World Environment Day

• 06 Jun 2022

For Prelims: World Environment Day, United Nations Assembly, Stockholm Conference, COP26, NAP, LiFE Movement, NRLM

For Mains: World Environment Day, Need to conserve Environment and related Intiatives

Why in News?

World Environment Day is celebrated on 5^th June every year to encourage awareness and environmental protection.

• On the Occasion, India launched ‘Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) Movement’.

What are the Key Highlights about World Environment Day?

• About:
  • The United Nations Assembly established World Environment Day in 1972, which was the first day of the Stockholm Conference on the human environment.
  • The celebration of world environment day every year is done according to a specific theme and slogan which addresses the major environmental concern of the time.
  • It is hosted by a different country each year.
    • For example, India hosted the 45^th celebration of World Environment Day under the theme ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’.
  • World Environment Day celebration last year also kicked off the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) which is a global mission to revive billions of hectares, from forests to farmlands, from the top of mountains to the depth of the seas.
• Theme for 2022:
  • OnlyOneEarth:
    • It mirrors the theme of the first World Environment Day in 1973.
• Significance:
  • 2022 is a historic milestone as it marks 50 years since the 1972 Stockholm Conference.

What is LiFE Movement?

• About:
  • The idea of LiFE was introduced by India during the 26^th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow in 2021.
    • The idea promotes an environmentally conscious lifestyle that focuses on ‘mindful and deliberate utilisation’ instead of ‘mindless and wasteful consumption’.
  • With the launch of the Mission, the prevalent "use-and-dispose" economy-governed by mindless and destructive consumption-will be replaced by a circular economy, defined by conscious and deliberate consumption.
• Objective:
  • The Movement aims to utilise the power of collective action and nudge individuals across the world to undertake simple climate-friendly actions in their daily lives.
  • It also seeks to leverage the strength of social networks to influence social norms surrounding climate.
  • The Mission plans to create and nurture a global network of individuals, namely ‘Pro-Planet People’ (P3).
    • P3 will have a shared commitment to adopt and promote environmentally friendly lifestyles.
    • Through the P3 community, the Mission seeks to create an ecosystem that will reinforce and enable environmentally friendly behaviours to be self-sustainable.

What has India Achieved in Conserving the Environment?

• Increase in Forest Cover:
  • India’s forest cover is increasing and so is the population of lions, tigers, leopards, elephants and rhinos.
    • The total forest cover is 21.71% of the total geographical area in 2021, compared with 21.67% in 2019 and 21.54% in 2017.
• Installed Electric Capacity:
  • India’s commitment to reach 40% of installed electric capacity from non-fossil fuel-based sources has been achieved, 9 years ahead of schedule.
• Ethanol Blending Target:
  • The target of 10% ethanol blending in petrol has been achieved 5 months ahead of the November 2022 target.
  • This is a major accomplishment given that blending was hardly 1.5% in 2013-14 and 5% in 2019-20.
• Renewable Energy Target:
  • Renewable energy has a very high focus in the government.
  • The country’s installed Renewable Energy (RE) capacity stands at 150.54 GW (solar: 48.55 GW, wind: 40.03 GW, Small hydro Power: 4.83, Bio-power: 10.62, Large Hydro: 46.51 GW) as on 30th Nov. 2021 while its nuclear energy based installed electricity capacity stands at 6.78 GW.
    • India has the 4^th largest wind power capacity in the world.

What are the Other Related Initiatives?

• National Afforestation Programme (NAP):
  • It focuses on the rehabilitation of degraded forests and afforestation around forests.
• National Mission for a Green India (GIM):
  • It is under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and aimed at improving and increasing tree cover as a climate adaptation and mitigation strategy.
• National Biodiversity Action Plan:
  • It has been launched to implement strategies for the reduction in rates of degradation, fragmentation and loss of natural habitats.
• Rural Livelihood Schemes:
  • Recognition of natural resources intrinsically linked to rural livelihoods is also reflected in flagship schemes like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM).

Source: PIB