NEW DELHI, June 4 (Xinhua) -- On the eve of World Environment Day which falls on June 5, India on Tuesday launched a social media campaign called "Selfie with Sapling."
"I urge all to join this campaign, plant a sapling and post the selfie at your social media with #SelfiewithSapling," Minister of Environment Prakash Javadekar tweeted.
The Environment Ministry has roped in famous Bollywood and cricket stars to make the campaign a success.
Javadekar stressed that people's participation was integral towards tackling the environmental issues, and that environment protection had to be a people's movement.
A statement issued by the Ministry of Environment said "celebration of this day provides us with an opportunity to broaden the basis for an enlightened opinion and responsible conduct by individuals, enterprises and communities in preserving and enhancing the environment."
This year's theme for World Environment Day is "Air Pollution."
"Air pollution is the biggest environmental health risk of our time and airborne pollutants are responsible for about one-third of deaths from stroke, chronic respiratory disease, and lung cancer, as well as one-quarter of deaths from heart attack," said the Ministry's statement.
Earlier, on May 29 the Ministry of Environment launched a theme song titled "Hawa Aane De" (Let Air Come) to generate awareness among people about air pollution.
World Environment Day is observed on June 5 every year to raise awareness and improve actions towards protecting the environment.
