World Environment Day this Year Theme ‘Connecting People To Nature’. Over the years, World Environment Day has grown to be a broad, global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated by stakeholders all over the world.
World Environment Day this Year Theme ‘Connecting People To Nature’. Over the years, World Environment Day has grown to be a broad, global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated by stakeholders all over the world.
New Delhi, 4 May 2017: Giving a clarion call to the people of the country and the youth, in
particular, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr.
Harsh Vardhan has said that the real sentiment behind World Environment Day
should not be restricted to a single day, but must pervade every moment of
the day, till the World Environment Day next year.
Addressing a function on
the eve of World Environment Day here today, the Minister emphasised the
need to create positive energy and awakening among the people of the
country. Dr. Harsh Vardhan urged people to use public transport more, use
cycle, reduce the use of air-conditioners and work towards realising the
Prime Minister’s vision of Swacchh Bharat and cleanliness. He also appealed
to the people to use water judiciously and in appropriate amount. He
directed that Ministry officials must start water conservation in the right
earnest in the Environment Ministry itself. The Minister added that the
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change should not work only as
a regulator, but more like a facilitator in a true sense.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan highlighted that youth programmes such as ‘Jigyasa’,
which is to be launched soon, in which Kendriya Vidyalaya students are
taken to CSIR laboratories, should be replicated in the field of
environment also.
The Minister also said that Department of Science &
Technology and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change must work
together in the field of waste management – be it solid waste, plastic
waste, or E-waste and in creating waste to wealth and waste to energy. He
added that similarly, Ministry of Human Resource Development and MoEFCC can
work together to rope in students and harness their strength in spreading
messages of positive health and messages for environment protection in the
society.
The Environment Minister appealed to NGOs, professionals, teachers
and students to make environmental protection, nature and biodiversity
conservation a strong social movement. Dr. Harsh Vardhan pointed out that
children and environmental volunteers must be awarded in a much bigger way
next year.
The Minister said that our ancestors gave us clean rivers, clean air, rich
forests, teachings and wisdom on nature and environment. Dr. Harsh Vardhan
pointed out that the worship of nature and its protection is in our DNA.
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, MoEFCC, Shri Ajay Narayan Jha, said
that there is a need to spread environmental awareness among all sections
of the society. Shri Jha added that protection of environment is an article
of faith. The Secretary referred to some key initiatives of the Environment
Ministry including Science Express train, which has provided a good
opportunity to introduce discussion and dialogue throughout the country. In
this context, he also mentioned National Green Corps, one of the largest
conservation network and National Nature Camping movement to foster a
spirit of adventure and love for nature among the youth.
In her welcome address, Additional Secretary, MoEFCC, Dr. Amita Prasad said
that World Environment Day is celebrated in more than a 100 countries, as
the task of saving environment cannot be handled individually, or by one
country. Dr. Prasad also pointed out that the need to connect with Nature
is reflected in the Ministry’s logo – “Nature protects, if she is
protected”. Joint Secretary, MoEFCC, Shri Gyanesh Bharati delivered the
Vote of Thanks.
Books detailing the new discoveries of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and
Botanical Survey of India (BSI) were released by Dr. Harsh Vardhan on the
occasion. A Mobile App and Web GIS of Faunal information of Wildlife
Sanctuaries for ZSI were also launched by the Minister on the occasion. A
brochure on ‘Training Modules for the Pilot: Green Skill Development
Programme’ was also released.
The Young Environmentalist Award was given away on the occasion. Ms. May
Barani Aung, a Class X student from Mamta Modern Senior Secondary School,
Vikaspuri, New Delhi, was awarded the first prize for performance in
National Poster Making Competition. She received a citation, a trophy and a
cash prize from Dr. Harsh Vardhan. National Museum for Natural History
(NMNH) organised summer vacation programme for children and brought them
close to nature. The students also performed a Skit on the subject
‘Connecting People to Nature’. They also took the Green Pledge to protect
Earth and its natural resources and to adopt practices that will help in
environment protection and minimise wastage of natural resources. Children
from Bal Bhawan sang a ‘Prakriti Vandana’.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is also celebrating
World Environment Day at Dehradun tomorrow.
BACKGROUND TO WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY:
World Environment Day on June 5 is a collective call for preserving and
conserving nature and environment. The day reminds us of our responsibility
towards sustainable use of resources. It is celebrated every year to raise
global awareness for taking positive environmental action. It was
established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 on the day the
United Nations Conference on the Human Environment. The first World
Environment Day was celebrated in 1973 at Stockholm. Since then it is
hosted every year by a different city with a unique theme. This year, it is
being hosted by Canada, and the theme for the year is “Connecting People to
Nature”.
Over the years, World Environment Day has grown to be a broad, global
platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated by stakeholders all
over the world. It also serves as the ‘People’s Day’ for taking positive
action for the environment. The onus is on each and everybody to take
actions in their daily lives that will help them minimize those activities
that contribute to harming nature and enhance those that make the planet a
better place. India is deeply committed to ‘protecting’ as well as
‘greening’ the environment. The goal is for this growth to be ‘inclusive’
and as ‘green’ as possible.
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