Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Labour and Employment Bhupender Yadav actively participated in the G20 Mega Beach Clean Up campaign held at Juhu Beach in Mumbai today. The campaign, which received immense support from G20 nations and 37 locations across India, aimed to raise awareness about marine waste and its impact on the environment.
Dignitaries such as Governor of Maharashtra Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde, Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ashwini Kumar Choubey, and Minister of Maharashtra Shri Mangal Prabhat Lodha, along with Environment Secretary Leena Nandan and other senior officials, graced the occasion.
The G20 Mega Beach Clean Up event was organized under the G20 India Presidency and witnessed active participation from G20 countries, invitee countries, state government officials, international organizations, and delegates attending the 3rd ECSWG meeting. This collective effort underscored the global commitment to the preservation of coastal and marine ecosystems.
The primary objective of the Mega Beach Clean Up event was to sensitize people and draw attention to the detrimental effects of marine waste. It aimed to encourage individuals and communities to take action in preventing such pollution. Through this event, the importance of individual efforts and community participation in mitigating this environmental challenge was emphasized.
Internationally, the event witnessed enthusiastic participation from 20 countries. The 14 G20 countries included Argentina, Australia, Canada, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Additionally, six invitee countries, namely Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, and Singapore, actively participated in the event. Within India, clean-up activities were conducted in 13 coastal states and 9 Union Territories.
The Mega Beach Clean Up event served as a significant demonstration of "Jan Bhagidari" (people's participation) under the Indian G20 Presidency. It witnessed active involvement from all stakeholders, with attractions such as a selfie point on the beach and a stall showcasing recycled items made from plastic. Recycled plastic waste collected from Juhu Beach was transformed into useful items like benches and car dustbins using on-site recycling machines, effectively raising awareness about the importance of recycling.
Dignitaries participated in clean-up activities, left messages on the pledge wall, and admired paintings created by school children. Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik crafted captivating sand art aligned with the event's theme, featuring the G20 logo alongside Prakriti, the mascot for LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment).
Furthermore, over 5,900 school students nationwide participated in an art competition focused on coastal and marine pollution. The top 100 paintings were selected and displayed at the meeting venue, providing a platform to showcase young talent and promote awareness.
The ECSWG meeting will host extensive discussions on the Ocean20 dialogue, a platform for sharing best practices in science, technology, innovation, policy, governance, participation, and blue finance mechanisms. These deliberations aim to devise solutions for ensuring a sustainable and climate-resilient Blue Economy, aligning with the priorities of the G20 India Presidency.
