India’s Push for Land Restoration: World Environment Day 2026 and the Path to Desertification Resilience

On June 5, 2026, India marked World Environment Day by reinforcing its commitment to the global theme of land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience. With nearly 30% of India's total geographical area undergoing degradation, the government’s focus has shifted toward proactive restoration to ensure food security, protect livelihoods, and maintain ecological balance. Central to India’s strategy is the 'Bonn Challenge,' a global effort to bring 350 million hectares of degraded land into restoration by 2030. India has raised its ambition to restore 26 million hectares of degraded and deforested land. To achieve this, the government highlighted the progress of the 'Green Credit Program' (GCP). Launched as part of the 'LiFE' (Lifestyle for Environment) movement, the GCP is an innovative market-based mechanism designed to incentivize voluntary environmental actions, such as afforestation and water conservation, by individuals, communities, and the private sector.