At the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Glasgow, United Kingdom, India shared the theme LIFE Lifestyles for Environment to combat climate change.
The Sustainable Development Goals were established in 2015 by the United Nations and are intended to be achieved by 2030. The SDGs are a set of 17 interdisciplinary global goals designed to provide a framework for achieving a better and more sustainable future for all. The SDGs address issues such as health and education, inequality, climate change, and the conservation of seas and forests, among others. Goal 12 of the SDGs is to ensure sustainable use and production patterns focused on waste management (both municipal and hazardous), reduce food loss, waste recycling and reuse, and sustainability in industries such as tourism. SDG 12 calls for the transformation of the current way of life into a more sustainable one.
Waste Management initiative by Govt. of India
As part of the United Nations Decade of Action for the Development of the SDGs, India has embarked on a number of initiatives to improve service efficiency and a vibrant economy, which include waste prevention and control. The concepts of Increased Product Responsibility (EPR) and the Round Economy are based on the principles of reducing recycling and are related to promoting sustainable use and production. NITI Aayog has established Rural Economic Development (CE) Committees for action plans for various stages of waste. The MoEFCC is an important Department of the Tire and Rubber Economy Program and has announced on 16.02.2022 ‘Guidelines for Manufacturer Product Load (EPR) Plastic Packaging’ under the Plastic Waste Management Regulations, 2016.
In January 2018, the MoEFCC launched the Green Good Deeds (GGDs) organization as a social organization with the aim of raising awareness of biodiversity in the community at all levels. GGDs are simple, practical steps that each individual can take in everyday life to live a life that is in harmony with nature.
A collection of such titles is also published under the heading ‘Green Acts and Continuous Local Practices’. The promotion of GGDs among school and college students has been undertaken under the National Green Corps (NGC) “Eco-club” program. Campaigns for hygiene, investment, waste management awareness, reducing the use of plastic used once, celebrating natural festivals, etc. for some of the activities of Eco-club students. The information was provided by the Minister of State for Environment, Forestry and Climate Change, Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a response to Rajya Sabha.
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