On the occasion of World Environment Day, the Maharashtra cabinet chaired by its Chief Minister (CM) Uddhav Bal Thackeray has approved a proposal to rename the state’s Environment Ministry as ‘Environment and Climate Change Ministry’ with the aim to play an active role in climate change mitigation. The department, which is handled by Shiv Sena MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) Aaditya Thackeray, will work on five elements of the nature (earth, water, fire, air, and space).

Cyclone-hit Maharashtra:

The decision to change the name comes just weeks after the state was hit by a severe cyclonic storm Nisarga on June 3, 2020. Maharashtra is one among a few states like Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana in India which have a dedicated department to address climate change.

Key Points:

i.Recently an NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) NatConnect Foundation had requested CM Uddhav Thackeray to create a comprehensive Healthy Environment policy by taking lessons from Covid-19 while launching the World Environment Day campaign.

ii.In addition, the climate change advisor to the Maharashtra government had added Mumbai to the list of districts to be severely affected by climate change due to rise in temperatures and rising seawater levels.