Environmental and Sustainable Development Policies to Address the Pollution Catastrophe in India

Abstract

Although the environment, crops, water, air, food and fiber, control the weather, and supply oxygen, its air, water, and soil are polluted too. Humans have altered about 75% of the earth, reducing wildlife and nature’s space and harming the environment. Industrialisation, urbanisation, population growth, and globalisation have affected people and the environment. This study aims to investigate the environmental and sustainable development-focussed policies to address the pollution catastrophe. The study is a content analysis of prominent online newspaper media reports from January 1, 2020, to November 30, 2022, on legal, environmental, and sustainable issues to reduce pollution and advocate an Indian environmental and sustainable development policy. Since pollution and environmental degradation pose significant threat to humanity, ecosystems, and sustainable living are at risk. Despite national and international legislative and regulatory actions, the environment remains a significant issue. An environmental strategy that encourages sustainable development for future generations is the need of the times. It was found that there were legal and environmental offenses, the management of unscientific treatment procedures, the lack of fundamental education about existing court orders, and fatality-induced health problems. Therefore, India needs an environmental and sustainable development policy to limit environmental concerns’ fatality and protect the earth from pollution.