Addressing a curtain raiser ahead of the World Environment Day on June 5 here, Dr. Harsh Vardhan pointed out that the fight against plastic menace did not require any big actions, but only minor behavioral changes to adopt Green Good Behaviour.

“Every individual has a Green Social Responsibility”, he said. The Minister stated that it is our collective responsibility to do our duty and protect the rights of children of future generations. He added that the celebrations are not a one-day activity, but a continuous process. Dr. Harsh Vardhan exhorted the media to effectively wield the pen and educate, as well as urge people to adopt one Green Good Deed every day. He also emphasized that as part of World Environment Day celebrations, schools that become plastic-free will be awarded and issued certificates of being Green Schools.

Highlighting the menace posed by plastic, Dr. Harsh Vardhan pointed out that 25,940 tonnes of plastic waste is generated every day in the country, with 40% of plastic waste being uncollected and 60 million tonnes of solid waste is generated in one year.  “Plastic bottle takes between 450-1000 years to decompose”, the Minister added.

The World Environment Day celebrations will be held from June 1-5 in New Delhi and across the country. Some of the events organized in New Delhi include “The Knowledge Coalitions” – international conversations to be held on June 1. Some of the themes to be discussed at the Knowledge Coalitions include – air pollution, Himalayan ecosystem, plastic pollution, marine litter strategy, new plastic economy and waste to resource. The technology exhibition – “Sambandh” will be held on the back lawns of lawns India Gate from June 2-4. The conference of State Environment Ministers - “Green India” will take place on June 4, besides conferences, workshops, and seminars on various environmental subjects. On June 5, the Plenary session will be chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where all the State Environment Ministers will also be present.

The pan-India events include - cleanliness campaigns by state governments, cleaning of 24 beaches and 24 rivers in 19 states, making national parks and sanctuaries plastic free, media as well as social media campaigns and organizing “Envithon” – mini-marathons in five other cities, besides Delhi.   About 10, 000 children will participate in ‘Run for plastic litter-free environment’ in New Delhi on June 3. 

The objectives behind the campaigns are to enhance the global visibility of India as a leader in sustainability actions, support the efforts to Clean India ahead of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary in October 2019, expand / consolidate public engagement on India’s environmental agenda, inculcate private sector leadership to address plastic pollution and urge citizens to take a pledge to change their behaviour around waste management and highlight India’s leadership in the cause of marine litter and beach cleaning.

India is hosting the World Environment Day for the second time. India hosted the event in the year 2011, with the theme: ‘Forests: Nature at your Service’.

Remember, 5th June was designated as the World Environment Day by the UN General Assembly to commemorate the opening of the Stockholm Conference on Human Development. Annual celebrations of World Environment Day began in 1974.