🧭June 6, 2025 Post 3: 🌍 World Environment Day 2025 | High Quality Mains Essay | Prelims MCQs
🌍 World Environment Day 2025
Post Date: June 6, 2025
Syllabus: GS3 – Environment | GS2 – Governance
NATIONAL CONSCIENCE —
🧭 Thematic Focus
♻️ Plastic Pollution | 🌱 SDG Impact | 🇮🇳 India’s Role in Global Environmental Governance
🌿 Intro Whisper
When the world chokes in plastic and policy apathy, even a discarded bottle becomes a mirror — reflecting the cost of convenience over consciousness.
🔑 Key Highlights
- Observed Annually: June 5 — since 1973
- 2025 Host: Republic of Korea
- 2025 Theme: #BeatPlasticPollution
- 19–23 million tonnes of plastic waste leak into aquatic systems annually
- India’s Burden: ~3.5 million metric tonnes of plastic waste every year
- Plastic affects SDGs 6, 12, 13, 14, 15
- Estimated global cost: $300–600 billion/year
- India among top emitters: CO₂ rose from 2.33 to 3.12 billion metric tonnes (2015–24)
📘 Concept Explainer – What is World Environment Day?
World Environment Day was established by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1973 following the 1972 Stockholm Conference. It serves as the United Nations’ primary platform to foster global environmental awareness and action.
Each year, a country hosts the day and chooses a theme that resonates with current planetary crises. For 2025, the focus is on eliminating plastic pollution, a major threat to water, land, and life.
🌐 India’s Plastic Footprint and Environmental Challenges
🇮🇳 Domestic Crisis
- ~62 million tonnes of waste/year — only 20% scientifically treated
- Delhi remains one of the most polluted cities globally
- Microplastics found in soil, rivers, and food chains
- Plastics hinder urban drainage, cause floods, and kill marine life
🌳 Other Environmental Pressures
- Biodiversity erosion in Himalayas and Western Ghats
- Rising carbon emissions — affecting climate-sensitive agriculture
- Unsustainable urban growth – worsening air quality and liveability
🔍 GS-Relevant Policies & Commitments
| Initiative | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2021 | Ban on single-use plastics, regulation of carry bags |
| Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) | Ensures plastic producers manage end-of-life plastic |
| Swachh Bharat Mission | Improves urban & rural solid waste segregation |
| Plastic Parks Scheme | Industrial zones for plastic recycling innovations |
| CSIR Technologies | Plastic-to-fuel and waste-to-energy models |
🌏 Global Alignments
- Basel Convention (2019): Tightens control on plastic exports
- G20 Osaka Vision: End plastic leakage into oceans by 2050
- High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People: Protect 30% of ecosystems by 2030
🛠️ Solutions for a Plastic-Free Future
- Refuse: Say no to plastic straws, sachets, and cutlery
- Reduce: Limit packaging waste in daily consumption
- Recycle: Promote circular economy and segregated waste systems
- Rethink: Shift consumption patterns toward low-carbon, local products
- Redesign: Innovate biodegradable and reusable packaging
📚 GS Paper Mapping
| Paper | Theme | Subtopics |
|---|---|---|
| GS3 | Environment | Plastic pollution, SDGs, sustainability |
| GS2 | Governance | Environmental policies, federal commitments |
| Essay Paper | Ethics & Development | Role of civil society, intergenerational equity |
🌀 A Thought Spark — by IAS Monk
“A society that cannot clean up after itself does not deserve to inherit the planet.
Only by refusing the waste in our minds can we stop the waste in our oceans.”
High Quality Mains Essay For Practice :
Word Limit 1000-1200
📝 Beat Plastic Pollution: Urgency, Impact, and the Path Ahead
IAS 2025 MAINS — Essay Paper and GS3/Environment
Introduction: A Crisis in Plain Sight
Plastic—once hailed as the miracle of modern chemistry—has turned into one of the gravest threats to our environment and future. From the remotest oceans to our dining tables, its presence has become omnipresent. World Environment Day 2025, themed #BeatPlasticPollution, is not merely a slogan—it is a global alarm bell. This essay explores the causes, consequences, global efforts, and actionable pathways to confront plastic pollution, highlighting its interlinkages with health, climate change, economy, and development goals.
