World Environment Day 2025: Defining Our Crisis, Forging Our Future – India’s Imperative

Our Life Support System Under Threat: 

As June 5th marks World Environment Day 2025, the global spotlight, led by host nation Republic of Korea and its theme “Beat Plastic Pollution,” sharpens on an urgent truth: our planet is in peril. For India, a nation of over 1.4 billion people, this call to action resonates profoundly. Before we delve into the crises, it’s vital to define what we strive to protect.

The environment is far more than just our surroundings. It’s a complex, dynamic, and intricate system encompassing all living and non-living things that interact and affect organisms and ecosystems. This includes the abiotic components like air, water, land, sunlight, temperature, and nutrients; the biotic components comprising all living organisms from plants to microorganisms; and critically, the socio-cultural and economic components – our human population, societies, economies, and technologies, all of which profoundly shape and are shaped by nature. Essentially, the environment is our interconnected life support system, providing vital resources, regulating climate, processing waste, and offering immeasurable aesthetic and spiritual value.

 *The Demerits of Environmental Destruction:

A Cascade of Crises

The systematic destruction of this vital system carries profound, interconnected consequences that impact every facet of existence:

Ecological Collapse and Biodiversity Loss: 

We’re witnessing an alarming rate of species extinction and ecosystem collapse. The IPBES Global Assessment Report (2019) warns that one million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction, many within decades. For India, a megadiverse nation, this means an irreplaceable loss of its unique flora and fauna, crucial for ecological balance and resilience.

Resource Depletion and Scarcity: 

Unsustainable practices deplete finite natural resources like freshwater, fertile land, and minerals. This intensifies competition, fuels resource conflicts, and hinders economic development, particularly for resource-dependent communities.

Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events: Extensive burning of fossil fuels and deforestation release greenhouse gases, leading to global warming. This translates to more frequent and intense heatwaves, droughts, floods, and wildfires. These events devastate infrastructure, decimate agricultural yields, and claim lives, imposing immense economic and social costs.

Health Crises: 

Pollution of air and water leads to a surge in respiratory diseases, cancers, and waterborne illnesses. For instance, air pollution in India contributes to millions of premature deaths annually, with 74 of the world’s 100 most polluted cities in 2024 located in India (IQAir). Plastic pollution further releases harmful chemicals into our food chains.

Economic Instability and Poverty: 

Environmental degradation directly impacts industries reliant on natural resources. Climate change-induced disasters cause massive economic losses and exacerbate poverty. The World Bank estimates climate change could push over 100 million people into extreme poverty by 2030.

Social Displacement and Conflict: 

Resource scarcity and climate impacts can force mass migration, leading to internal and international displacement, increased competition for dwindling resources, and potential social unrest.

Immediate Effects: 

The Here and Now in India

The consequences of environmental degradation aren’t abstract future threats; their immediate effects are profoundly visible across India:

Hyderabad’s Hotter Summers:

As of early June 2025, Hyderabad, like many Indian cities, is grappling with increasingly severe and prolonged heatwaves, a direct consequence of global warming and the urban heat island effect. Temperatures frequently soar, posing significant health risks and increasing energy demands for cooling.

Erratic Monsoon Variability: India experiences more unpredictable monsoon patterns – intense, short bursts of rainfall leading to severe urban flooding (as repeatedly seen in cities like Hyderabad) often followed by prolonged dry spells, severely impacting agriculture and water security.

Plastic-Clogged Drains and Waterways: 

Visible plastic waste chokes urban drainage systems, worsening floods during monsoons, contaminating water bodies, and creating breeding grounds for diseases. This is a common sight across many Indian cities.

Persistent Air Quality Alerts: Frequent air quality alerts are issued, especially in Northern India and major urban centers. India is the world’s fifth most polluted country, with average PM2.5 concentrations more than 10 times the WHO’s annual guideline of 5 µg/m³ (IQAir 2024). This forces people to limit outdoor activities and leads to widespread health impacts.

Coastal Erosion:

Rising sea levels and increased storm surges are accelerating coastal erosion in states like Odisha, West Bengal, and Kerala, displacing communities and damaging vital infrastructure.

Agricultural Distress: Unpredictable weather, pest outbreaks, and soil degradation directly impact crop yields, leading to farmer distress and food price volatility.

 *The Plastic Pandemic: Global Figures and India’s Position* 

The focus of World Environment Day 2025, Beat Plastic Pollution, highlights a crisis of staggering proportions:

Global Scale: 

Over 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced annually, a figure projected to nearly triple by 2060. A shocking only 9% of all plastic ever produced has been recycled, with approximately 11 million tonnes entering the ocean every year. Projections warn that by 2050, there could be more plastic than fish in the sea by weight.

