18 ‘Namo Oxygen Parks’, featuring dense, native tree cover, walking tracks, ponds, seating huts, and eco-friendly infrastructure designed to promote biodiversity and provide healthy community recreational zones developed across Delhi by the Central and Delhi Governments to serve as “green lungs” to combat air pollution and reduce urban heat, were launched in Delhi on the occasion of World Enviornment Dat, June 5. The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, along with the Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Rekha Gupta, inaugurated ‘Namo Oxygen Parks’ and launched a series of environmental initiatives under the nationwide campaign ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ at an event held Maidangarhi, Delhi.
A landmark compilation of data on Delhi’s avifauna, produced through an extensive citizen science effort involving birdwatchers, naturalists, and volunteers across the city, was also released.
Union Minister, Bhupender Yadav, speaking on the occasion said that humanity today faces three major environmental challenges — climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation leading to desertification. He noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has emerged as a global leader in environmental action, achieving major milestones including becoming one of the world’s leading nations in solar capacity addition, implementing the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, establishing the International Solar Alliance, launching the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), expanding Ramsar Wetland sites and achieving several Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets ahead of schedule under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The Minister emphasized that environmental conservation requires collective action and active public participation. Referring to the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’, he said the campaign has transformed tree plantation into a people’s movement rooted in gratitude, responsibility and environmental consciousness. He urged citizens not only to plant trees but also to nurture and protect them for future generations.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister (NCT Delhi), Smt. Rekha Gupta said that increasing green cover is among the most important measures for improving Delhi’s air quality. She announced that the Delhi Government has set a target of planting 15 lakh trees across the city during the current year. Emphasizing the role of citizens in environmental protection, she stated that community participation is essential not only for plantation drives but also for nurturing and safeguarding the trees after planting.
Other dignitaries gracing the occasion included Union Minister of State (EFCC), Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh; Minister for Environment, Forest and Wildlife (NCT Delhi), Sardar Manjinder Singh Sirsa; and other senior officials from Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Delhi Government, among others.
Panasonic India’s ‘Harit Umang’ initiative
Panasonic India marked World Environment Day 2026 through its flagship environmental initiative, ‘Joy of Green – Harit Umang’, an impactful program focused on creating awareness and driving behavioural change among youth towards sustainable living and circular economy practices. Aligned with the Mission LiFE announced by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, the initiative also collaborates with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to spread awareness on e-waste management and responsible recycling practices for wider community impact.
As part of the initiative, Panasonic India organized the seventh edition of the Harit Umang Olympiad and Felicitation Ceremony on the occasion of World Environment Day to recognize and honor young Green Ambassadors, schools, and educational institutions for their contribution towards environmental awareness and sustainable action. The seventh edition witnessed active participation from over 500 student Green Ambassadors across educational institutions, who undertook various sustainability-driven initiatives throughout the year.
The felicitation ceremony acknowledged students who actively participated in year-long engagements including e-waste collection drives, awareness campaigns, quizzes, webinars, Model UN dialogues, sustainability contests, and community outreach programs under the Harit Umang initiative, further strengthening the program’s objective of creating grassroots environmental impact through youth-led participation.
As part of the 2025–26 engagements, students and participating institutions collectively achieved significant milestones:
- Over 900 kg of e-waste was collected across 10 schoolsfor safe and scientific disposal
- More than 9,000 dry cell batteries were collectedthrough awareness and collection drives promoting responsible battery disposal and recycling
- A Model UN Dialogue was organized on the theme “Accelerating Climate Action through Youth-led Initiatives”,encouraging discussions around circularity, technology, and sustainable consumer behaviour
- The program also welcomed the association of the Directorate of Education, Delhi Government,further strengthening its outreach and impact
Through year-long activities including webinars, quizzes, contests, campaigns, walkathons, pilot projects, and environmental awareness drives, Harit Umang continues to create meaningful grassroots impact by inspiring youth to become catalysts for sustainable change within their communities.
Launched in 2019 to commemorate Panasonic’s 100th anniversary, Harit Umang has evolved into a strong platform engaging schools, colleges, RWAs, and communities to nurture young “Green Ambassadors” and encourage responsible environmental action aligned with Panasonic Green Impact and Mission LiFE. Through continued partnerships and education-led engagement, Panasonic India remains committed to building a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future.
GSFC University’s World Environment Day Engagements
GSFC University marked World Environment Day 2026 with a series of initiatives aimed at promoting environmental awareness and sustainable action among students, teaching and non-teaching staff. Organized by the University’s Environment Club under the theme “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future.”, the celebrations featured a tree plantation drive at the university campus Arboretum as part of the national campaign “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam.”
Director I/C Administration & Campus Director Shri M.K Barot, other Senior Management, teaching and non-teaching staff and students came together to plant native saplings, reaffirming their commitment to environmental conservation and a greener future. In addition to the plantation drive, the Environment Club launched an Eco-Brick Making Competition, encouraging students to recycle non-recyclable plastic waste into eco-bricks and promote responsible waste management practices.
A Short Film Making Competition on environmental themes was also announced, providing students with a creative platform to raise awareness about issues such as climate change, biodiversity conservation and pollution.