The Plastic Problem: From Innovation to Invasion
Invented in the early 20th century, plastics revolutionized industries. Their durability, low cost, and versatility made them integral to packaging, healthcare, construction, electronics, and more. However, this same durability has become a liability: plastic does not biodegrade but instead breaks down into microplastics that persist for centuries.
India generates about 3.5 million metric tonnes of plastic waste annually. Globally, between 19–23 million tonnes leak into aquatic ecosystems every year, amounting to the equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks dumped into oceans, rivers, and lakes daily. Microplastics are now found in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and even human bloodstreams.
Environmental Devastation: Land, Air, and Sea
Plastic pollution disrupts ecosystems at multiple levels:
- Marine Life: Over 100,000 marine mammals and millions of birds die annually due to plastic ingestion or entanglement. Coral reefs are also suffocated by microplastics.
- Soil and Agriculture: Plastics in soil affect microbial activity, reduce fertility, and contaminate food chains through crops.
- Air Pollution: Open burning of plastic waste emits carcinogenic gases such as dioxins and furans, contributing to respiratory diseases and greenhouse gas emissions.
Plastics are responsible for 3.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with emissions expected to triple by 2060 if no urgent action is taken.
Impact on Human Health
From endocrine disruption to cancer risks, plastic chemicals such as BPA, phthalates, and styrene are directly linked to human health hazards. Microplastics found in human placenta, lungs, and digestive systems highlight an alarming level of internal contamination. The issue is no longer limited to environmentalists—it’s now a public health emergency.
Plastic and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Plastic pollution threatens multiple SDGs simultaneously:
- SDG 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation): Contaminates water sources, endangering both rural and urban populations.
- SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption & Production): Overconsumption and poor disposal practices undermine circular economy goals.
- SDG 13 (Climate Action): Lifecycle emissions from plastic production, transportation, and decomposition add to the climate crisis.
- SDG 14 & 15 (Life Below Water & On Land): Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems suffer long-term degradation.
Global Initiatives: Toward a Plastic-Free Future
Efforts are ongoing at multiple levels:
- Basel Convention (2019): Tightened regulations on transboundary plastic waste.
- G20 Osaka Blue Ocean Vision: India and other nations pledged to stop new plastic pollution in oceans by 2050.
- UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution (under negotiation): A legally binding global agreement to regulate the life cycle of plastics.
India has been proactive:
- Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2021: Bans single-use plastic, mandates Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
- EPR Portal: Ensures companies are accountable for collecting and recycling the plastic they produce.
- Plastic Parks: Industrial zones to process plastic waste into reusable material.
- Swachh Bharat Mission: Has improved collection and segregation but needs greater plastic-specific focus.
Socio-Economic and Technological Dimensions
India’s informal waste-pickers—over 1.5 million—play a vital role in plastic recycling. However, they often operate in hazardous conditions. Integrating them into formal recycling chains through cooperatives, training, and social security is critical.
Technological innovations are promising:
- CSIR’s plastic-to-fuel initiatives.
- Bioplastics and eco-friendly packaging alternatives using starch, algae, and cellulose.
However, affordability and scalability remain challenges, especially for small businesses and rural economies.
The Role of Citizens and Communities
Policy can only go so far without behavioral change:
- Refuse single-use plastics.
- Reduce consumption and packaging.
- Reuse durable alternatives.
- Recycle responsibly by following waste segregation.
- Rethink consumption through minimalist and zero-waste living.
Schools, religious institutions, housing societies, and local governments can be powerful agents of change by organizing cleanup drives, awareness programs, and enforcing plastic bans.
Challenges Ahead
Despite progress, enforcement is patchy, and the plastic lobby remains strong. Cheap plastic imports, e-commerce packaging, and inconsistent municipal efforts hinder gains. Moreover, pandemic-driven plastic use (masks, PPEs, online delivery packaging) has added unforeseen hurdles.
Way Forward
India must:
- Strengthen Enforcement of Plastic Waste Rules through local governance mechanisms and fines.
- Develop Alternatives: Incentivize R&D in biodegradable substitutes.
- Decentralize Waste Management: Empower panchayats and urban local bodies.
- Taxation and Incentives: Implement plastic taxes while subsidizing sustainable alternatives.
- Youth Engagement: Include environmental education and plastic footprint reduction in curricula.
