DST celebrated the World Environment Day, with a plantation drive led by Secretary Professor Abhay Karandikar, an expert talk on Environment and Sustainable Development and a World Environment Day Quiz. Dr. Anita Gupta, Head, CEST Division, senior scientists and officials of DST participated in the plantation drive.
Dr. Anita Gupta, Head, CEST dwelled on the origins of World Environment Day and its growing importance over the years. "The government has many programs aimed at environmental protection, but each of us has a part to play. We should contribute to make our planet greener. As a country we should resolve to mitigate adverse effects on the environment," Dr. Gupta said.
She also highlighted the CEST division's involvement in various bilateral and multilateral initiatives as well as it’s collaboration with different ministries. “Our work with these ministries showcases our commitment to conserving and preserving our planet. Besides, DST has several missions addressing different environmental issues, and we are dedicated to making a significant impact," Dr. Gupta emphasized.
Ms. A. Dhanalakshmi, Joint Secretary of DST, stressed on reducing plastic use, urging participants to avoid plastic bags. "Small changes in our daily habits can lead to significant improvement in our environment," she added.
Dr. Susheela Negi, Scientist F of the CEST division, elaborated on the significance of World Environment Day and on this year’s theme which focuses on the critical issue of land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience.
Elaborating on global and Indian perspective on environment and sustainable development Dr. Manish Anand, Senior Fellow at TERI, highlighted during his expert talk, that nature provides services worth US$125 trillion a year and supports the livelihoods of approximately 70% of the world's poor. He pointed out that Climate change for the period 2020-2039 could see a reduction in crop yields of 7.5 to 9%.
DST employees enthusiastically participated in an interactive World Environment Day quiz conducted by Dr Neelima Alam, Associate Head, CEST Division & Dr. Susheela Negi.
