Environmental Sustainability in India: Progress, Challenges, and the Role of Society, Media and Legal Framework towards SDGs Implementation

Abstract

Environmental sustainability lies at the heart of India’s developmental ambitions in the 21^st century, especially with reference to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Due to accelerating industrialisation, urbanisation, and demographic challenges, India has faced a host of environmental challenges that jeopardise its balance with nature as well as citizens’ quality of life. United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with particular reference to environmental-focused SDGs, present a globally accepted platform to uphold sustainable development. India, being a signatory to Agenda 2030 with a special reference to SDG 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15, has made remarkable advances but also encountered significant hurdles to effectively implement environmental SDGs. The paper critically looks into India’s advances toward environmental sustainability, identifies major implementation bottlenecks, and assesses societal, media, and legal instruments roles to foster environmental sustainability. It stresses Indian societal roles, including civil societies, academic institutions, and NGOs, toward ground-level sustainability initiatives, along with increasing roles of both traditional and electronic media toward environmental awareness. The paper extends to a discussion involving national missions, renewable energy, a green Germany-inspired afforestation effort, and legal instruments, with a focus on initiatives by the government and international environmental diplomatic roles by India. The paper reflects a pressing need to adopt a holistic, participatory, and constitutionally enabled approach to environmental sustainability in India. The analysis emphasises a multi-stakeholder approach entailing combined initiatives by governments, civil societies, legal institutions, and media.