Conclusion: A Planet or a Plastic Dump?
Beating plastic pollution is not just an environmental imperative—it is a civilizational challenge. If humanity continues on its current trajectory, by 2050, plastic could outweigh fish in the oceans. But if individuals, institutions, and nations unite under a common cause, this century could mark the rebirth of sustainability.
India—home to 1.5 billion aspirations—has a unique chance to lead by example. Through innovation, awareness, and willpower, it can turn the plastic tide and walk the world into a cleaner, safer, and more conscious future.
In the quiet canopy of Telangana’s Gundaram Reserve Forest, a voice once thought silent has begun to sing again. The recent discovery of eleven Satavahana-era inscriptions by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is not merely a historical footnote. It is a powerful echo of a civilization that shaped the political, cultural, and economic contours of early India. When we read stone, we do not just read facts — we feel the pulse of a people, their gods, their wars, their poetry, and their vision of order.
The Satavahana dynasty, often overshadowed in popular memory by the Mauryas or Guptas, was a keystone in the post-Mauryan transition. It filled the power vacuum in the Deccan, stitched together diverse regions, and balanced local autonomy with imperial vision — a model that speaks to India’s diversity even today.
Target IAS-26: Daily MCQs :
📌 Prelims Practice MCQs
Topic: World Environment Day
MCQ 1 – Type 1: How many of the above statements are correct?
Consider the following statements regarding plastic pollution and its impact:
1. India generates over 10 million metric tonnes of plastic waste annually.
2. Microplastics have been found in human lungs, placenta, and bloodstream.
3. Plastic waste accounts for more than 50% of marine litter.
4. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requires companies to recollect and process their own plastic waste.
How many of the above statements are correct?
A) Only two
B) Only three
C) All four
D) Only one
🌀 Didn’t get it? Click here (▸) for the Correct Answer & Explanation
✅ Correct Answer: B) Only three
🧠 Explanation:
•1) ❌ False – India generates around 3.5 million metric tonnes annually, not over 10 million.
•2) ✅ True – Microplastics have been found in vital human organs including the lungs and placenta.
•3) ✅ True – Over 85% of marine litter is composed of plastic waste.
•4) ✅ True – EPR mandates that companies take back and dispose of plastic they manufacture or sell.
MCQ 2 – Type 2: Two Statements Based
Consider the following statements regarding India’s policy measures on plastic pollution:
1. The Plastic Waste Management Rules 2021 ban all forms of plastic packaging.
2. Plastic Parks are designated industrial zones that aim to process plastic waste into reusable material.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
A) Only 1 is correct
B) Only 2 is correct
C) Both are correct
D) Neither is correct
🌀 Didn’t get it? Click here (▸) for the Correct Answer & Explanation
✅ Correct Answer: B) Only 2 is correct
🧠 Explanation:
•1) ❌ False – The 2021 rules ban single-use plastics, not all forms of plastic packaging.
•2) ✅ True – Plastic Parks are specially planned zones where industries collaborate to recycle and upcycle plastic waste.
MCQ 3 – Type 3: Which of the statements is/are correct?
Which of the following statements are correct about the impact of plastic on SDGs?
1. Plastic pollution affects the achievement of SDG 6, 12, 13, 14, and 15.
2. It contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, worsening climate change.
3. Plastic directly causes desertification under SDG 2.
Select the correct code:
A) 1 and 2 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
🌀 Didn’t get it? Click here (▸) for the Correct Answer & Explanation
✅ Correct Answer: A) 1 and 2 only
🧠 Explanation:
•1) ✅ True – Plastic waste impacts clean water, climate, marine life, life on land, and responsible consumption.
•2) ✅ True – Plastic emits CO₂ and methane during its lifecycle.
•3) ❌ False – Desertification is linked more to land degradation, not directly to plastic pollution.
MCQ 4 – Type 4: Direct Fact
Which country is the global host of World Environment Day 2025?
A) India
B) Republic of Korea
C) United States
D) Brazil
🌀 Didn’t get it? Click here (▸) for the Correct Answer & Explanation.
✅ Correct Answer: B) Republic of Korea
🧠 Explanation:
•Republic of Korea is the host country for World Environment Day 2025, themed #BeatPlasticPollution.