India’s Contribution and Efforts:

While India is a significant contributor to global plastic waste, generating approximately 9.5 million tonnes annually (2022 analysis, out of 268 million tonnes globally), its per capita plastic consumption at around 13 kg annually is significantly lower than the global average of 27 kg. India has shown remarkable intent with its “full life-cycle plastic strategy” and a ban on single-use plastics. The country also boasts a relatively high plastic recycling rate, reported to be around 60% in 2024, though some estimates suggest the comprehensive rate for all plastics might be closer to 13%. Nevertheless, India’s recycling industry is projected to reach US$ 10.2 billion by 2030.

 *Beyond Plastic: India’s Broader Environmental* Tapestry in Global Context

Plastic pollution is intertwined with other critical environmental challenges where India’s role is particularly significant:

Climate Change: Globally, temperatures are already 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels. India, despite a historical share of only 4% of global GHG emissions (1850-2019), is highly vulnerable. India has pledged to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2070, to reduce emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030 (from 2005 levels), and to achieve 50% of its installed electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. India’s 4th Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) to the UNFCCC (December 2024) indicated a 7.93% reduction in GHG emissions in 2020 compared to 2019. Its installed renewable energy capacity reached 209.44 GW by December 2024.

Deforestation and Biodiversity Loss: The latest India State of Forest Report (ISFR 2023) shows a mixed picture. While India has added 1,445.81 sq. km. of forest and tree cover, reaching 25.17% of its geographical area, it also reported losing 668,400 hectares of forestry between 2015-2020, ranking second globally after Brazil in forest loss.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): India’s progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals is crucial. The SDG India Index 2023-24 shows India’s overall score improved to 71 (from 57 in 2018), and its global rank improved to 109th out of 166 countries in the SDG Report 2024, with good progress in clean energy and water, but challenges in poverty and inequality.

 *Future Challenges: Navigating the Coming Decades* 

Looking ahead, thei challenges are immense, demanding immediate and sustained action:

Achieving Net Zero Emissions: Decarbonizing India’s energy sector while meeting growing demands requires massive investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and green hydrogen.

Managing Growing Waste Streams: Rapid urbanization and a rising middle class will cause solid waste generation, especially plastic, to explode. Implementing effective waste segregation, collection, recycling, and safe disposal nationwide is crucial.

Water Scarcity and Quality: India faces chronic water stress, exacerbated by climate change. Improving water management, promoting conservation, recharging groundwater, and ensuring access to safe drinking water for all are paramount.

Protecting and Restoring Biodiversity: Balancing development with conservation remains a huge challenge. Protecting India’s remaining forests, wetlands, and other critical habitats is vital to safeguard its rich biodiversity.

Climate Adaptation and Resilience: India must adapt to unavoidable climate impacts by developing resilient infrastructure, early warning systems for extreme weather, drought-resistant crops, and protecting vulnerable communities.

Ensuring Environmental Justice: Addressing the disproportionate impact of environmental degradation on marginalized communities and ensuring their participation in decision-making will be a continuous challenge.

 *How We Address These Challenges: A Path Forward* 

Addressing these monumental challenges requires a multi-pronged, collaborative approach:

Policy and Governance: This means strengthening environmental regulations, a swift transition to a circular economy with robust Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) norms, implementing green fiscal policies, and fostering strong international cooperation on global environmental agreements.

Technological Innovation and Investment: Accelerating renewable energy deployment (India’s capacity is growing but needs more), investing in sustainable materials, developing advanced waste-to-energy and recycling technologies, and building climate-resilient infrastructure.

Behavioral Change and Public Awareness: Promoting sustainable lifestyles through reduced consumption, embracing reusable alternatives, and conserving resources. Crucially, environmental education must be integrated into curricula, fostering a sense of responsibility and connection to nature, while empowering citizen participation in local environmental initiatives.

Nature-Based Solutions (NBS): Prioritizing afforestation and reforestation drives, wetland conservation and restoration for their ecological benefits, and promoting sustainable agriculture through organic farming and water-efficient techniques to restore soil health.

India’s Leadership in the Race to Sustainability

World Environment Day 2025 is more than just a commemorative date; it is an urgent call for introspection and decisive action. The definition of our environment underscores its immense value, while the demerits of its destruction paint a stark picture of the consequences. For India, and cities like Hyderabad, the immediate effects are palpable, and the future challenges loom large.

However, the path forward is clear. India’s leadership, its growing commitment to renewables, and its efforts in waste management, though still in progress, offer hope. The collective actions of every individual, community, industry, and government are paramount. Let us not just observe this day, but truly dedicate ourselves to the vital task of healing our planet, ensuring that the environment, our ultimate life support system, thrives for generations to come. The time for decisive action, rooted in science and driven by collective will, is now.