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Express Tribune
an hour ago
- General
- Express Tribune
Innovators recognised on Environment Day
To kick off the World Environment Day celebrations, Devcom-Pakistan hosted the Pakistan Environmental Awards and Conference of Best Practices 2025 under the theme "Beyond Plastic Waste – Navigating Climate and Environmental Risks." The organisers gathered leading voices in environmental policy, science, conservation, and sustainable development. World Environment Day, observed annually on June 5 since 1973 under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is the largest global platform for environmental awareness. This year, the global celebration is being hosted by the Republic of Korea with a focus on ending plastic pollution - a major threat to climate goals, ocean health, biodiversity, and human wellbeing. Environmental Conservation Awards (Individuals) recognised the green champions, including Rina Saeed Khan, for her transformative voluntary leadership as Chairperson of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board. Sana Raja, for her outstanding wildlife rescue efforts, including the rehabilitation of endangered species such as pangolins and dancing bears. Teacher Usman, for his community-driven rainwater harvesting initiative, building over 770 ponds and promoting water conservation in mosques. Muhammad Irshad Ramay, an environmental engineer who established a cleaner production centre in Pakistan, promoting sustainability and resource efficiency. Riffat Ara Baig, for engaging over 5,000 students in environmental art, awareness campaigns, and cleanup drives since 1996. Silvia Shamoon, for her decade-long work in improving slum environments through tree plantation, waste segregation, and youth empowerment. Special Mentions were made for Dr Mehar Nigar for her "Saaf Muhalla Saaf Pakistan" initiative. Kashaf Akhtar for launching a startup that recycles single-use plastics into eco-friendly planters and tiles. Federal Minister for Board of Investment (BOI) delivered an impactful speech and praised the awards initiative as a step toward recognising and motivating sustainability efforts in the country. He said: "Beating plastic pollution is not just an environmental necessity - it is a national imperative.
Qatar Tribune
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar a regional model for balancing development and environmental protection: UNEP regional director
DOHA: Director and Regional Representative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for West Asia Sami Dimassi has emphasized that the State of Qatar represents a model to be emulated regionally and globally in achieving a balance between sustainable development and environmental conservation. In a speech delivered at the launch ceremony of the Qatar Biodiversity Database on Tuesday, Dimassi commended the progress made by Qatar in the areas of sustainable development, particularly in the area of biodiversity protection, stressing the need to preserve the country's natural wealth from deterioration and growing challenges. He noted that the State of Qatar enjoys a unique environmental diversity that includes terrestrial, marine, coastal, and desert systems, making it an environment rich in living organisms that form part of its natural heritage. Dimassi added that the launch of the Qatar Biodiversity Database is the fruit of a strategic partnership between the UNEP and Qatar, resulting in the development of technical mechanisms that enhance biodiversity governance, scientific monitoring and documentation systems, and the provision of accurate data that supports decision-makers and national environmental policies. He also revealed that 2,566 living species have been documented in the database to date as a first phase, with the potential for continued expansion and updates. He called on government and research institutions in the country to continue providing the platform with data, making it a key information hub that contributes to fulfilling Qatar's commitments under international environmental agreements and achieving sustainable development goals. Dimassi concluded his remarks by expressing the UNEP's pride in its partnership with the State of Qatar, emphasizing the program's aspiration to expand future cooperation and enhance national capacities for informed environmental decision-making based on science and knowledge.
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Business Standard
13 hours ago
- General
- Business Standard
World Environment Day 2025: Essays for students in 100, 150 and 200 words
World Environment Day is celebrated every year on June 5th to raise global awareness about protecting our environment. It is organised by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and encourages people of all ages to take action against pollution, climate change, and deforestation. For students, it's a perfect day to learn about sustainability and how small actions can lead to a cleaner, greener planet. This day reminds us that protecting nature is everyone's responsibility. To help students express their thoughts clearly, here are three short and simple World Environment Day essays – ideal for school assignments, competitions, or classroom presentations. World Environment Day Date: World Environment Day is celebrated every year on June 5th every year. World Environment Day essay (100 words) World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5th every year to spread awareness about the importance of keeping our environment clean, green, and safe for all living beings. It serves as a reminder for everyone to take meaningful steps toward protecting nature, reducing pollution, and preserving natural resources. The day encourages people to plant more trees, recycle waste, and minimise the use of plastic. Students can take part in tree planting, recycling programs, and community clean-up drives. World Environment Day teaches us to live in harmony with nature and fight against global warming. Let us all pledge to protect our planet and secure a healthier Earth for future generations. World Environment Day essay (150 words) World Environment Day is celebrated every year on June 5th to raise awareness about the importance of protecting our planet. It was established by the United Nations in 1972 and has since become a global movement encouraging people to take action against issues like pollution, climate change, and deforestation. The environment gives us everything we need — clean air, fresh water, healthy food, and natural beauty. But human activities have caused serious damage to nature. Plastic waste, air and water pollution, and cutting down forests are harming the Earth and all living beings. As students, we can help by making small but meaningful changes — like using reusable bags, saving electricity, planting trees, and spreading awareness among our friends and family. World Environment Day is a reminder that saving the environment is not a choice — it's a responsibility. If we act today, we can build a better, greener world for tomorrow. World Environment Day is celebrated every year on June 5th. It was established by the United Nations in 1972 to encourage worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment. Every year, a different country hosts the event with a specific theme, focusing on issues such as pollution, climate change, or biodiversity loss. This day reminds us that we are a part of nature, and it's our duty to take care of the planet. The environment gives us air to breathe, water to drink, and food to eat. But due to industrialisation, deforestation, and excessive use of plastic, the Earth is suffering. Pollution is increasing, wildlife is disappearing, and the climate is changing fast. World Environment Day is especially important for students because they are the future guardians of our Earth. Schools celebrate this day by organising debates, drawing competitions, tree planting events, and awareness rallies. Students learn how they can reduce their carbon footprint by walking to school, turning off lights when not needed, and saying no to single-use plastic. Even simple habits like reusing items, recycling waste, and saving water can make a huge difference. By acting together, we can create a cleaner, greener world. Let's join hands and protect our environment—not just for us, but for future generations too.
