24-Nov-2021: Raksha Mantri virtually inaugurates 5th World Congress on Disaster Management

“Our Armed Forces have time and again demonstrated that they care for and stand by the country’s partners in times of need without distinguishing between natural or man-made disasters,” said Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh while virtually inaugurating the 5th World Congress on Disaster Management on November 24, 2021. He reiterated India’s vision for the Indian Ocean encapsulated by the concept of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) as articulated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The Raksha Mantri underlined that SAGAR has both distinct and inter-related elements such as deepening economic and security cooperation among the littoral states; enhancing capacities to safeguard land and maritime territories; working towards sustainable regional development; Blue Economy and promoting collective action to deal with non-traditional threats like natural disasters, piracy and terrorism.

Shri Rajnath Singh maintained that while each of these elements requires equal attention, developing an effective response mechanism to address humanitarian crises and natural disasters is one of the most important pillars of SAGAR. India’s engagement with the world and especially the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) has been robustly strong, he said, lauding the Armed Forces for being the first responders in the region for Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. He said, India’s unique position in the IOR, complemented by a capability of the Armed Forces, enables it to contribute significantly in HADR situations.

The Raksha Mantri made special mention of some notable HADR missions in the IOR undertaken by India in recent years, including Operation Rahat in Yemen in 2015 when India rescued and evacuated over 6,700 persons, including over 1,940 citizens of more than 40 other countries; cyclone in Sri Lanka in 2016; earthquake in Indonesia in 2019; Cyclone Idai in Mozambique and flooding and landslides in Madagascar in January 2020 where Indian assistance was promptly provided. He added that the COVID-19 pandemic has not dented India’s commitment, which was demonstrated by India’s response during the Oil Spill in Mauritius in August 2020 and Oil tanker fire in Sri Lanka in September 2020.

India taking lead and offering expertise of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (DRI) to its friendly countries was also highlighted by Shri Rajnath Singh. “Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) was first proposed by India during the 2016 Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in New Delhi. It is today an international coalition of countries, United Nations (UN) agencies, multilateral development banks, the private sector and academic institutions, that aim to promote disaster-resilient infrastructure,” he said. The Raksha Mantri added that India has been regularly conducting exercises to deepen the HADR co-operation and co-ordination with its neighbours and friendly countries with a focus on sharing expertise and building capabilities.

The Raksha Mantri shared his views on the challenging geo-political landscape and the traditional and non-traditional threats including natural calamities like COVID-19 faced by the world. He said, to deal with the pandemic, India has developed a large capacity for production of COVID-19 vaccines and is extending help to many countries. He emphasised on the need for a collective solution to deal with global challenges in the post-pandemic world. He said, the pandemic has reaffirmed the centrality of multilateralism in the interconnected world for matters not only related to international security but also disaster management.

Shri Rajnath Singh also spoke about the emerging cutting-edge technologies in the fields of space, communication, bio-engineering, bio-medics and artificial intelligence. He said, these include precision tools and sensors which can revolutionise the way the risks of disasters are assessed and communicated through early warning. He also shed light on the smart technologies for post disaster recovery and reconstructions. The Raksha Mantri stressed on sharing the benefits of these technologies with all along with funding initiatives for capacity development for better application and use of these technologies.

The Raksha Mantri called for cooperating more closely to strengthen international architecture for building structures to prevent and manage future disasters. He also suggested a comprehensive assessment of the impact of the pandemic on the implementation of 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, emphasising on the need to incorporate new ideas in global and national strategies for the implementation of the goals.

The 5th World Congress on Disaster Management (WCDM) is being organised in New Delhi between November 24-27, 2021 at the campus of IIT Delhi on the overarching theme of ‘Technology, Finance and Capacity for Building Resilience to Disasters in the context of COVID-19’. It is an initiative of Disaster Management Initiatives and Convergence Society (DMICS) having its headquarter in Hyderabad to bring researchers, policy makers and practitioners from around the world on the same platform to discuss various challenging issues of disaster risk management. The aim is to promote interaction of science, policy and practices to enhance understanding of risks and advance actions for reducing risks and building resilience to disasters.

Director General, India Council of Medical Research & Secretary, Department of Health Research Dr Balram Bhargava delivered the keynote address, while Convener 5th WCDM Dr S Anandababu gave the welcome address. Special Representative of UN Secretary General on Disaster Reduction Ms. Mami Mizutori also spoke during the inaugural session.

