World Environment Day: Background and Significance
Historical Evolution
- Established: 1972 by UN General Assembly during Stockholm Conference on Human Environment
- First Observation: 1973 with theme "Only One Earth"
- Coordinating Body: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya
- 2026 Host: Republic of Azerbaijan (Baku) - strategically selected after hosting COP29 in 2024
Theme Analysis: "Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future"
- Inspired by Nature: Promotes NbS such as afforestation, ecosystem restoration, wetland conservation
- For Climate: Focuses on carbon sequestration and resilience building
- For Our Future: Emphasizes intergenerational equity in natural resource protection
'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' Campaign
Overview
A global mass tree-plantation drive launched on World Environment Day 2024, linking tree planting to maternal reverence (translating to "A Tree in the Name of Mother").
Key Achievements
- Uttar Pradesh Milestone: Planted over 5 crore (50 million) saplings across all 75 districts
- Behavioral Change: Operationalizes Mission LiFE philosophy through individual action
- NDC Alignment: Accelerates India's progress toward creating additional carbon sink of 3.5-4.0 billion tonnes CO2 equivalent by 2035
Current Progress
As of 2025, India has created an additional carbon sink of 2.29 billion tonnes CO2 equivalent from forest and tree cover.
Constitutional Framework
- Article 48A (Directive Principles): Directs State to protect and improve environment
- Article 51A(g) (Fundamental Duties): Mandates citizens to protect and improve natural environment
Nature-Based Solutions (NbS): Concept and Significance
Definition
IUCN and UNEA define NbS as actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural or modified ecosystems to address societal challenges while providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits.
NbS vs. Engineered Infrastructure
| Nature-Based Solutions | Gray Infrastructure |
|---|---|
| Afforestation, wetland restoration | Concrete sea walls |
| Carbon sequestration | Artificial carbon capture |
| Water purification by wetlands | Water treatment plants |
| Biodiversity habitat | Monoculture plantations |
Significance in Indian Context
Public Trust Doctrine
- M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath (1997): Supreme Court established that State is trustee of natural resources (rivers, forests, sea shores)
- NbS fulfills State's constitutional mandate under Article 48A and Article 21 (Right to Wholesome Environment)
Dasgupta Review on Economics of Biodiversity
- Standard GDP fails to account for "Natural Capital" depreciation
- NbS internalizes ecosystem services value (water purification, pollination)
- Prevents systemic ecological bankruptcy
Climate Mitigation Impact
- Forest conservation and wetland protection provide carbon sequestration
- Counteracts deforestation's 12-15% contribution to emissions
- Urban green spaces reduce temperatures by 2-4°C
Government Initiatives Promoting NbS
Central Missions
- National Mission for a Green India (GIM): Afforestation and forest conservation
- National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA): Climate-smart agriculture
- National Water Mission: Integrated water resource management
- National Afforestation Programme (NAP): Decentralized forest management
Urban and Coastal Initiatives
- AMRUT 2.0: Urban green spaces development
- MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes): Coastal ecosystem restoration
- Mission Amrit Sarovar: Water conservation through pond revival
- Nagar Van Yojana: Urban forest development
Structural Bottlenecks in Scaling NbS
Key Challenges
- Absence of National Environmental Survey (NES): Lack of granular ecological data hampers targeted interventions
- Climate Capital Mobilization: Long gestation periods; high Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) makes projects unviable
- Valuation Gap: GDP-centric metrics undervalue ecosystem services
- Monoculture Trap: Rapid afforestation drives often result in exotic species plantations, degrading soil and groundwater
- Land-Use Conflicts: Agricultural expansion vs. forest conservation tensions
Measures to Strengthen NbS
Policy Recommendations
- Institutionalizing NES: Annual, legally-backed National Environmental Survey by MoEFCC
- Blended Finance: Sovereign Green Bonds and concessional public funds to de-risk NbS projects
- Natural Capital Accounting: Integration into Economic Survey by Ministry of Finance and MoSPI
- Technology Monitoring: Bhuvan Portal (ISRO) and AI-driven dashboards for real-time tracking
- Blue-Green Corridors: Urban-rural integration (e.g., Aravalli Green Wall)
- Community Empowerment: Effective implementation of Forest Rights Act (FRA, 2006)
Success Story: Living Root Bridges of Meghalaya
- Jingkieng Jri: Developed by Khasi and Jaintia communities using Ficus elastica roots
- Provides sustainable infrastructure withstands floods
- Prevents soil erosion naturally
Constitutional and Legal Provisions
| Provision | Description |
|---|---|
| Article 21 | Right to wholesome environment |
| Article 48A | Directive Principles - environmental protection |
| Article 51A(g) | Fundamental Duty - environmental protection |
| M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath (1997) | Public Trust Doctrine recognition |
| Forest Rights Act, 2006 | Community forest rights |
| Madhav Gadgil Committee (2010) | Western Ghats ecology preservation |
Drishti Mains Question
Nature-Based Solutions offer a cost-effective pathway for climate resilience and sustainable development. Discuss in the Indian context.
Key points to address:
- Define NbS and its relevance to India's climate commitments
- Discuss constitutional framework supporting NbS
- Analyze government initiatives (GIM, MISHTI, Mission Amrit Sarovar)
- Evaluate bottlenecks and suggest measures
- Include case studies (Living Root Bridges, Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign?
A nationwide tree-plantation initiative launched on World Environment Day 2024 that encourages citizens to plant a tree in honor of their mothers, aligned with Mission LiFE principles.
- What are Nature-Based Solutions (NbS)?
NbS are actions that protect, restore, and sustainably manage ecosystems to address challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, disaster risks, and food security while generating ecological and social benefits.
- Which constitutional provisions support environmental conservation?
Article 48A directs the State to protect and improve the environment, while Article 51A(g) makes environmental protection a Fundamental Duty of citizens.
- What is the significance of the Public Trust Doctrine?
Recognized in M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath (1997), it holds that natural resources are held in trust by the State for public use and cannot be exploited for private interests.
- Why is Natural Capital Accounting important for NbS?
It assigns economic value to ecosystem services such as forests, wetlands, and biodiversity, enabling informed policymaking and better investment in environmental conservation.