On the occasion of World Environment Day, Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, highlighted how the country is moving forward with a very clear roadmap for climate change and environmental protection. Underlining the theme of this year’s Environment Day — the campaign to get rid of single-use plastic, the Prime Minister informed that India started working on two levels to get rid of single-use plastic in 2018. “On the one hand, we have banned single-use plastic while on the other hand, plastic waste processing has been made mandatoryâ€_x009d_, he said. As a result, here has been a compulsory recycling of about 30 lakh tonnes of plastic packaging in India which is 75 percent of the total annual plastic waste produced in India, and around 10 thousand producers, importers and brands have come under its ambit.

“During the last nine years, India has made an unprecedented focus on green and clean energyâ€_x009d_, the Prime Minister said as he gave examples of solar power and LED bulbs that have helped in saving people’s money as well as contributing towards protecting the environment. Throwing light on India’s leadership during the global pandemic, the Prime Minister informed that India started Mission Green Hydrogen and took major steps towards natural farming to save soil and water from chemical fertilizers.

“In the last nine years, the number of wetlands and Ramsar sites in India has increased almost three times as compared to earlierâ€_x009d_, the Prime Minister said, as he informed that two more schemes have been launched today that further the campaign of Green Future, Green Economy. The ‘Amrit Dharohar Yojana’that started today will ensure the conservation of these Ramsar sites through public participation. In future, these sites will become the center of eco-tourism and will become a source of green jobs. He further added that the second scheme is the ‘Mishti Yojana’, which will help in reviving as well as protecting the mangrove ecosystem of the country. With this, the Prime Minister explained that the mangrove cover will be restored in nine states of the country and help in mitigating the threat to lives and livelihoods in coastal areas from rising sea levels and disasters like cyclones.

Speaking about mission LiFE i.e. Lifestyle for Environment becoming a public movement, the Prime Minister highlighted that the mission is spreading a new consciousness about lifestyle changes to combat climate change. He mentioned that there was curiosity among the people when the mission was launched last year in Kevadia-Ekta Nagar, Gujarat but a month ago, a campaign was started regarding Mission LiFE where 2 crore people became a part of it in less than 30 days. 

Meanwhile, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has published its inaugural 'Sustainability Report for FY 2021–22,' showcasing its dedication to environmental sustainability and social responsibility, said the ministry in a statement on Monday. The report, unveiled by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, encompasses NHAI's governance structure, stakeholder engagement, and initiatives related to the environment and social responsibility, it added. From FY 2019-20 to FY 2021-22, direct emissions decreased by 18.44 per cent and 9.49 per cent due to reduced fuel consumption. The organisation continues to focus on reducing indirect emissions by transitioning to cleaner and greener energy sources, said the statement. The report highlights a decline in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from energy consumption, operations, transport, and travel. In FY 2020-21, there was a reduction of 9.7 per cent, followed by an additional two per cent decline in FY 2021-22.