NDTV
2 days ago
- General
- NDTV
World Environment Day 2025: Know Date, History And Theme Of This Day
World Environment Day 2025: Every year on June 5, World Environment Day is observed across the globe to reinforce and sustain awareness around environmental action. Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) since 1973, it's the largest global platform for environmental outreach, engaging over 150 countries. Through campaigns, events, and initiatives, World Environment Day inspires individuals and communities to make changes, fostering a sense of urgency and addressing environmental challenges for a sustainable future. On World Environment Day, offices, schools, the government, other organisations and local bodies hold events to raise awareness about environmental causes and involve local people to tackle plastic pollution and take action to protect the environment for a healthy life. History of World Environment Day The United Nations General Assembly declared June 5 as World Environment Day during the Stockholm Conference in 1972. It was the first world conference to make environmental protection a major issue. The UNEP was established in the same year. World Environment Day was celebrated for the first time in 1973. The first World Environment Day was celebrated in 1973 under the theme 'Only One Earth'. According to the official website of the event, people from more than 150 countries participate in the United Nations International Day. Theme of World Environment Day 2025 World Environment Day shines a spotlight on pressing environmental challenges. Each year, a distinct theme is chosen, tackling issues like climate change, global warming, and deforestation. This year, the theme of World Environment Day is 'Putting an End to Plastic Pollution'. Plastic pollution worsens the triple threat facing our planet: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Each year, 11 million tons of plastic waste contaminate water ecosystems, while microplastics from sewage and landfills accumulate in soil, harming the environment. The annual cost of plastic pollution is estimated to be $300-600 billion. Ridding the planet of plastic pollution is an important contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, including those on climate action, sustainable production and consumption, protection of seas and oceans and repairing ecosystems and retaining biodiversity. The Republic of Korea will host the global celebrations. Significance Of World Environment Day 2025 World Environment Day raises awareness, mobilises action, and promotes environmental sustainability. Through campaigns, events, and initiatives, the day inspires individuals and communities to make changes, fostering a sense of urgency and addressing environmental challenges for a sustainable future.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Methane mitigation, key to slowing global warming
— Renuka Reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions is crucial to fighting climate change. After carbon dioxide, methane is the most potent GHG responsible for approximately a third of global warming. It is a colourless, odourless gas that has both natural as well as anthropogenic sources. Naturally, it is produced in a wetland due to the decomposition of vegetation under water. Other natural sources include termites, volcanoes, wildfires, etc. The primary sectors responsible for anthropogenic methane emissions are: Agriculture, which accounts for 40% of emissions and includes animal manure and rice cultivation. After this, the fossil fuel sector accounts for 35% of methane emissions. Waste management is responsible for roughly 20% of emissions, originating from the decomposition of organic matter in landfills, open dumps, and wastewater treatment systems. Methane is widely used as a fuel for electricity generation, heating, cooking, and in industrial processes. It also serves as a key feedstock for hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol production, and is used in transportation (CNG/LNG) and as renewable biogas. Despite its utility, methane emerged as a major climate concern. It has a shorter lifespan compared to CO₂ but is much more efficient in trapping radiation. As the climate crisis intensifies, tackling methane emissions has become an urgent and impactful strategy for reducing GHG emissions. Reducing methane emissions has long been a part of climate change mitigation efforts. The 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) laid the foundation to combat climate change by adopting the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) and placing the obligation on developed countries to reduce GHG emissions. However, being just a framework convention, the UNFCCC didn't specify the GHGs or set binding targets. To implement the convention, the Kyoto Protocol was adopted in 1997 and came into force in 2005. It listed six GHGs, and methane was one of them. The Kyoto Protocol imposed binding emission reduction targets on developed countries. The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, marked a shift towards a voluntary approach (nationally determined approach), while still expecting developed countries to take the lead in setting emissions targets. In recent years, abating methane emissions has been recognised as one of the most effective and affordable strategies to reduce global warming. At COP 26, the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) was launched as a voluntary international initiative with its primary goal of reducing global methane emissions by at least 30 per cent from 2020 levels by 2030. To enhance global reporting on methane emissions, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) also launched the International Methane Emission Observatory (IMEO). To further support methane data collection, the UNEP launched the Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) at COP27 (2022). MARS is a global satellite detection and notification system that provides data on methane emissions. Building on these efforts, COP 28 established the Oil and Gas Decarbonisation Charter (ODGC), which aims at accelerating