June 5: A Day Of Action For A Greener India

As India celebrates World Environment Day, a hopeful shift is taking shape—from passive awareness to active participation. Whether in classrooms, boardrooms, or innovation labs, the message is clear: sustainability must be lived daily, not just discussed once a year.

From Classrooms to Change Agents
For Dr. Anirban Ghosh, Professor and Head at the Centre for Sustainability at Mahindra University, the stakes are clear. “Emissions rise every year, and so does the urgency to act,” he said. “We can’t wait for the perfect solution. We need to adopt scalable climate solutions now.” Ghosh believes the responsibility begins in classrooms. “Every student should graduate with a working knowledge of climate change—not as a buzzword, but as lived reality. This isn’t a competition; collaboration is the only way we win.”

At Somaiya Vidyavihar University in Mumbai, sustainability isn’t confined to textbooks. Dr. Urmi Thakkar, Dean of Student Welfare, emphasises real-world learning. “It’s about turning values into habits. Whether through zero-waste campuses, rainwater harvesting, or student-led innovations, we want sustainability to become second nature.” Her philosophy is simple but powerful: “We don’t chase perfection—we nurture awareness.”

But the picture is far from perfect.

A World Consuming More Than It Can Sustain
Prof. Swapan Ray from K J Somaiya Institute of Management urges a hard look at SDG-12: Responsible Consumption and Production. “Over a billion tonnes of food are wasted globally while 30% of the world goes hungry,” he noted. “Fast fashion is equally wasteful—most clothes produced are discarded within a year, some never worn at all. We extract, consume, and waste with no regard for ecological limits.” For Ray, it's not just about fixing systems—it's about rethinking them.

Plastic: More Than a Litter Problem
India generates millions of tonnes of plastic waste each year, but recycling rates remain dismally low. “Plastic pollution is a symptom,” said Chaitanya Kalia of EY India. “The real issue lies in our throwaway culture and linear production models. We need circular systems, industry accountability, and community-led action.”

Location intelligence can play a vital role here, according to Agendra Kumar, MD at Esri India. “GIS helps us map plastic hotspots, track waste flows, and plan smarter interventions. It’s a tool that turns awareness into targeted action.”

Innovation Meets Responsibility
For companies like revalyu, the solution lies in transforming plastic into potential. “India now recycles over 95% of PET bottles,” said founder Dr. Vivek Tandon. “Our glycolysis-based chemical recycling converts post-consumer PET into high-grade materials used across industries.” It's not just recycling—it's redesigning the entire lifecycle of plastic.

Others, like Routematic, are tackling pollution on a different front: corporate mobility. “Shared mobility, AI route optimisation, and EVs are how we cut emissions in daily commutes,” said CEO Sriram Kannan. “We serve over 300,000 users across 23 cities—and our goal is a 30% EV fleet. Transport must evolve if companies are serious about sustainability.”

Capital That Cares
For change to scale, it needs funding. That’s where climate-focused investors like Ostara Advisors come in. “We connect climate-tech startups with the capital they need to grow,” said Vasudha Madhavan. “Sustainability is not just a moral cause—it’s an economic imperative. Every investment is a chance to move closer to net zero.”

Smitha Shetty of Achilles Information echoes that thought from the supply chain perspective. “Verified, ethical sourcing reduces both risk and impact. When industries make informed procurement decisions, they become agents of positive environmental change.”

A Future Built Together
World Environment Day may be just one day on the calendar, but for these voices across academia, business, and innovation, it’s a reminder that the climate crisis requires more than pledges—it needs action.

From empowering students to transforming transport and reimagining waste, the message is clear: every choice matters. Because saving the planet is not a single person’s burden—it’s everyone’s shared responsibility.

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