World Environment Day, celebrated on June 5th, is a global event dedicated to raising awareness and promoting action for environmental protection. Established by the United Nations in 1972, it addresses pressing issues like climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
Theme for 2024: “Restore Our Earth”
The 2024 theme, “Restore Our Earth,” focuses on ecosystem restoration. Efforts include reforestation, rewilding, and sustainable farming to recover degraded ecosystems and conserve existing ones.
How to Get Involved
- Plant Trees: Join local tree-planting initiatives.
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Adopt sustainable practices.
- Support Conservation: Volunteer or donate to environmental organizations.
- Educate and Advocate: Raise awareness and push for policy changes.
- Green Your Community: Participate in clean-ups and promote green spaces.
Success Stories
- The Great Green Wall: A project to create green landscapes across Africa’s Sahel region.
- Costa Rica: Doubled its forest cover through conservation and ecotourism.
- Singapore: Integrates green spaces throughout its urban environment.
Individual Impact
Small actions, such as reducing plastic use and conserving water, contribute to significant environmental improvements. Every effort counts toward a sustainable future.
World Environment Day is a call to action to protect and restore our planet. Join the global movement on June 5th and beyond to help create a healthier, more sustainable world.
Comments by Industry Experts:
“On World Environment Day 2024, Virtusa reaffirms its commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship, echoing this year’s theme of ‘Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience.’ At Virtusa, we blend logic, creativity, and curiosity to sculpt a sustainable, just, and inclusive tomorrow. Our journey towards purpose-driven sustainability endeavours to foster a positive environmental and socio-economic impact, prioritizing the minimization of our ecological footprint and showcasing ethical maturity.
We are dedicated to engineering with purpose, catalyzing a sustainable future, nurturing equitable communities, and cultivating inclusive opportunities. By committing to set near-term and net-zero emission reduction targets, we strive to future-proof our stakeholders and take responsibility for our environmental, social, and governance (ESG) footprint.” Amit Bajoria, Chief Finance Officer, Virtusa.
“Desertification, land degradation, and drought pose environmental crisis that impacts communities worldwide. Given that human existence relies on fertile and productive land for numerous essential activities, preventing degradation and revitalizing deteriorated land through restoration efforts is crucial for bolstering biodiversity, reinstating the ecosystem, and alleviating the impacts of climate change. Remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) play pivotal roles in both assessing land degradation and facilitating its restoration. By providing timely and accurate information about the state of the land, GIS empowers stakeholders to make informed decisions and take proactive steps to mitigate degradation and restore ecosystems. Harnessing the capabilities of ArcGIS, at Esri India, we incessantly focus on developing innovative solution products that can significantly aid in mitigating climate change and building resilient communities.” Agendra Kumar, Managing Director, Esri India
“The perils of climate ignorant land use are becoming more and more visible. The folly of filling up water bodies and building on them in urban areas is coming back to bite us in terms of water scarcity and flooding. Widespread deforestation for development and rampant unsustainable exploitation of ground water is leading to ills like droughts, desertification and salinity. We, at Mahindra University, are integrating environmental science and climate resilience in our curriculum to enhance the awareness of ecosystem services and the criticality of sustainable land use management. Pathbreaking partnerships with industry leaders like Rockwell Automation and with the Greening Education Partnership of UNESCO ensure focus on practical solutions, international exposure and hands-on experience in nurturing responsible citizens for the future.” Dr. Anirban Ghosh, Professor & Head Centre for Sustainability, Mahindra University.
“Clean and alternative energy solutions like natural gas are vital towards enabling a sustainable world for our future generations. Transitioning to natural gas not only reduces carbon emissions but also decreases the environmental impact of energy production. It also plays a pivotal role in reducing soil degradation and mitigating the effects of climate change, which are key drivers of desertification. Our commitment is evident in the 56.6 KW of solar energy generated last year and the 58 KL of ground water recharge achieved through our surface and roof rainwater systems. It is imperative to address climate and environmental challenges by integrating advanced technologies and sustainable practices, with eco-friendly energy solutions. We also spearhead initiatives like THINK forest, planting over 3000 trees using the Miyawaki method to restore ecosystems and mitigate pollution.In addition to the various green initiatives undertaken by THINK Gas, the company has also forayed into the field of Compressed Biogas (CBG). THINK Gas plans to have 30 metric tonnes per day (TPD) of CBG in its portfolio by December 2024 and the same is likely to ramp up to almost 100 metric tonnes per day by December 25.” Abhilesh Gupta, Managing Director & CEO, THINK Gas
“Protecting the environment is often left to a handful of agencies of the Government and a few industries such as oil & gas, transportation, renewable energy etc. The reality on the other hand is that we face daunting challenges which can be surpassed only by sustained efforts from industries without exception and society at large. It is critical to understand that consumption drives everything that matters and consumption is driven by the common man. The time has come when the common man has to wake up to the new realities and think hard about how her/his consumption is fed and whether her/his consumption is environment friendly. The undeniable reality is that if demand is generated then the market will respond regardless of the environmental impact and there is only so much laws and regulations can do. It is our duty to protect and restore our planet, particularly focusing on reducing our energy needs, water utilisation, our personal carbon footprint, land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience. Expanding city gas distribution networks, is a small but definitive measure towards conserving the planet. Natural Gas is a transition fuel which will see us through the next two decades as we develop the technologies and the ecosystem required to make renewal energy and new age fuels such as Hydrogen sustainable and affordable. Through initiatives aimed at promoting the use of natural gas, we support the broader goal of environmental restoration and resilience.” Vinukumar Balakrishnan, Chief Marketing & Commercial Officer, THINK Gas.