the decarbonisation of the oil and gas sector. The charter aims at achieving net-zero upstream methane emissions by 2030. At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, over 30 countries endorsed the Declaration on Reducing Methane from Organic Waste, marking a significant advancement in global climate initiatives. This declaration targets methane emissions from organic waste, such as food scraps, agricultural residues, and sewage, which account for nearly 20% of anthropogenic methane emissions. The Global Methane Initiative (GMI), launched in 2004 as the Methane to Markets Partnership, is an initiative to foster collaborations to reduce methane emissions. It works in collaboration with other key international environmental initiatives and agencies such as the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), the Global Methane Hub, and the World Bank Group to reduce global methane emissions. Over the past two decades, GMI has helped raise global awareness about methane's climate and health impacts, fostered international cooperation, and mobilised investments in methane mitigation efforts. GMI has also been a key sponsor of various events on methane mitigation. One such event is Methane Mitigation: Technology & Innovation Summit, which will be held on June 2-4, 2025, in Austin, Texas, US. Organised by the Industrial Decarbonisation Network, the summit will bring together energy companies, NGOs and technology innovators. It will serve as a knowledge-sharing platform dedicated to reducing methane emissions from the energy sector. The discussion will largely be focused on exploring cutting-edge solutions and best practices for measuring, monitoring, and reducing methane emissions in the oil and gas sector. India has not signed the Global Methane Pledge, primarily due to concern over the shift in focus from CO2 – which has a lifespan of around 100 years – to Methane – which has a lifespan of 12 years. India's major sources of methane emissions are the livestock sector through enteric fermentation and agriculture through paddy cultivation. These sources are linked to the subsistence activities of small and marginal farmers. Implementing the GMP could negatively impact farmers' incomes, rice production, and India's significant role in global rice exports. Also, these emissions in India are considered 'survival emissions' – essential for food security – not 'luxury emissions', unlike in developed nations where agriculture is industrialised. To reduce methane emissions, no additional burden can be imposed on the small farmers who are already economically marginalised. Nonetheless, India has undertaken measures to reduce methane emissions. Under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), the government is promoting methane-reducing practices in rice cultivation. Methane mitigation initiatives such as the system for rice intensification, direct seeded rice, and the crop diversification programme are being implemented. Also, to reduce methane production in livestock initiatives such as breed improvement and balanced rationing, have been taken by The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), through the National Livestock Mission. Programmes like GOBAR-Dhan and the National Biogas and Organic Manure Programme incentivise the use of cattle waste for biogas production and organic manure, promoting clean energy and lowering greenhouse gas emissions in rural areas. Methane is responsible for around 30% of global warming. If left unaddressed, global methane emissions caused by human activities are expected to increase by as much as 13% between 2020 and 2030. Reducing methane emissions is the most important climate step the world can take. However, it is easier said than done, especially for a developing country like India, where methane emissions are related to food security. To tackle the situation, a substantial flow of climate finance from developed to developing countries would enable ambitious climate action, including slashing methane emissions. Additionally, crop diversification schemes would aid the efforts by encouraging a shift away from monoculture towards a more varied and sustainable agricultural system. Similarly, the energy sector, which also accounts for significant methane emissions, offers some of the most immediate and cost-effective opportunities for methane reduction. Developed countries, having historically been the largest producers and consumers of fossil fuels, are well-positioned to lead reforms. They may choose to incentivise methane reduction in developing countries through climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity building. Moreover, cutting methane emissions from the fossil fuel sector is easier to detect and measure and having relatively few large companies as actors can make the enforcement a lot easier as compared to the agriculture sector, where solutions are linked to livelihoods and food security. The upcoming Methane Mitigation Summit has the potential to accelerate action in the energy sector and success here could set the stage for broader efforts across harder to abate sectors. Post Read Questions Why has reducing methane emission been recognised as one of the most effective and affordable strategies to reduce global warming? Why has India not joined the Global Methane Pledge? Analyse the socio-economic and agricultural factors behind this decision. Discuss measures India has undertaken to reduce methane emissions. How do programmes like GOBAR-Dhan and the National Biogas and Organic Manure Programme contribute to methane mitigation? Evaluate the effectiveness of sector-specific approaches (such as energy and agriculture) in addressing methane emissions. What lessons can be drawn from India's domestic efforts? Analyse the role of international platforms like COP summits in shaping methane mitigation strategies. How effective have these efforts been in addressing methane emission? (Renuka is a Doctoral researcher at Himachal Pradesh National law university, Shimla.) Share your thoughts and ideas on UPSC Special articles with Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
