(GIST OF KURUKSHETRA) World Environment Day 2025

(JUNE-2025)

World Environment Day 2025

Context:

World Environment Day, celebrated annually on 5th June, serves as the principal platform of the United Nations for encouraging global awareness and action for environmental protection. The Mission LiFE theme: ‘Say No to Single Use Plastic’, reinforces the message of this year’s WED celebrations.

Key Thrust Areas of the Campaign

Awareness and Advocacy regarding Plastic pollution.
Reduced Use and Generation of Plastic Waste including Single Use Plastic.
Manage Plastic Waste including Single-Use Plastic through Segregation, Collection, Disposal and Recycling of Plastic waste.
Promoting Development of Sustainable Alternatives to single-use plastic

Campaign Activities and Engagement

This campaign, leading up to World Environment Day 2025, was focused on creating awareness about the hazards of plastic pollution and promoting the adoption of eco-friendly alternatives. The aim is to nudge people towards more eco-friendly lifestyles through community education, behaviour change initiatives, and innovation in sustainable materials.
The campaign will witness wide-ranging activities across Central Ministries, State/UT Governments, local bodies, educational institutions, industry, civil society, and community groups.

Key areas of engagement include:

Awareness and Outreach through social media campaigns, nukkad nataks, public pledges, poster and essay competitions, and activities like marathon.
Clean-up Drives at beaches, parks, riversides, campuses, tourist sites, railway stations, rural areas, etc.
Workshops and Webinars on sustainable practices and alternatives to single-use plastic
Educational Activities including art and craft from recycled plastic, school exhibitions, hackathons, quizzes, and interactive games on the theme
Community and Institutional Involvement by RWAs, municipal bodies, Anganwadi workers, cooperatives, etc. in localized waste segregation and recycling efforts
Ecological Restoration: Assisted natural regeneration, native species plantation, soil and moisture conservation.
Community Participation: Involving local communities, especially women and youth, in planning and implementation.
Policy and Governance: Strengthening regulatory frameworks, convergence of schemes, and effective monitoring.
Sustainable Livelihoods: Promoting eco-tourism, agroforestry, and non-timber forest produce (NTFP)-based enterprises.
Research and Innovation: Using GIS-based mapping, remote sensing, and restoration ecology practices for informed action.

What is Mangrove?

A mangrove is a salt-tolerant plant community found in tropical and subtropical intertidal regions. These ecosystems thrive in high-rainfall areas (1,000-3,000 mm) with temperatures ranging from 26°C to 35°C. Mangrove species are adapted to survive in waterlogged soils, high salinity, and frequent tidal surges. They serve as crucial biodiversity refuges and act as bio-shields against extreme climatic events. Additionally, rural populations depend on mangroves for biomass-based livelihoods.

Shift towards sustainability:

Navghar’s transformation reflects a broader movement sweeping across India’s coastline where communities are not just adapting to change but actively shaping it. The revival of mangroves, once overlooked and degraded, now stands as a testament to collective action and inclusive development.
Through the integration of science, policy, and grassroots participation, India is forging a path where ecological restoration directly uplifts local economies. Women like Vandana Patil are no longer passive witnesses to environmental loss but active custodians of their natural heritage, securing livelihoods while nurturing resilience.

Conclusion:

This shift marks more than environmental progress. It signals a future where nature-based solutions become central to climate action and communities, once vulnerable, emerge as champions of sustainable change.