Dr. Raj Bhushan Chaudhary, Hon’ble Minister of State, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India congratulated Dr. Arvind Kumar and India Water Foundation for convening this crucial dialogue and being proactive highlighting the intimate link between ecosystems, water systems, and the growing threat posed by plastic.. Ms. Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity made a special mention that we need whole of Governments, and whole of society’s push for accelerated and synergistic implementation to meet the deadline of both SDGs and KMGBF by 2030. Dr. Arvind Kumar, President, India Water Foundation gave a clarion call that “The world deserves a robust, ambitious, and equitable plastic agreement—one that goes beyond consensus and delivers real solutions to one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.”
They were speaking at the High Level Multi-stakeholder Policy Dialogue on End Plastic Pollution and deliver actions for harmony with nature on 3rd June 2025, 16:00 HRS onwards organised virtually to commemorate the World Environment Day 2025 and International Day of Biodiversity 2025. The event was organised by India Water Foundation and supported by National Water Mission, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India.
The other speakers in the event were Dr. Satya Tripathi, Secretary General, Global Alliance for a Sustainable Planet; Dr. Ritesh Kumar, Director, Wetlands International, South Asia; Ms. Kerry Allbeury, Senior Policy Advisor, Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) Secretariat, UNEP; Ms. Sara Manuelli, Communications and Advocacy Officer, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); Dr. Karine Siegwart, Senior Policy Advisor, Centre for Policy and Law, IUCN; Mr. Gopal Kumar, Deputy Head, India and Bangladesh, International Water Management Institute (IWMI); Dr. Bholu Ram Yadav, Senior Scientist, CSIR-NEERI. The event was moderated by Ms. Shweta Tyagi, Chief Functionary of India Water Foundation.
The event emphasized that plastic waste is not just an environmental hazard but also a systemic threat undermining ecosystems, water systems, and human health worldwide. Speakers advocated for urgent, integrated actions across the plastic lifecycle from production to disposal and highlighted India’s multi-tiered efforts, including rural and urban plastic waste management units, community participation, and the Swachh Bharat and “Catch the Rain” campaigns. The dialogue reinforced the need for an ambitious and legally binding Global Plastics Treaty that goes beyond consensus, addressing root causes and ensuring equity, scientific integrity, and circular economy solutions. Stakeholders unanimously called for cross-sector collaboration, increased financing, and policy coherence aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and SDGs, declaring the fight against plastic pollution not merely a policy choice but a moral imperative for a resilient and harmonious future.
