NEW DELHI—On the eve of World Environment Day, the Narendra Modi government has launched a new campaign that indicates that even in its second term, it will continue to choose the optics of environment conservation over implementing any substantial policy measure.

On Tuesday, in his first media interaction after taking charge of the ministry, environment minister Prakash Javadekar said the government wants citizens to plant saplings, click selfies with them and post them on social media.

“We have launched a programme where we appeal to the people to plant the sapling and have selfie with that plant. And that should be sent to #SelfieWithSapling. That will be a great participation because the Modi government believes environment is not only a government programme, environment protection is a people’s programme. And in every program we are ensuring people’s participation. To that end, this will be a great beginning,” he said in New Delhi, adding that planting saplings will help create carbon sink, which will help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Cricketing legend Kapil Dev and actor Jackie Shroff will officially launch the programme on Wednesday by planting a sapling, Javadekar added.