New Delhi: Minister of State for Culture, Meenakshi Lekhi on Monday (August 4) called for immediate action to tackle climate change, saying that “those who have blundered need to work more instead of pointing fingers”. Ms Lekhi said that many countries have talked about climate change, but this is a time to act. “When we see more and more destruction happening around. Many sins have been committed, and those sins can only be corrected and resurrected by the right action. The right action is the need of the hour,” the minister said while speaking at the launch of a massive reforestation initiative launched by a not-for-profit firm here. She added,
Those who have blundered need to work more instead of pointing fingers, time to act, thus it is about responsible consumption. The action has to be linked to a consumption pattern. Thus, talking about it will not help is also about responsible living and responsible consumption.
Ms Lekhi’s remarks come at a time when India stresses on the need for developed nations to step forward in helping tackle climate change.
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The minister further added that the entire world is facing problems of global warming. She said,
Preserving nature is our culture and our government’s motto is ‘Vikas Bhi Virasat Bhi’. It is a time to give back to nature.
Ms Lekhi further said that the central government is shifting its focus to renewable sources of energy.
By 2030, the reforestation initiative seeks to plant 1 billion trees with an aim to restore and protect one million hectares of land across the Eastern Himalayas, from the mountains to the mangrove.
This drive will span across the northeastern part of India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Nepal with active involvement of local communities.
Lauding the initiative, Ms Meenakshi Lekhi said that through the reforestation drive, 1,000,000 hectares of land is going to be reclaimed by 1 billion trees and 20 million people’s lives are going to be impacted in terms of employment, regeneration and revamping the area. She mentioned,
All this is happening when India is hosting G20 and the theme is ‘Vadudeva Kutumbkam’ which the world is one big family and one earth-one future. Many countries have talked about climate change but I think it’s time to put the action in order and I must speak on behalf of my country.
The initiative aims to raise USD 1 billion dollars to support this work from public, private, and philanthropic sources, and has been taken up on India’s G20 presidency theme – ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’.
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(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – theLGBTQ population,indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the currentCOVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water,SanitationandHygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fightmalnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health,adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues likeair pollution,waste management,plastic ban,manual scavengingand sanitation workers andmenstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India wheretoiletsare used andopen defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched byPrime Minister Narendra Modiin 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
