World Environment Day ,5th June: Land restoration, desertification and drought resilience

When: 5 June 2024

Theme: Land restoration, desertification and drought resilience

Host: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

World Environment Day is the biggest international day for the environment. Led by the United Nations

Environment Programme (UNEP), and held annually since 1973, it has grown to be the largest global platform for environmental outreach. It is celebrated by millions of people across the world.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host World Environment Day 2024 with a focus on land restoration, desertification and drought resilience. Land restoration is a key pillar of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), a rallying call for the protection and revival of ecosystems all around the world, which is critical to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

India has a comprehensive framework of environmental laws aimed at protecting and conserving its natural resources.

Here are some key environmental laws in India:

1. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986:

- This is the umbrella legislation that provides a framework for coordinating activities related to environmental protection. It grants the central government the authority to regulate and control pollution, manage hazardous substances, and protect the environment.

2. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981:

- This law aims to control and prevent air pollution. It establishes the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) to implement measures to prevent and control air pollution.

3. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974:

- This act focuses on the prevention and control of water pollution. It also led to the establishment of the CPCB and SPCBs to monitor and regulate water pollution.

4. The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972:

- This legislation provides for the protection of wild animals, birds, and plants. It includes provisions for setting up national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and protected areas.

5. The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980:

- This act restricts the de-reservation of forests or use of forest land for non-forest purposes without the prior approval of the central government. It aims to conserve the country’s forests and related resources.

6. The Biological Diversity Act, 2002:

- This law aims to conserve biological diversity, ensure sustainable use of its components, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of biological resources.

7. The Hazardous Waste (Management, Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2008:

- These rules regulate the management and handling of hazardous waste to prevent environmental and health hazards.

8. The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010:

- This act established the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to handle cases related to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources. The NGT is responsible for ensuring speedy disposal of environmental cases.

9. The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991:

- This act mandates that industries handling hazardous substances must obtain insurance policies to provide immediate relief to persons affected by accidents while handling such substances.

These laws collectively aim to address a wide range of environmental issues, from pollution control and wildlife protection to the management of hazardous substances and conservation of biodiversity.

Enforcement and compliance with these laws are crucial for effective environmental protection in India.

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