World Environment Day 2025 and India's Battle Against Plastic Pollution

 Introduction and World Environment Day 2025

  • World Environment Day (WED) will be observed globally on 5th June 2025, with South Korea taking the lead as the host country.
  • In India, the Prime Minister will plant a Banyan sapling under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative as part of the Aravalli Green Wall Project.

 

 About World Environment Day (WED)

  • The United Nations General Assembly established WED in 1972 on the opening day of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment – the first global summit on environmental issues.
  • Since it’s beginning in 1973, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has prominently led WED.
  • The theme for 2025, "Beat Plastic Pollution," aims to raise awareness about plastic production, use, and disposal, and encourages implementing solutions like refusing, reducing, reusing, and recycling.  

  

 Significance and Impact of Plastic Pollution

  • Plastic pollution significantly aggravates global pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change.
  • An estimated 11 million tonnes of plastic enter water bodies annually.
  • The global cost of plastic pollution is estimated at USD 300–600 billion per year, with India accounting for nearly 20% of the global total.

  

‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ Campaign and the Aravalli Green Wall Project

  • The campaign aims to honour mothers by encouraging tree planting and environmental conservation.
  • The Aravalli Green Wall Project seeks to form a green belt buffer along the Aravalli Mountain Range in India, inspired by Africa’s Great Green Wall project.
  • Both initiatives aim to combat land degradation, enhance biodiversity, and support sustainable development.

 

Reasons for High Plastic Pollution in India

  • Factors such as high plastic consumption, poor waste management, proliferation of single-use plastics, rapid urbanisation, and a lack of sustainable alternatives contribute to India's plastic pollution.

 

Consequences of Mismanaged Plastic Waste in India

  • Mismanaged plastic waste leads to environmental degradation and poses significant public health risks.
  • The economic costs are high, with an estimated loss of over USD 133 billion in material value from plastic packaging by 2030.

 

Regulations and Steps for Plastic Waste Management in India

  • Several regulations have been put in place, including the Plastic Waste Management Rules and India Plastics Pact.
  • To strengthen plastic waste management, further actions needed include stricter policy enforcement, improved waste management infrastructure, reduction in plastic use, public awareness, and the implementation of innovative solutions.

   

 Conclusion

 

  • World Environment Day 2025 calls for decisive action against plastic pollution.

 

  • While India's initiatives like the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign and the Aravalli Green Wall Project mark significant steps towards sustainability, stronger policies, public participation, and innovative strategies are crucial for effective management of plastic pollution and environmental conservation.

 

Khichan and Menar - New Ramsar Sites

 Introduction to Khichan and Menar as Ramsar Sites

  • The Khichan wetland, also known as Phalodi, and the Menar wetland, located in Udaipur, are two regions in Rajasthan that have recently been declared as Ramsar Sites. 
  • This brings the total number of Ramsar Sites in India to 91 which is the highest number of sites in any Asian country. 
  • Khichan is popular for attracting thousands of migratory Demoiselle cranes when they migrate each year, while Menar, also called Bird Village, is known for its community-led initiatives in bird conservation. 
  • Along with these two new additions, Rajasthan now totals four Ramsar Sites which include Sambhar Lake, which covers Nagaur and Jaipur districts, and Keoladeo Ghana National Park situated in Bharatpur.

 

 About Wetlands and Ramsar Convention

  • Wetlands come under categories such as marsh, fen, peatland, or water bodies which can be natural or artificial, static or flowing, and includes marine areas with a depth never exceeding six metres. 
  • Ecotonally, wetlands are transitional land between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. 
  • The Ramsar Convention, established in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, sets a global framework for wetland conservation and encourages their wise use. 
  • India became a member of this Convention in 1982. 

 

 Montreux Record and India's listed Wetlands

  • The Montreux Record is a record of Ramsar Sites where the ecological character has been or is likely to be adversely affected by human activities or pollution.
  • Currently, there are two wetlands from India that are listed in the Montreux Record: Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan which has been listed since 1990 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Loktak Lake in Manipur that got listed in 1993.
  • Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in the Northeastern region of India. It is renowned for its Phumdis, floating complexes of vegetation, soil, and decomposed organic matter. 
  • Chilika Lake, another major wetland in India, was added to the Montreux Record in 1993. However, it was removed from the record in 2002, becoming the first site from Asia to achieve this.