World Oceans Day 2026

8 June 2026National

World Oceans Day was observed on 8 June to promote sustainable use and conservation of marine resources, with the UN theme 'Reimagine', aligned with the High Seas (BBNJ) Treaty that entered into force on 17 January 2026.

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IBCA, ADB and NTCA Hold International Workshop on Tiger Landscapes in New Delhi

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav inaugurated an International Workshop on Tiger Landscapes in New Delhi on 2–3 September 2026, themed *'Tiger Landscapes: Conservation, Bioeconomy and Ecotourism as Pillars for Livelihood and Income Generation'*. It was organised by the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under MoEFCC. Representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Malaysia, Nepal and Vietnam joined Indian officials and researchers to discuss landscape-level conservation, regional cooperation, ecosystem services, climate resilience and nature-based solutions. Its key outcome was an IBCA–ADB MoU on landscape conservation, capacity building, knowledge exchange and nature-positive financing.

GK ByteThe International Big Cat Alliance was launched by India in 2023 and is headquartered in India | NTCA is a statutory body constituted in 2006 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; Project Tiger was launched in 1973 | The Asian Development Bank was established in 1966 and is headquartered in Manila, Philippines

📅 3 Sept 2026InternationalRead complete →

Jitendra Singh Launches 5th Edition of 'Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar 2026'

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Dr. Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Earth Sciences, launched the 5th edition of Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar 2026 (SSSS v5.0) in New Delhi — a week-long ocean conservation campaign running 12–19 September 2026 and culminating on International Coastal Cleanup Day (17 September). He unveiled the campaign website, an ocean conservation pledge platform, campaign videos and the SAGAR PRAHARI mobile application, and launched the first-ever National Ocean Olympiad. Begun in 2022 as a 75-day clean-up across 75 beaches to mark Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the campaign has grown into a Jan Bhagidari movement of beach drives, human chains, cycling rallies and marathons.

GK ByteThe Ministry of Earth Sciences was established in 2006; its MoS (IC) is Dr. Jitendra Singh | International Coastal Cleanup Day is observed on 17 September; World Oceans Day on 8 June | The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai, is an autonomous MoES institute

📅 3 Sept 2026InternationalRead complete →

India and Germany Sign Joint Declaration on Wetland Conservation at 4th IGEF

India and Germany signed a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) on the Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands of International Importance at the 4th Indo-German Environment Forum (IGEF) in New Delhi, held on the theme *'Together for More Resilience'*. It was signed by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav (MoEFCC) and German Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (BMUKN). The forum was co-organised by MoEFCC and BMUKN with the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business (APA) and FICCI, covering low-carbon industry, biodiversity in wetlands, mountains and forests, resource efficiency, circular economy, sustainable finance, green skills and investment mobilisation. Established in 2008, IGEF is the highest-level India–Germany bilateral forum on environmental policy.

GK ByteThe Ramsar Convention on Wetlands was signed on 2 February 1971 at Ramsar, Iran; World Wetlands Day is 2 February | India has the largest number of Ramsar sites in Asia; MoEFCC is the nodal ministry | Germany: capital Berlin, currency Euro, a federal parliamentary republic headed by a Chancellor

📅 3 Sept 2026InternationalRead complete →

UNCCD COP17 Concludes in Ulaanbaatar with a USD 1.3 Billion Land Restoration Package

The 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification was held at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from 17-28 August 2026 under the theme "Restoring Land. Restoring Hope." Governments, development banks and companies announced a USD 1.3 billion portfolio for land restoration and drought resilience across 23 countries. COP17 launched a new global drought-resilience architecture - Phase-II of the International Drought Resilience Observatory (IDRO), the AI-powered Drought Resilience Index (DRI) and the Drought Resilience Investment Facility (DRIF), which aims to raise up to USD 400 million. Egypt was approved as host of COP18 at Sharm El-Sheikh in 2028.

GK ByteUNCCD was adopted in 1994 and is the only legally binding international agreement linking environment, development and sustainable land management; its secretariat is at Bonn, Germany | UNCCD COP16 was held at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in December 2024 | UNCCD is one of the three Rio Conventions along with the UNFCCC and the Convention on Biological Diversity

📅 2 Sept 2026InternationalRead complete →

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