World Environment Day 2018: India pledges to make 100 monuments plastic-free

New Delhi: India is the global host of 2018 World Environment Day 2018. With “Beat Plastic Pollution” as the theme for this year's edition, the world is coming together to combat single-use plastic pollution. World Environment Day is a UN Environment-led global event, the single largest celebration of our environment each year.

Dr. Udit Raj, Hon'ble Member of Parliament (North West Delhi) with Gaurav Grover, President of New Delhi Social Workers Association (NDSWA) along with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), organized a meaningful discussion to create more awareness on environment happening at Constitutional Club of India, Rafi Marg.

The Government of India has committed to organising and promoting the World Environment Day celebrations through a series of engaging activities and events generating strong public interest and participation.

From pan-Indian plastic clean-up drives in public areas, national reserves and forests to simultaneous beach clean-up activities – India will lead the initiative by setting an example.

Delhi, the sixth-most populated metropolis in the world (second largest if the entire NCR is included), is one of the most heavily polluted cities in India. The New Delhi Social Workers Association (NDSWA) a registered prominent NGO in Delhi, has been working closely with the Government and the citizens for their societal development and upliftment, for the last six decades.

Under the Patronage of Dr. Udit Raj, the New Delhi Social Workers Association (NDSWA) along with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), proposes to organize a meaningful discussion to create more awareness on Environment and the critical related issues including the high levels of pollution in Delhi.

Gaurav Grover, President of NDSWA said “This initiative will give an encouragement to all citizens, that they should come forward and fight against the issue of Single-use plastic   which is polluting the environment, But this can only happen by individuals taking a step forward, World Environment Day is just a wake-up call for us to work for our environment.

Dr. Udit Raj, said “We are so conservative that we need everything from our environment without considering how much we are exploiting the earth and damaging the environment. let us began with ourselves to fight against the issue of single-use plastic which is polluting the environment. We need to bring the changes in our own pattern of consumption."

Dia Mirza, Actress and UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador for India said “We are extremely optimistic that we can achieve a significant shift in human behaviour where through the advocacy that we all are involved with, we can help more people to recognise the consumption of single use of plastic and find ways to refuse the single use of plastics. Once we achieve this, we can find a better way to manage the plastic waste."

Naysan Sabha, Director, Communication Division UN Environment said “The theme: Single-use plastic which is polluting the environment is critical to every citizen of this city and the whole planet. One must avoid the consumption of single-use disposable plastics. Plastics per say are not the problem but single-use disposable plastics are the issue as they have very little value and a linear approach to the economy.”