The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu inaugurated a two-day National Conference on ‘Environment – 2025’ in New Delhi today. The inaugural session was graced by Union Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, Hon’ble Justice Vikram Nath, Judge, Supreme Court of India, Shri R. Venkataramani, Attorney General for India, in the presence of Hon’ble Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson of National Green Tribunal (NGT).

The two-day conference is being organised by the National Green Tribunal at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. This conference, aims at deliberating on critical environmental issues and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, witnessed the participation of prominent dignitaries, legal experts, environmentalists, and policymakers.

Addressing the inaugural session, Hon’ble President, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, emphasised the importance of balancing development with environmental protection, focussing on our responsibility to ensure progress while preventing destruction. She noted that
it is our moral responsibility to provide a legacy of a clean environment to the coming generations. (Detailed Press Release: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2116543)

Addressing the august gathering, Union Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, quoted the mantra ‘Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah’, and emphasized that environmental protection is in Indian ethos. It extends to encompass flora, fauna, mountains, rivers, and all components of the environment, he stated.

Shri Yadav stated that India reserves Her right to grow responsibly based on our national circumstances. As a show of our commitment to climate action, India has fulfilled its Paris Agreement commitments on green energy nine years ahead of the 2030 target. He further emphasized that the climate anxiety which has gripped the world cannot force India to give up its right to ensure food, water, energy, and a quality to its 140-crore people. India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is confidently striking a balance between challenges and opportunities.

Hon’ble Justice Vikram Nath, Judge, Supreme Court of India emphasized that when we unite, we benefit a wide range of causes. Furthermore, he highlighted that the environment is not an external entity, but intrinsically connected to our health and culture.

Shri R. Venkataramani, Attorney General for India emphasised that human behaviour should go beyond mere profit-making, aiming instead to ensure a better quality of life for future generations.

In his welcome address, Hon’ble Justice Prakash Shrivastava, the Chairperson of NGT, highlighted that what makes this conference truly exceptional is its inclusivity, bringing together jurists, experts, faculty, and passionate students from various institutions, all united by a common vision of sustainability and environmental stewardship. He emphasized that our efforts to safeguard the environment are not only a responsibility but also a vital safeguard for our future.

Following the inaugural session, two technical sessions took place. The first, on Air Quality Monitoring and Management, was chaired by Hon’ble Justice Joymalya Bagchi, Judge, Supreme Court of India. It was noted that true progress is not measured solely in economic terms, but by our ability to balance development with environmental sustainability and focused on the growing issue of air pollution. Experts including Dr. Randeep Guleria, Chairman, Institute of Internal Medicine, Medanta, Dr. Dilip Ganguly, IIT Delhi, Sh. Tanmay Kumar, Secretary, MoEF&CC, and Hon’ble Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, NGT, Chennai, deliberated on the causes, regulatory frameworks, and possible solutions to mitigate air pollution.

The second technical session on Water Quality Management and River Rejuvenation was presided over by Hon’ble Justice Pratibha M. Singh, Judge, Delhi High Court. It discussed the issue of water pollution, highlighting Switzerland’s European Rhine River restoration model and the case of Namibia, while comparing the situation in India. She also provided practical solutions, including community collaboration, compliance and transparency mechanisms, and the adoption of scientific innovations and explored the pressing concerns of water pollution, over-extraction of groundwater, and conservation strategies. Panelists Dr. M.K. Goel, National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, Ms. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Dr. Rajiv Kumar Mittal, DG (National Mission for Clean Ganga), and Hon’ble Justice B. Amit Sthalekar, NGT, Kolkata, discussed legislative measures, government initiatives like the Jal Jeevan Mission, and community-driven solutions for sustainable water management. The session was moderated by Prof. A.K. Gosain, Former Professor, IIT Delhi.

The first day of the conference concluded with thought-provoking discussions, setting the stage for further deliberations tomorrow. The second day of the conference will feature third technical session on Forest Conservation and Biodiversity Protection and fourth technical session will include the reflections on the key takeaways from first three technical sessions.