World Environment Day: Restoring nature, securing the coast

World Environment Day, observed globally on 5 June, marks its 54th observance with climate action at the centre of global attention. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has announced the theme for 2026 as "Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future" with the campaign hashtag #NowForClimate. The Republic of Azerbaijan will host the global commemoration in Baku, a selection made in recognition of the country's presidency of COP29 in November 2024 and its climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.

The 2026 theme places nature-based solutions at the forefront of climate response. UNEP frames the campaign around the urgent need for climate action, noting that choices still count in reducing climate risk through cleaner energy, stronger early warning systems, smarter cities, and protected and restored ecosystems.

India's Commitments

India marks World Environment Day through official government channels and programmes aligned with national climate targets. The Government of India recognises the 2026 observance through My Bharat, its national civic engagement platform, promoting participation in the UNEP campaign under the global theme and hashtag.

India's primary environmental mobilisation framework remains Mission LiFE, Lifestyle for Environment. Launched at COP26 in Glasgow, Mission LiFE encourages individual and collective action towards sustainable living practices, ranging from reducing plastic consumption to water conservation and tree planting. The programme uses World Environment Day annually as its key mobilisation window for community pledges and school campaigns.

On ecosystem restoration, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) implements MISHTI, the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes. MISHTI, launched on World Environment Day 2023, aims to restore and conserve approximately 540 square kilometres of mangrove ecosystems across nine coastal states and four union territories over a five-year period from 2023–28.

According to the Ministry, mangroves function as natural climate assets through carbon sequestration, coastal protection against storm surges, biodiversity support, and livelihood sustenance for fishing communities. As of February 2025, the MISHTI initiative has restored 22,561 hectares of degraded mangrove ecosystems across 13 states and union territories, as reported to Parliament by the Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

For the financial year 2024–25, the Ministry released Rs 17.96 crore under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) to six coastal states and union territories: Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Odisha, West Bengal, and Puducherry, for the restoration of 3,836 hectares of degraded mangrove areas.

Kerala: Coastal Vulnerability and Restoration Response

Kerala exemplifies both the climate challenges and the policy response underway in India's coastal regions. According to the World Bank, 45 per cent of Kerala's 580-kilometre coastline remains vulnerable to erosion due to sustained urbanisation and deforestation, directly affecting millions of people in one of India's most densely populated coastal states.

The National Centre for Coastal Research, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, identifies that 33.6 per cent of India's coastline is vulnerable to erosion based on satellite monitoring from 1990 to 2018, with Kerala among the most affected states.

The state faces a critical challenge with its mangrove ecosystems. According to the Kerala State Department of Forestry 2022 report, Kerala's current mangrove cover stands at approximately 9 square kilometres. Over the past three decades, the state has lost approximately 95 per cent of its mangrove forests due to rapid urbanisation, pollution and climate change, directly affecting local fisheries and the livelihoods of coastal communities.

Restoration Initiatives in Progress

National MISHTI funding translates into on-the-ground restoration work in Kerala. The Kannur Kandal Project, implemented through a partnership between the Wildlife Trust of India, SBI Foundation, Apollo Tyres, and the Kerala Forest Department, works to restore 30 acres of degraded mangrove habitat in Kannur district. The project includes the establishment of a mother nursery and satellite nurseries, serving as a model for replication across Kerala's coastline and other parts of India's coastline.

Community-based mangrove restoration initiatives are also underway in Vypin Island, Kochi, where fisher communities and local residents are planting mangrove saplings in backwater areas threatened by rising tidal floods and sea level rise. NASA projections indicate that Kochi may experience a sea level rise of 0.22 metres by 2050 and over half a metre by 2100 in a medium climate warming scenario, underscoring the urgency of coastal ecosystem restoration.

In June 2023, the World Bank's Board approved Rs 1,150 crore in additional financing for the Resilient Kerala Programme, specifically targeting coastal erosion and water resource management. Combined with the earlier investment of Rs 940 crore, this financing is expected to protect nearly five million people from flooding.

Path Forward

The convergence of international climate commitments, national policy initiatives, scientific interventions, and community participation demonstrates that climate adaptation is increasingly being translated into action on the ground. Although mangrove restoration is a long-term process and ecosystems require several years to attain their full ecological and protective functions, the coordinated efforts witnessed under MISHTI in Kerala reflect a significant shift from policy commitments to practical implementation. Strong institutional collaboration, dedicated funding mechanisms, and active local engagement have created a foundation for sustained coastal resilience.

As the world observes World Environment Day 2026, the message is clear: nature remains one of the most powerful allies in addressing the climate crisis. Kerala's ongoing mangrove restoration initiatives illustrate how nature-based solutions can strengthen climate resilience while supporting biodiversity and local livelihoods. These efforts offer a promising model in which policy, science, and community action work together to safeguard vulnerable coastlines and build a more sustainable and resilient future.

(Mohammed Shabin is doing a Master's in M.Sc. Environmental Science and Management, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, and currently Internship Trainee at Water Quality Management Division, Central Pollution Control Board under MoEFCC, Govt of India)