blueprint for govt to create and deliver policies and plans to protect what is left of India's oldest hill range. We hope our wildlife does not lose its home and our current and future generations can live with dignity without gasping for breath or being choked in the dust storms coming from Thar desert or fighting over water. " Rajasthan-based water conservationist Dr Rajendra Singh said, "In 2009, Supreme Court banned mining completely in the Aravali hills in Gurgaon, Nuh and Faridabad. Time has now come to look at the 670km Aravali range spread across four states as one ecosystem critical for survival of millions of people living in north-west India." The report illustrates how licenced mining and stone crushing units across the Haryana Aravalis flouted rules, and how illegal mining continues despite a 16-year-old ban. It also states how out of the seven districts where the Aravalis are present in Haryana, licenced mining wiped out most of the range in Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Haryana: Citizens' report calls for 'no-go' zones for mining in the Aravallis
CHANDIGARH: A citizens' report has been submitted to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, demanding the declaration of 'NO-GO' areas for mining and stone crushing in the Aravallis. It also calls for a law that classifies the destruction of this ancient mountain range as an ecological crime in Haryana. The report, titled 'State of the Haryana Aravallis: Citizens' Report – Part 1', was submitted by the environmental collective 'People for Aravallis'. It outlines the status of the Aravalli range across seven Haryana districts, Nuh, Faridabad, Gurugram, Rewari, Mahendergarh, Charkhi Dadri and Bhiwani. The report highlights that due to rampant mining (both licensed and illegal), deforestation, encroachments, and diversion of Aravalli land for various projects, the two-billion-year-old range is on the brink of extinction. Neelam Ahluwalia, Founder Member of People for Aravallis, said, 'This report is the first in the series of reports that our group is sharing with our elected representatives and bureaucracy, on the dismal health of our 'lifeline' which is vital for clean air and water security." "In the backdrop of the Supreme Court this week expressing serious concern over continuing illegal mining across the 670-kilometre Aravalli range and giving the Centre-led Committee a final two-month deadline to arrive at a 'uniform definition of the ecologically crucial mountain range', this report highlights the extremely worrying status of the Aravalli hills and forests in Haryana,' she said. She added that the destruction has resulted from a lack of legal safeguards and ground-level protection, with significant consequences for the environment and public health in the region.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Securing clean energy is the key to climate policy: Environment minister
There are three main drivers of India's climate policy architecture: Circular economy; environmental sustainability and protection of the natural ecosystems; and promoting adaptation to climate change, Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav said on Thursday addressing the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Annual Business Summit in the Capital. 'When you ask me what is India's climate policy architecture? I say it is about securing the rights of 140 crore (1.4 billion) citizens to clean energy. It is also about keeping our skies blue and our oceans clean. The pathway for India as an emerging economy is about building a robust economy, which is in sync with ecology,' Yadav said. India's unique climate policy architecture successfully balances developmental imperatives with ambitious climate goals, he added.
