PM Modi to inaugurate national conference of state environment ministers in Gujarat

New Delhi: To create synergy among the centre and states over the issue of  Environment and Climate Change, Prime  Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the national conference of Environment Ministers in Gujarat  tomorrow, (September 23rd)

According to the statement, from the Prime Minister’s office, the conference will take place to forward the spirit of cooperative federalism.

“Conference is being convened to create further synergy amongst the Central and State Governments in formulating better policies on issues such as Elimination of Plastic Pollution through multi-pronged approach, State Action Plans to effectively combat Climate Change with focus on LiFE- Lifestyle for Environment” it said

The statement said, it will also focus on increasing the forest cover with special emphasis on restoration of degraded land and wildlife conservation.

The two day conference will also focus on increasing the forest cover with special emphasis on restoration of degraded land and wildlife conservation.

The PMO statement said, the Conference  will have six thematic sessions with topics focusing on LiFE, Combating Climate Change (Updating State Action Plans on Climate Change for Mitigation of Emissions and Adaptation to Climate Impacts) ; PARIVESH (Single Window System for Integrated Green Clearances) ; Forestry Management ; Prevention and Control of Pollution; Wildlife Management ; Plastics and Waste Management.

India had banned the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of identified single-use plastic items, which have low utility and high littering potential, all across the country from July 1, 2022.

India’s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) Report (2019-20) stated that 3.5 million metric tonnes of plastic waste are generated in India annually.

As per the reports that India features in the top 100 countries of single-use plastic waste generation – at rank 94 (the top three being Singapore, Australia and Oman. With domestic production of 11.8 million metric tonnes annually, and import of 2.9 MMT, India’s net generation of single-use plastic waste is 5.6 MMT, and per capita generation is 4 kg.

According to the United Nations, plastic waste is at epidemic proportions in the world’s oceans, with an estimated 100 million tonnes dumped there. Scientists have found large amounts of micro plastic in the intestines of deep-dwelling ocean mammals like whales.