Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, India is committed to reduce 33 to 35 percent of the emissions intensity of its GDP by 2030. Addressing World Environment Day Event in New Delhi this evening, Mr Modi said, India’s culture is living in harmony with nature. He said, as India celebrates this important occasion today, people recall the ancient ethos of universal brotherhood.

Mr Modi reiterated the Government’s commitment for sustainable development. He said, it is the duty of everyone that the material prosperity does not compromise on the environment.

Speaking on the theme of this year Beat Plastic Pollution, Mr Modi said, plastic pollution is already having a deadly impact on the ecosystem. He said, the National mission on cleanliness and sanitation ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ has special focus on plastic waste management.

The Prime Minister called on people to join together to Beat Plastic Pollution and make the planet a better place to live. He said, the choice that people will make today will define the collective future. Mr Modi mentioned that the per-capita plastic consumption in India is much lower than any part of the developed world.

Speaking on clean energy, the Prime Minister said, Government has targeted for generation of 175 GigaWatt of Solar and Wind energy by 2022. He said, India is already the 5th largest producer of Solar energy in the World and it is also the 6th largest producer of renewable energy in the World. He said, the motto of the Government is more crop per drop.

Mr Modi said, Government has given forty million new cooking gas connections in the last two years which has freed rural women from the misery of poisonous smoke and has also eliminated their dependence on firewood.

He said, three hundred million LED bulbs are being installed across India which has saved electricity and also prevented huge additional amounts of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere.

The Prime Minister said, Government aims to provide electricity connection to every household, which will further reduce dependence on environmentally degrading forms of fuel. He said, India is reducing its dependence on fossil fuels and it is switching sources of fuel where possible.

Mr Modi said, Government’s Make in India campaign has focus on zero defect and zero effect manufacturing which means manufacturing without defect and which does not harm the environment.

He said, India have a robust National Biodiversity Strategy and with just 2.4 percent of the world’s land area, India supports seven to eight percent of the recorded species diversity. He informed that India’s tree and forest cover has also increased by one percent in the last two years.

The Prime Minister said, Government had launched the Namami Gange initiative and the programme has already started giving results. He said, India will soon revive the Ganga, its most precious river.

Mr Modi said, India is the fastest growing economy in the world today and the Government is committed to raise the standards of living of the people.

In his address, Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Dr Harsh Vardhan said, India reaffirms its commitment to beat plastic pollution. He called on people to pledge to eliminate all single-use plastic from India by 2022.

Chief of UN Environment Programme, UNEP Eric Solheim in his address promised than UN will work with India to target 6 million farmers to turn agriculture green. He said, next year, UNEP will organise the UN environment assembly with a focus on sustainable lifestyles.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister released postage stamp on the theme beat the plastic pollution and publications. Five industry leaders also took environment protection pledges at the plenary session.

This year, India is the global host nation for the 43rd edition of World Environment Day. Environment Ministers, representatives from United Nations and members from various industry bodies were among the various dignitaries who attended the event. Mr. Modi also visited the exhibition organized on the occasion at Rajpath lawns.

The Prime Minister, in his Mann Ki Baat programme on All India Radio, had emphasized that India being the official host of the World Environment Day celebrations, is a recognition of its growing leadership in tackling climate change issues.