List the national and international actions that have been implemented to address land degradation and desertification, emphasizing their negative effects. (Answer in 200 words)
Model Answer Extraction & Transportation: The production of plastics begins with the extraction and transportation of oil, gas, and coal, which are carbon-intensive processes. Plastics alone account for 4-8% of global oil consumption annually (World Economic Forum), contributing significantly toRead more
Model Answer
- Extraction & Transportation: The production of plastics begins with the extraction and transportation of oil, gas, and coal, which are carbon-intensive processes. Plastics alone account for 4-8% of global oil consumption annually (World Economic Forum), contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
- Refining and Manufacturing: The manufacturing process of plastics, including refining and polymerization, releases considerable greenhouse gases. For example, the refinement of plastics emits 184 to 213 million metric tons of GHGs each year, adding to the overall carbon footprint.
- Plastic Waste Management: When plastics are disposed of, methods such as landfilling, recycling, and incineration also contribute to GHG emissions. Landfills alone, where much of the single-use plastic waste is sent, account for more than 15% of global methane emissions.
- Ocean Plastic Pollution: Plastics in oceans continue to contribute to climate change by degrading and releasing GHGs. Additionally, microplastics hinder plankton, which play a key role in absorbing CO₂ from the atmosphere, thereby exacerbating the effects of climate change.
Why India Struggles to Control Plastic Pollution
Despite several efforts, India faces multiple challenges in controlling plastic pollution.
- Inadequate Infrastructure: A significant portion of plastic waste (about 40%) ends up in landfills due to insufficient infrastructure for collection, segregation, and disposal (CPCB report 2019-2020). The lack of recycling facilities further exacerbates the problem.
- Weak Enforcement: Even though regulations like the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2024, have been put in place, enforcement remains weak. Local authorities have failed to shut down units producing banned single-use plastics, allowing plastic pollution to continue.
- Public Awareness and Behavior: Awareness campaigns on the dangers of plastic pollution are limited and not sustained, making it difficult to change consumer habits. Moreover, affordable alternatives are scarce, slowing down the shift toward more sustainable options.
- Policy Gaps: Although some single-use plastics were banned, only 19 items were targeted, leaving many other plastic products in circulation. Additionally, non-recyclable materials like multi-layered packaging are still permitted.
In conclusion, India needs stronger enforcement of regulations, better waste management infrastructure, and sustained public awareness efforts to address plastic pollution effectively.
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Land degradation is defined as a negative trend in land condition, caused by direct or indirect human induced processes, including anthropogenic climate change, expressed as long-term reduction or loss of at least one of the following: biological productivity, ecological integrity, or value to humanRead more
Land degradation is defined as a negative trend in land condition, caused by direct or indirect human induced processes, including anthropogenic climate change, expressed as long-term reduction or loss of at least one of the following: biological productivity, ecological integrity, or value to humans. Desertification, on the other hand, refers to the land degradation within dryland regions (arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid regions), which turns fertile land into a desert. As per the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India, around 29.7% of India’s total geographical area underwent land degradation during 2018-19. Impacts of land degradation and desertification
National level initiatives
International initiatives
Land is the fundamental building block for supporting all lives and livelihoods. Restoration of land can start a virtuous cycle of good soil health, increased land productivity, food security and improved livelihoods. With its own efforts, India is already on the way to achieve land degradation neutrality (LDN) by 2030.
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