“At Nuvoco, we are committed to preserving our planet and have made sustainability our core principle, deeply embedded in every aspect of our operations. This commitment drives us to pursue sustainability relentlessly in all our endeavours. Our dedication is embodied in our Protect Our Planet agenda, which focuses on five key dimensions: decarbonization, water management, circular economy, biodiversity, and waste reduction.
Our initiatives reflect our dedication to sustainability through various impactful actions. Our ECODURE product range achieves up to a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions, while our 16 GreenPro Certified RMX plants highlight our commitment to sustainable construction practices. Additionally, our innovative Aqua Zero Debris Recycler can reduce freshwater consumption by 40% and eliminate debris from our manufacturing plants. We further enhance resource efficiency and reduce environmental impact through green logistics and optimized power generation with Waste Heat Recovery Systems (WHRS).
Nuvoco recognises the critical role in balancing progress with environmental preservation. Our commitment to using recycled plastics in packaging highlights our dedication to minimizing waste and embracing the principles of a circular economy.” Mr. Prashant Jha, Chief Ready-Mix Concrete (RMX), Nuvoco Vistas Corp. Ltd.
“As we commemorate World Environment Day, Lenovo underscores that responsible computing is not merely about technology—it’s about a steadfast commitment to sustainability and innovation. It’s crucial for businesses to prioritize sustainability as a key factor for success, not as a constraint. Today, GPUs and DPUs (Data Processing Units) are enhancing energy efficiency in AI and HPC tasks such as deep learning, big data analytics, genomic sequencing, scaling AI workloads, etc. As the need for data processing grows, the importance of Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) in eco-friendly data centers becomes increasingly critical. Our latest ThinkSystem server, equipped with 8 NVIDIA GPUs and Intel processors, exemplifies cutting-edge performance with an ultra-efficient PUE of 1.1, ensuring minimal environmental impact.
Lenovo actively encourages customer to opt for Co2 Offset Services, which have already balanced 1 million metric tons of carbon emissions. Our commitment spans the entire system lifecycle—from reducing packaging waste to offering efficient components like liquid cooling and responsibly recycling hardware. With our pioneering Lenovo Neptune™ liquid cooling technology, we enable our customers achieve up to a 40% reduction in power consumption and a 3.5x improvement in thermal efficiency compared to traditional air-cooled systems.
Looking ahead, the potential for sustainable computing is vast. By reducing ecological footprints and fostering innovation, the green cloud computing revolution is just beginning. Lenovo is more committed than ever to leading the way by providing smarter AI and solving humanities greatest challenges.” Amit Luthra, Managing Director- India, Lenovo ISG
“The pressing global issue of deforestation becomes even more alarming when we consider the statistics. From 1990 to 2016, our planet lost a staggering 1.3 million square kilometers of forest cover, devastatingly losing 15 billion trees every year. In response to this environmental crisis, Seedcopter, India’s first aerial seeding solution, is set to combat deforestation and expedite reforestation efforts. This innovative technology combines the power of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Science, and local community knowledge to address the challenges of large-scale afforestation, offering hope for our planet’s green future. With our Hara Bahara campaign, we aim to replant 1 billion trees by 2030, transforming 900 forests across India. Using our Seedcopter technology, we’ve already started seeding 10 acres in partnership with the UP government. The initiative restores landscapes but also empowers communities in 1,400 districts.” Prem Kumar Vislawath – CEO and Co–Founder, Marut Drones
“As we celebrate this World Environment Day, the urgency for businesses to adopt green practices and clean energy sources has never been greater. India is the 3rd largest consumer of energy in the world, and as India Inc. continues to expand, it is crucial that growth is supported by sustainable models. Aligned with this vision is ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’, an ambitious goal to transform India while integrating various aspects of growth bolstered by environmental sustainability. Achieving this vision requires a collective effort from all sectors, with businesses playing a pivotal role. The Indian government’s initiatives, such as the National Solar Mission and incentives for clean energy, underscore a robust commitment to a greener future. By aligning with these national efforts, we can significantly contribute to global sustainability goals.
As a responsible player in the packaging industry, we recognize that sustainability is paramount for environmental development. By promoting eco-friendly practices and products, companies can contribute to minimizing environmental footprint and inspire positive change across the industry. It is our duty to lead by example, fostering a culture of environmental responsibility and innovation that will drive our industry towards a more sustainable and resilient future”. Mr. Ashish Pradhan – President, Siegwerk Asia
