World Environment Day 2026 Celebrated at Nauni
3 min read
Solan, June 5, 2026
The Department of Environmental Science and SPACE Club of Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, in collaboration with Mera Yuva Bharat Kendra Solan and UCO Bank Solan, celebrated World Environment Day 2026 on the theme “Inspired by Nature: For Climate, For Our Future.” The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from around 150 students, faculty members, university staff, and 15 officials from UCO Bank.
To spread awareness about environmental conservation and climate action, an open marathon titled “Run for Nature, Run for a Better Future” was organized at 6:00 a.m. on June 5. The celebrations also included a quiz competition and a presentation session on innovative start-up ideas by postgraduate scholars of the Department of Environmental Science.
The marathon was conducted under three categories—Men, Women, and Fun Run—for participants aged 15 to 60 years. In the Men’s category, Sachin secured first place, followed by Chandera Sekhar Gawde and Abhishek Awasthi in second and third positions, respectively. In the Women’s category, Marvi won first prize, while Aarti Thakur and Tejaswani Gautam secured second and third positions. In the Fun Run category, Mahender stood first, followed by Sashi Kant and Ankush Sharma.
A quiz competition involving nearly 60 students from five teams was also organized. The Himalaya Group secured first position, followed by the Aravali Group in second place and the Nilgiri Group in third place.
During the presentation session on innovative start-up ideas, Yudhveer’s concept on adopting a zero-plastic waste life cycle was judged the best. The second and third positions were awarded to Tanvi Sharma for her idea on hydrogeological disaster management and Tanya Negi for her proposal on bio-recycling of pruned waste to sustain biogeochemical cycles.
Prof. Satish Kumar Bhardwaj, Head Department of Environmental Science, attended the programme as the Chief Guest. Puja Chand, Zonal Head, UCO Bank, was the Guest of Honour, while Rajeev Deputy Zonal Head, and Varun Marwari, Branch Manager, UCO Bank Nauni, were Special Guests.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Bhardwaj emphasized that nature is not optional but an essential tool for climate mitigation. He stated that nature communicates through signals such as extreme weather events and stressed the need for responsible action to maintain ecological balance. He highlighted the importance of revitalizing land, wetlands, and forests, adopting climate-resilient farming systems, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030 to avoid catastrophic environmental changes.
Ms. Puja Chand highlighted the role of financial institutions in promoting environmental sustainability through initiatives such as Green Fixed Deposits. She encouraged the adoption of low-carbon lifestyles, conscious consumption, and participation in local restoration initiatives, emphasizing that nature-based solutions are critical for building climate resilience. Dr. Hukam Chand Sharma, President of SPACE Club, informed the gathering that the celebrations would continue throughout the week with plantation and cleanliness drives across the university campus.
The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Kartikey Sahil, who acknowledged the support of UCO Bank and Decathlon Solan for sponsoring T-shirts carrying environmental conservation messages, medals, and refreshments. He also thanked Mera Yuva Bharat Kendra Solan for sponsoring the quiz and innovation competitions.
