The two-day Environmental Regional Conference 2025, organised by NGT’s Southern Bench with state pollution control boards, concluded in Chennai. The final day focused on coastal vulnerability, plastic pollution, climate threats, and legal-regulatory reforms for sustainable environmental governance.

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•  Event led by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava; hosted at Kalaivanar Arangam, Chennai.
•  Day-2 opened with coastal protection challenges chaired by Justice Suraj Govindaraj.
•  India’s 11,098 km coastline highly threatened by pollution; 11–12 million tonnes plastic discharged annually.
•  405 global “dead zones” linked to habitat loss; oceans support 3 billion people & 20% global protein supply.
•  Coral reefs & mangroves highlighted as essential for biodiversity and livelihoods; human activity degrading them.
•  Kerala’s coastline reported 2,700+ violations (till 2020); erosion, waste mismanagement remain major issues.
•  Sediment Cell concept explained—classifying coasts by sediment movement for better planning.
•  Shoreline change data (1992–2022): 34% erosion, 26.9% accretion nationwide.
• Climate projections: temp rise 1.1–2°C by 2030; 3.3–4.8°C by 2080.
•  Experts stressed protection of seagrass meadows, mangroves; warned of damage to mudflats, lagoons, fisheries.
•  Conference closed with Supreme Court Judge Justice R. Mahadevan’s address promoting ecological responsibility.
• Sanskrit verse cited: “Through justice, protect Earth; through regulation, safeguard life; together sustain a green future.”