12-Oct-2021: Nature, Climate and ‘One-health approach integrating animal, environmental and human health’ core of our Post COVID-19 recovery and ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ strategy says Shri Bhupender Yadav at UN Biodiversity Conference

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav today addressed virtually the delegates of the High-level ministerial segment of UN Biodiversity Conference, Round Table on 'Putting biodiversity on a Path of Recovery' and said that mainstreaming biodiversity consideration in all key sectors of development and promoting human well-being and inclusive growth is the main ‘mantra’ of our governance strategy. 

Stating that the unifying fabric of biodiversity is integral to the traditional knowledge systems of India’s 1.35 billion plus human population, the Union Environment Minister  said that the Country’s rich biological diversity is deeply interwoven with, and is a common thread to our diverse cultural history. India is one of the seventeen mega-biodiverse countries in the world.

The Minister further said, “We in India have respected and revered nature for thousands of years. With just 2.4% of the world’s land area, we harbour 8% of all recorded species and are recognized as one of the 8 centres of origin of cultivated plants. Several hundred species of wild crop relatives are also distributed all over the country.”

Speaking on the COVID-19 pandemic, Shri Yadav said that the pandemic has shown the entire humanity that respect for nature is not just a moral or ethical consideration, but that it is an imperative for keeping ourselves, our health and our economies safe, as well as for handing our future generations.

Speaking on India’s commitment and endeavors, Shri Yadav said that India has always relied on a network of formal and informal institutions to fulfil its biodiversity conservation obligations.

“The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change with the National Biodiversity Authority of India and other statutory agencies ensure implementation of the objectives of conservation, sustainable use and fair and equitable benefit sharing through a tiered and federal network of sub-national formal and non-governmental agencies.”, said the Environment Minister.

The Minister highlighted and emphasized on the government’s constant endeavour to ensure policy coherence across our laws for seamless implementation of conservation and development policies. “We hope to create opportunities for different actors including those from the business side, stakeholders across sectors from agriculture, health, infrastructure among others to actively engage in this mission.”, said Shri Yadav

Speaking on land restoration, Shri Yadav said that it is the best solution for biodiversity loss and therefore there is an urgent need to restore the degraded lands. “India has committed to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030, more than its earlier target of 21 million hectares and I am also happy to inform that one of the India’s intended National Determined Contributions as part of Paris Agreement is to create additional carbon sink of 2.5 -3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover, which will also enhance biodiversity in India.”

Speaking on Aichi targets, Shri Yadav informed the gathering that India has already set aside over 17.41% of its geographical area for meeting the conservation objectives and more areas are being identified to enhance this coverage. 

“I understand that the recent digital reporting by India has significantly contributed to achieving the global conservation target under Aichi Biodiversity Target-11 and the Sustainable Development Goal-15. I am very pleased to convey India’s strong commitment to the global 30 by 30 initiative.”, stated the Environment Minister

Stating that, 2020-2021 is also giving the countries an opportunity at the global level to develop robust Post-2020 global biodiversity commitments and Indian Government is taking this very seriously and would like to work together with other countries to usher in a new deal for people and planet, while moving on a path of recovery, Shri Yadav concluded his statement reiterating India’s commitments to

1. Mainstream biodiversity across all sectors in order to conserve nature, reverse its loss and to secure a healthy planet for our current and future generations.
2. Ensure that benefits of biodiversity conservation flow to the poor and resource-dependent communities, who are the true custodians of biodiversity and
3. Put nature, climate and ‘One-health approach integrating animal, environmental and human health’ into the core of our Post COVID-19 recovery and ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ strategy.

1-Oct-2020: Historic UN Summit on Biodiversity sets stage for a global movement toward a green recovery from COVID-19

Recognizing that the continued deterioration and degradation of the world’s natural ecosystems were having major impacts on the lives and livelihoods of people everywhere, world leaders called for increased resolve to protect biodiversity at the UN today.

A record number of countries - nearly 150 countries and 72 Heads of State and Government -addressed the first ever Summit held on biodiversity to build political momentum towards the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, to be adopted at COP15 in Kunming, China next year.

The Summit comes on the heels of the Leader’s Pledge on Monday, which saw 74 countries commit to preserving biodiversity, sending “a united signal to step up global ambition for biodiversity and to commit to matching our collective ambition for nature, climate and people with the scale of the crisis at hand.”

