Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a high-level segment meeting of the ongoing COP14 to United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) on Monday. (Source: ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a high-level segment meeting at the gathering at the Conference of Parties (COP14) to United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) on Monday and said that climate change was leading to land degradation of various kinds. He said that India would be happy to propose initiatives for greater cooperation in addressing issues of climate change, biodiversity and land degradation. Earlier, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar addressed the gathering and talked about India’s agenda of combating desertification.
India is hosting the UNCCD COP14 from September 2 to September 13. The conference, being held at India Expo Mart in Greater Noida, is aimed at adding to the global discourse on environmental issues, especially those relating to land management.
Around 196 countries and 94 environment ministers are taking part in the mega event. Ministers are expected to announce their targets for land restoration and come to a consensus on measures to address the emerging threats of forced migration, sand and dust storms, and on actions to strengthen resilience to droughts.
Prime Minister stressed on the need for teamwork and cited the success of the Swachh Bharat Mission.
PM Modi said that his government has launched a program to double the income of farmers by increasing crop yield through various measures, including land restoration and micro-irrigation. He added that we are also focusing on zero budget natural farming.
PM Modi said that his government has announced to put an end to single-use plastic in the coming years. He also added that the government has created a "Jal Shakti Ministry" to address all water-related important issues in totality.
The Prime Minister said that climate and environment impact both biodiversity and land, and the world is facing the negative impact of climate change.
PM Modi emphasised that India aims to increase the total area restored from land degradation to increase from 21 million hectares to 26 million hectares. He also added that India's tree cover has increased by 0.8 million hectares between 2015 and 2017.
PM Modi is addressing the gathering now.
Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves addressed the gathering and said desertification has been identified as the greatest environmental challenge of our time and climate change is making it worse.
United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Jane Mohammed spoke about the steps that can be taken to combat climate change. She said we need to make small steps in order to achieve our bigger climate goals,
Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves is also present at the event in Greater Noida.
Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar spoke about the agenda to combat desertification. PM Modi is also present at the venue.