05 Jun 2025|Noida | Amity University, Noida
World Environment Day celebrated at Amity
Amity Institute of Environmental Sciences (AIES), Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida campus, celebrated World Environment Day, on the theme “Towards a Plastic Free Future: Innovations, Actions, and Solutions”, with the aim to create awareness about the harmful effects of plastic on the environment and encourage the students to adopt and promote solutions to alleviate plastic pollution.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest, Dr. OP Mishra, Advisor / Scientist - G & Director, National Centre for Seismology (NCS), Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India, averred, “We all know about the harmful impact of plastic on our environment. Single-use plastics can break down into microplastics, which can be ingested by animals and contaminate the food chain. When plastic flows through the rivers, it has the worst impact, contributing to water pollution in a big way. Therefore, individuals, businesses, and the government must reduce single-use plastic use by implementing policies, such as bans or taxes, and promote sustainable alternatives. Encouraging the use of sustainable alternatives, such as reusable products, can help reduce single-use plastic waste.”
Dr. Chirashree Ghosh, Professor, Dept. of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, said, “Our ancestors used sustainable products such as wooden utensils, earthen pots, jute bags, etc., which do not pollute the environment. We must go back to our roots and make use of Indian traditional knowledge. We must not look at what the government is doing or others around us are doing but we should lead the change and adopt sustainable practices in our daily lives.”
Prof. (Dr.) Balvinder Shukla, Vice Chancellor, Amity University Uttar Pradesh (AUUP), stated, “Globally, plastic pollution is now recognized as one of the serious threats to the environment. Plastic pollution has infiltrated every corner of the world for decades, contaminating our bodies, food, and the environment. Therefore, it is our collective responsibility to protect our environment and follow a sustainable lifestyle, by finding alternatives for plastic and using materials which are biodegradable.”
Prof. (Dr.) D. K. Bandyopadhyay, Mentor AIES, said, “Plastic pollution affects marine life, soil health, food chains, and even climate change. Over 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced every year, with only 9% of plastic waste being recycled. Plastics can take up to 500 years to decompose, contaminating land and water. On World Environment Day, Amity is committed to raise awareness about the negative effects of plastic pollution and find solutions and alternatives for plastic, thereby saving the planet.”
The Welcome Address was delivered by Dr. Renu Dhupper, Assistant Director, AIES and the Symposium was attended by the students, researchers and faculty of Amity.