“The degradation of local and regional ecosystems, unsustainable agricultural practices, and the exploitation of natural resources, are putting critical pressure on world ecosystems,” said President of the General Assembly Volkan Bozkir, who presided over the Summit. “Clearly, we must heed the lessons we have learned and respect the world in which we live.”

He added, “A green recovery, with an emphasis on protecting biodiversity, can address these concerns, mitigate risks, and build a more sustainable, resilient world. Doing so can help unlock an estimated US$10 trillion in business opportunities, create 395 million jobs by 2030 and encourage a greener economy.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said biodiversity and ecosystems are essential for human progress and prosperity. “By living in harmony with nature, we can avert the worst impacts of climate change and recharge biodiversity for the benefit of people and the planet.”

“Let me be clear,” he added. “Degradation of nature is not purely an environmental issue. It spans economics, health, social justice and human rights. Neglecting our precious resources can exacerbate geopolitical tensions and conflicts. Yet, too often environmental health is overlooked or downplayed by other government sectors. This Summit is our opportunity to show the world that there is another way. We have to change course and transform our relationship with the natural world.”

In addition to leaders, the Summit heard from HRH Prince Charles, who called for a new “Marshall Plan” or a “blue-green recovery’ and indigenous leaders who, as defenders of biodiversity, spoke about the need to allow indigenous people to use their traditional knowledge to preserve, protect and manage nature.

UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen said the Summit showed a greater willingness to act.  “Today we have seen tremendous commitment to act, invest and drive action for a nature-positive world. We are seeing a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to moving conversations on biodiversity, beyond the environment corridors. We are seeing strong momentum towards sealing an ambitious and measurable agreement at the COP15 in Kunming. As we tackle three planetary crises – the nature crisis, the biodiversity crisis, and the pollution and waste crisis–such an Agreement is crucial to reversing the damage already done, and indeed to tackling the risks that lie ahead.”

UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner said: “This Summit has as much to do with people as it has to do with nature.  It is about people’s dependence on nature, people’s inabilities to see the complexity of nature, and people’s blindness, sometimes greed and ignorance, and the blind spot of economies and economics for so long to recognize the value of ecosystem services. We are coming to a point in history where there is growing awareness that action on biodiversity is inextricably linked with broader human development through the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda.’’

30-Sep-2020: Summit on Biodiversity

In resolution A/RES/73/234, adopted on 20 December 2018, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) decided “to convene a summit on biodiversity at the level of Heads of State and Government, within existing resources,” ahead of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 15), “in order to highlight the urgency of action at the highest levels in support of a post-2020 global biodiversity framework that contributes to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and places the global community on a path towards realizing the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity”.

The Summit will seek to provide political direction and momentum to the development of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.

The UN's website for the Summit notes that the theme of the event is 'Urgent action on biodiversity for sustainable development'. It notes that, in addition to the originally envisioned focus and purpose of the Summit, “the COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the importance of the relationship between people and nature…. An investment in the health of our planet is an investment in our own future.”

The Summit will take place as part of the UN's high-level week, on the margins of the UN General Assembly's 75th general debate, on 30 September 2020. Previously, resolution 74/269, adopted on 31 March 2020, had called for the Summit on Biodiversity to take place from 22-23 September 2020. It was rescheduled as part of the readjustment of the calendar of high-level meetings in light of COVID-19 and restrictions on in-person meetings.

The Summit will consist of an opening segment, a plenary segment for general discussion, two leaders dialogues and a brief closing segment and that the overall theme of the summit will be “Urgent action on biodiversity for sustainable development”. The leaders dialogues will address: biodiversity loss and mainstreaming biodiversity for sustainable development; and harnessing science, technology and innovation, capacity-building, access and benefit-sharing, financing and partnerships for biodiversity.

The concept note and summit programme were issued on 10 August 2020.

30-Sep-2020: UN Summit on Biodiversity

The United Nations Summit on Biodiversity will be convened by the President of the General Assembly on 30 September 2020 under the theme of “Urgent Action on Biodiversity for Sustainable Development.”

The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will assist the President of the General Assembly in the preparation of the Summit.

The meeting takes place on the margins of the opening of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly. Heads of State and Government are expected to be in attendance.

The Summit is an opportunity to demonstrate leadership and commitment to improve our relationship with nature, addressing the causes of change, and ensuring that biodiversity and the contributions it provides to all people are at the heart of sustainable development and the fight against climate change.