Earth Day is every day, and anywhere you are. And in a time of rapid and adverse climate change, it’s the last call for a healthier planet – it’s the only one we have. It’s about achieving kaizen in sustainability, conservation and management of energy, resources and applying the Recycle, Reuse and Repurpose (3R) strategy.
22 Apr 2025 | 519 Views | By Ajit Dalvi
Today – April 22 – is Earth Day 2025 and the 55th anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. Earth Day is now a global event each year, and over a billion people across 192 countries now take part in what is the largest civic-focused day ...
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Today – April 22 – is Earth Day 2025 and the 55th anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. Earth Day is now a global event each year, and over a billion people across 192 countries now take part in what is the largest civic-focused day of action in the world.
It is a day of political action and civic participation. People march, sign petitions, meet with their elected officials, plant trees, clean up their towns and roads. Corporations and governments use it to make pledges and announce sustainability measures. Faith leaders connect Earth Day with protecting the human race, biodiversity and the planet that we all live on. And the automotive industry too is doing its bit to ensure green motoring.
The automotive and other industries are seized of the immensity of the environmental issue. Vehicle and component manufacturers are taking to new materials, technologies and processes to lightweight vehicles to s-t-r-e-t-c-h every litre of fuel to the maximum, motorists still tanking up on fossil fuel can also their bit to conserve petrol and diesel. Or shift gear to electrified vehicles. All in a bid to stave off pollution and save Planet Earth.
The cost of fossil-fuelled motoring, is going only one way – up. While we can’t do anything about the price of fuel, there are ways to increase your car's fuel economy and get the best kilometres per litre. Things like removing excess weight in the form of bulky items, keeping it well maintained and serviced regularly, advance planning of journeys, sticking to speed limits, using engine stop/start and going electric.
Earth Day and every day is about achieving kaizen at sustainability, conservation and management of energy, resources and applying the Recycle, Reuse and Repurpose strategy. It's all about continuous and sustained investment in Planet Earth.
With countries, corporates and citizens all seized of the urgency to enhance the green quotient in every sphere of life, including transportation, the shift to eco-friendly electric mobility is underway globally.
Global sales of EVs in CY2024 rose 25% to 17.1 million units, led by China which sold 11 million EVs with handsome 40% YoY growth. While EV sales in Europe were around 3 million, down 3% from CY2023, the US and Canada saw demand for EVs rise 9% YoY to 1.8 million units.
In India too, demand for EVs is accelerating. In FY2025, a record 1.96 million EVs were sold, translating into a 17% YoY increase led by best-ever sales of zero-emission two-wheelers (1.14 million units), three-wheelers (699,062 units) as well as passenger vehicles (107,462 units). Over the past 12 years, a total of 5.92 million EVs have been sold in India (see data table above).
1.29 MILLION CNG VEHICLES SOLD IN INDIA IN FY2025, UP 23%
There’s encouraging progress in alternate fuels like CNG and ethanol too. FY2025 saw a total of 1,290,532 or 1.29 million CNG-powered vehicles being sold in India, up 23% YoY (FY2024: 1.04 million units).
The charge was led by CNG fuelled passenger vehicles which hit their best-ever fiscal sales of 796,384 units, an increase of 32% (FY2024: 601,687 units). Of this, PV market leader Maruti Suzuki accounted for around 620,000 units while Tata Motors, Hyundai Motor India and Toyota Kirloskar Motor also made strong gains.
Sales of CNG three-wheelers, however, fell by 4% to 340,608 units (FY2024: 356,285 units) as a result of the ongoing shift to e-mobility in this segment where every second unit sold is an electric three-wheeler.
FY2025 also saw the rollout of the Bajaj Freedom 125, the world's first CNG-powered motorcycle. This affordable, greener alternative to petrol-engined two-wheelers sold 51,896 units last fiscal and saw steady growth particularly in markets with strong CNG infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the CNG filling infrastructure across India, currently estimated to be around 7,000 stations, is planned to expand over 13,000 stations over the next couple of years and around 17,000 by 2030, to drive sales of CNG vehicles across segments.
ESG or Environmental Social Governance is now a common acronym. EarthDay.org, the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 150,000 partners in over 192 countries to drive positive action for Planet Earth, writes: “Sustainability is the path to prosperity for humanity and businesses alike. Companies which have developed strong Environmental Social Governance (ESG) standards are seeing better profitability, stronger financial performance and happier employees. There is no longer a choice between going green and growing long-term profits. It is crucial for businesses of all sizes to act now. If they don’t, climate change will cause even more catastrophic damage to our economies and negatively impact us all.”
OUR EARTH, OUR PLANET . . .
Every year, over a billion people across the planet observe Earth Day on and around April 22. They hold trash cleanups, they write to their elected officials demanding change, they hold vigils, organize marches, hold educational events, art competitions, nature walks, and more. Every Earth Day has a designated theme and for 2025, it is ‘Our Earth, Our Planet’.
According to Earthday.org, the driving force behind Earth Day, “Themes help to shape the environmental conversation across the planet. The problems we face are vast and varied, from deforestation and biodiversity losses to pollution and climate change. A new theme allows the spotlight to shine on areas where it is needed most, and mobilizes individuals who typically aren’t advocates for the planet.”
In his message on International Mother Earth Day 2025, UN Secretary-General António Guterres observed: “Mother Earth is running a fever. Last year was the hottest ever recorded: The final blow in a decade of record heat.
We know what’s causing this sickness: The greenhouse gas emissions humanity is pumping into the atmosphere, overwhelmingly from burning fossil fuels. We know the symptoms: Devastating wildfires, floods and heat. Lives lost and livelihoods shattered.
And we know the cure: Rapidly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and turbocharging adaptation to protect ourselves — and nature — from climate disasters.
Getting on the road to recovery is a win-win. Renewable power is cheaper, healthier, and more secure than fossil fuel alternatives. And action on adaptation is critical to creating robust economies and safer communities, now and in the future. This year is critical.
All countries must create new national climate action plans that align with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5deg C — essential to avoid the worst of climate catastrophe.
This is a vital chance to seize the benefits of clean power. I urge all countries to take it, with the Group of Twenty (G20) leading the way. We also need action to tackle pollution, slam the brakes on biodiversity loss, and deliver the finance countries need to protect our planet.
Together, let’s get to work and make 2025 the year we restore good health to Mother Earth.”