Why in News?
World Environment Day (WED) 2025 is being celebrated on 5th June 2025, with South Korea as the global host.
India is marking the occasion with the Prime Minister planting a Banyan sapling under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative, as part of the Aravalli Green Wall Project.
What is World Environment Day 2025?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Established by | United Nations General Assembly in 1972 |
| Led by | United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) since 1973 |
| Theme | “Beat Plastic Pollution” |
| Significance | Highlights urgent action needed to reduce plastic use and promote reuse |
Plastic Pollution Stats:
- 11 million tonnes/year enter water bodies globally.
- India: ~9.3 million tonnes annually, 20% of global total.
- Burning 5.8 million tonnes releases toxic pollutants.
‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ Campaign
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Meaning | A tree for every mother—honoring motherhood and promoting sustainability |
| Launched by | Prime Minister on 5th June 2024 |
| Objective | Promote green cover and emotional connect with environmental care |
| Record Set | 5+ lakh saplings planted in 1 hour by Territorial Army in Jaisalmer on 22 Sept 2024 |
Aravalli Green Wall Project
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Goal | Create a 1,400 km long, 5 km wide green buffer along Aravalli Range |
| Inspired by | Africa’s ‘Great Green Wall’ |
| States Covered | Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi |
| Purpose | Stop eastward desertification, restore degraded land, and improve biodiversity |
| Need | 97.85 mha (29.7%) of India’s land is degraded; Aravallis are among most vulnerable zones |
What are the Main Causes of High Plastic Pollution in India?
| Cause | Explanation |
|---|---|
| High Consumption | 3.5 million tonnes/year; 11 kg per capita |
| Poor Recycling | Only 15–20% recycled; rest ends in landfills or gets burnt |
| Single-Use Dominance | 43% of waste in 2023 was single-use plastic |
| Waterway Pollution | Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra among worst plastic-polluted rivers |
| Urban Waste Surge | Tier-1 cities contribute 72.5% of daily waste |
What are the Issues Associated with Mismanaged Plastic Waste?
| Category | Issues |
|---|---|
| Environmental | Soil & water contamination, damage to wildlife, desertification |
| Health | Carcinogens from burning plastics, microplastics in food and water, disease outbreaks |
| Economic | Tourism loss, drainage maintenance costs, plastic packaging waste worth $133 billion by 2030 |
Regulations for Plastic Waste Management in India
| Policy/Initiative | Year |
|---|---|
| Plastic Waste Management Rules | 2016 |
| Plastic Waste Management Amendments | 2022, 2024 |
| Swachh Bharat Mission | Ongoing |
| India Plastics Pact | Recent |
What More Can Be Done?
| Focus Area | Measures |
|---|---|
| Policy | Strictly enforce EPR rules and single-use plastic bans |
| Infrastructure | Build more MRFs, integrate waste pickers into formal economy |
| Alternatives | Promote biodegradable packaging, bamboo cutlery, edible spoons |
| Public Awareness | Community drives, school programs, reward-based plastic collection schemes |
| Technology | Use plastic for road construction, pyrolysis for converting waste to fuel |
In a Nutshell
- Mnemonic: “R-R-R-T” = Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Tree-plant!
- India’s twin approach—“Plant a Tree, Cut the Plastic”—blends emotion with eco-action.
- A powerful message this WED: “Mother Earth & Mothers Deserve the Same Care.”
Prelims Practice Questions
- Which of the following rivers in India are among the top 10 globally for plastic pollution?
A. Ganga
B. Brahmaputra
C. Godavari
D. Indus
Choose the correct option:
a) A, B and D only
b) A and C only
c) A, C and D only
d) All of the above - Consider the following statements:
- India’s Aravalli Green Wall Project draws inspiration from China’s Green Wall initiative.
- India contributes nearly 20% of the global plastic waste.
Which of the above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
- Which of the following is NOT a feature of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign?
a) Honours motherhood
b) Promotes sapling donations to families
c) Encourages tree planting
d) Connects environmental care with emotional sentiment
Mains Practice Questions
- (GS Paper 3)
Examine the causes and consequences of plastic pollution in India. Suggest innovative policy and technological solutions to address the issue. - (GS Paper 3)
Discuss the significance of the Aravalli Green Wall and ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiatives in achieving India’s land restoration and environmental goals.
Prelims Answer Key
| Q No. | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | a | Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Indus are among the top plastic-polluted rivers globally |
| 2 | b | Only Statement 2 is correct. The inspiration is from Africa, not China |
| 3 | b | There is no mention of sapling donations to families under the campaign |
