Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 9
India is upgrading its target of restoring degraded land from 21 million to 26 million hectares, PM Narendra Modi said here today. The move would also support India’s commitment to creating additional carbon sink through tree cover, he added.
“I would like to announce that India would raise its ambition of total area that would be restored from its land degradation status from 21 million hectares to 26 million hectares between now and 2030,” PM Modi said addressing the high-level segment of the 14th Conference of Parties (COP14) of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
Highlighting India’s efforts and its deep cultural roots of maintaining a healthy balance between land, water, air, trees and all living beings, PM Modi said India would be happy to propose initiatives for greater “South-South” cooperation in addressing issues of climate change, biodiversity and land degradation.
Announcing a Centre for excellence in India at the Indian Council for Forest Research and Education to further develop a scientific approach and facilitate induction of technology as regards land degradation, the PM also called upon the leadership of UNCCD to conceive a global water action agenda which is central to LDN strategy.
“When we address degraded lands, we also address water scarcity. Augmenting water supply, enhancing water recharge, slowing down water runoff and retaining moisture in the soil are all parts of a holistic land and water strategy,” he said.
“Between 2015 and 2017, India’s tree and forest cover had increased by 0.8 million hectares,” he said, adding that just last week, funds amounting to nearly $6 billion were released to provincial governments in lieu of diversion for development of forest lands.
Earlier, highlighting initiatives taken by India under the leadership of PM Modi on environment conservation, solar alliance and e-vehicles, Javadekar said India had already achieved half of its renewable energy production target. Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves spoke passionately as he exhorted all to make the convention a path-breaking event.
Praising PM Modi for his efforts, he also took jibes at “short-sighted leaders of other powerful countries”. “We do not want to hear pledges because when those who make them don’t mean them… Remember, this is one Earth we have. What happens in North Africa affects the issue of migration and security in Europe,” he said.
“All of us have to work together or else we shall suffer much grief,” he said. The last session of the meeting was held in China. India will be the president of the convention for next two years.
‘Say good-bye to single use plastic’
- The PM on Monday said: “My government has announced that India will put an end to the single-use plastic in the coming years. I believe the time has come for even the world to say good-bye to it
- Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, meanwhile, held a meeting with bottled water industry, government departments and stakeholders on a suitable alternative for single-use plastic bottles
from The Tribune https://ift.tt/300mlAp
via Today’s News Headlines
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