World Environment Day 2024

Source: TH

Why in News?

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

• In a remarkable initiative to combat deforestation and restore biodiversity, two environmentalists have spearheaded the creation of India's first biospheres within tiger reserves.

What are the Key Facts 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.
  • World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated every year with a specific theme and slogan that focuses on the major environmental issues of that time.
    • WED 2024 is hosted by Saudi Arabia.
    • India hosted the 45^th celebration of World Environment Day in 2018 under the theme ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’.
  • WED celebration in 2021 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.
• The theme for 2024:
  • Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience
  • Year 2024 also marks the 30^th anniversary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
  • Significance of Land Restoration:
    • Reverses Environmental Damage: Combats land degradation, drought, and desertification.
    • High Return on Investment: Each dollar invested can yield up to USD 30 in benefits from healthy ecosystems.
    • Boosts Communities: Creates jobs, reduces poverty, and improves livelihoods.
    • Strengthens Resilience: Helps communities better withstand extreme weather events.
    • Combats Climate Change: Increases carbon storage in soil and slows the pace of warming.
    • Protects Biodiversity: Restoring just 15% of degraded land could prevent a significant portion of expected species extinction.

What is India's Contribution Towards Environmental Sustainability?

• Mission LiFE
• National Mission for Green India (GIM): It aims to increase forest/tree cover on 5 million hectares of land and improve the quality of forest/tree cover on another 5 million hectares.
• National Afforestation Programme (NAP): Under this, 21.47 million hectares of land have been afforested as of 2020.
• National Biodiversity Action Plan
• Nagar Van Yojana (Urban Forest Scheme): It focuses on developing mini urban forests or "Nagar Vans" within cities and towns.
• School Nursery Yojana: It encourages schools to develop their own nurseries.
• CAMPA Funds: The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) has been established to promote afforestation and regeneration activities etc.
  • These programs promote tree plantation on waste, vacant, and barren lands.
• Wetland Conservation:
  • India expanded its Ramsar Site count to 80 in January 2024 by designating new sites in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
    • 11 wetlands were added in August 2022 to commemorate India's 75th Independence anniversary.
  • The Wetlands of India Portal serves as a knowledge hub for wetland managers and stakeholders, providing valuable information and resources.
• Forest and Wildlife Conservation:
  • India ranks third globally in net forest area gain over the past 15 years.
  • The Forest Cover of India is 7,13,789 sq. km, which is 21.71% of the total geographical area of the country, as per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021.
  • India celebrated 50 years of Project Tiger and 30 years of Project Elephant, demonstrating its commitment to species conservation.
  • The 'Green Credit Program' has been introduced to incentivize tree plantation and restoration of degraded forest lands, contributing to climate action initiatives.
• Mangrove Restoration:
  • The Government of India has implemented promotional and regulatory measures to protect and enhance mangrove forests in coastal States/Union Territories.
  • A Central Sector Scheme called ‘Conservation and Management of Mangroves and Coral Reefs’ is being implemented under the National Coastal Mission Programme.
  • The Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) was announced in the Union Budget 2023-24 to promote and conserve mangroves.
• Ban on Single-use Plastic:
  • The Government has introduced amendments to the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, through the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2024.
  • The rules prohibit the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of identified single-use plastic (SUP).
• Push to Renewable Energy:
  • The National Green Hydrogen Mission was launched in January 2023 with a Rs 19,744 crore investment, will be a game-changer for India's clean energy future.
  • The mission aims to make India a self-reliant (Aatma Nirbhar) leader in green hydrogen production and technology.
  • This green push will significantly reduce dependence on fossil fuels, decarbonize the economy, and inspire a global clean energy transition.
• Global Initiatives of India:
  • India is a member of the Global Alliance for Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency (GACERE) and the Steering Committee of the International Resource Panel (IRP).
    • These platforms advocate for a global and just circular economy transition and sustainable natural resource management.
  • The sixth Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) was hosted in New Delhi on 31^st October 2023, with participation from ministers and delegates from 116 Member and Signatory countries.