New Delhi, Feb 22 (FN Bureau) Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Wednesday said under G20 Presidency, the concept of ‘Green Growth’ being a priority area for India, particularly on the fact that how economic development and conservation of environment can go hand in hand. He added that it also validates how sustainable development has been mainstreamed in the Indian policy making process through a visionary approach. Addressing the inaugural session of TERI’s World Sustainable Development Summit here, the Minster said that india is taking strides in democratic and international level in tackling the triple planetary crisis in the form of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. “Combatting climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation transcend all political boundaries and hence is a shared global challenge” he noted. He said that Living in harmony with nature has traditionally been in our ethos and the same has been reflected by the mantra of LiFE,”.
Termed the General budget as “Green Budget” Yada said“ The Union Budget 2023-24, presented in the parliament earlier this month lays down the vision for green growth across multiple sectors with the underlying thought being that all future growth in the country has to essentially be green,” He said that “With the concept of Green Growth being a priority area in the Union Budget, ….adding it validates the fact that how Sustainable Development has been mainstreamed in Indian policy-making process through a visionary approach”. Speaking of India’s commitment to address climate change, Yadav said that India has already submitted its Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy document at COP 27 in Sharm El Sheikh which is premised on two major pillars of climate justice and sustainable lifestyles alongside principles of CBDR-RC. ” With this India has joined a list of 58 countries who have submitted their new or updated LT-LEDS” he added. Speaking on the occasion, Designated President of COP28 ,Sultan Al Jaber of UAE said that “We need to accelerate an energy transition that leaves no one behind, particularly the 800 million people across the global south who have no access to energy today”. He said that the world needs a true comprehensive paradigm shift in our approach to mitigation, adaptation, finance and, loss and damage. Talking about the Paris Agreement and its agenda, Al Jaber said “The Goal of keeping 1.5 degrees alive is non-negotiable it can’t continue business as usual”.
Over the COP28 Presidency, he stressed that as the COP28 Presidency we share India’s firm belief that safeguarding and respecting nature is a fundamental obligation”. Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, Vice President, Republic of Guyana, Nitin Desai, Chairman, TERI, and Vibha Dhawan, Director General TERI were also present. On this occasion Yadav also released the report on “Assessment of Avoided CO2 Emissions during Construction and Operation of National Highways”. The report assesses the extent of CO2 which can be avoided per km in construction of the National Highways.