Let's learn more on World Environment Day 2025!

Concerning World Environment Day

1972: The inaugural UN Conference on the Human Environment took place in Stockholm, Sweden, centered around the theme ‘Only One Earth’.

It seems you haven't provided the text you'd like me to paraphrase. Could you please share it? This led to the acceptance of the Stockholm Declaration and the Action Plan for the Human Environment.

In 1973, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) established 5th June annually as World Environment Day to promote worldwide involvement in tackling environmental issues.

– Global Environment Day 2025:

Host Nation: South KoreaTheme: #BeatPlasticPollution, highlighting the critical necessity to address plastic waste and its harmful effects on ecosystems.

Plastic Contamination

Key Facts: Annually, 19-23 million tonnes of plastic refuse escape into aquatic environments, contaminating lakes, rivers, and oceans.

Daily, 2,000 garbage trucks worth of plastic are discarded into the oceans, rivers, and lakes around the globe.

The world incurs an annual cost of $300-600 billion.

7,000 million tons of plastic waste produced since 1950.

Microplastics are currently present in soil, water, and food.

Extent of Plastic Waste in India: India produces around 3.5 million metric tonnes of plastic refuse each year.

These plastics contaminate soil and water sources, ending up in the environment.

If no swift measures are taken, plastic pollution is projected to increase threefold by 2060.

Plastic Waste and Its Effect on Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): Plastic pollution taints freshwater supplies, negatively impacting biodiversity and human wellbeing.

SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): Promotes minimizing plastic consumption, advancing recycling efforts, and embracing sustainable options.

SDG 13 (Climate Action): The creation and disposal of plastic add to greenhouse gas emissions, worsening climate change.

SDG 14 (Life Below Water): Marine ecosystems are impacted by plastic waste, with 85% of ocean litter made up of plastics.

SDG 15 (Life on Land): Soil health and land-based wildlife are impacted by plastic pollution.

Worldwide Agreements and India’s Contribution

Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (2019): India plays an active role in promoting worldwide initiatives to control hazardous waste and chemical usage.

It challenged the disposal of e-waste in developing nations and promoted tougher international regulations.

G20 Osaka Blue Ocean Vision (2019): India and fellow member nations committed to implement decisive measures against plastic pollution.

They pledged to decrease marine plastic pollution and microplastics, aiming to cease all new plastic waste contributions to the oceans by 2050.

High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People (2021): Its goal is to safeguard a minimum of 30% of global land and oceans by the year 2030.

India became a participant at the ‘One Planet Summit’ conducted in Paris.

Policy Initiatives in India

Plastic Waste Management Rules 2021 (under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986), prohibiting single-use plastic products and governing plastic carry bags.

EPR Portal for Extended Producer Responsibility, making sure that producers are accountable for the disposal of plastic waste.

EPR signifies that businesses producing or selling plastic items are responsible for managing the plastic waste they generate.

Plastic Parks and CSIR Technology, which transform plastic waste into fuel and reusable products.

Plastic Parks are specifically designed industrial areas where numerous plastic-related companies collaborate in a single location.

Swachh Bharat Mission, advocating for the management of plastic waste in both rural and urban areas.

Approaches for a Plastic-Free Future

Avoid single-use plastics such as straws and utensils.

Minimize plastic wrapping by choosing reusable options instead.

Recycle thoughtfully and back companies that emphasize sustainability.

Reconsider buying behaviors by opting for environmentally friendly items.