New Delhi: United Nations Development Programme’s representative in India, Shoko Noda on Monday (June 5) highlighted India’s G20 Presidency that comes at a critical moment to accelerate the efforts of climate actions. She said that it is excellent that India can now speak not only about India, but also the represent the whole global south.
In an exclusive interview to ANI on World Environment Day, Ms. Noda said,
It is excellent that India can now speak not only about India, but also the represent the whole global south. India is focusing on climate action also financing for climate action so that the more funding would come to different developing countries to actually mitigate emissions and also the protection. Transfer of technology is another critical issue that India is advocating, and climate justice
Adding that climate change is not only imminent in India but globally, she said,
I’m very glad that India is taking this day very seriously
UNDP is a United Nations agency tasked with helping countries eliminate poverty and achieve sustainable economic growth and human development.
Responding to a question on the increasing problem of plastic pollution, she told ANI,
There is a very worrisome estimation that there will be more plastics than fish in the ocean by 2050. And this also means that every day about 2000, the garbage truck full of plastics are dumping plastic into oceans, into rivers, into lakes, globally
Every year we are producing 400 million pounds of plastics and not all or I must say the most of it is not recycled. So it’s extremely important to reverse this trend. We are cautiously optimistic that if we act now, by 2040 we are hearing that the we can reduce 80 per cent of plastic pollution, she added.
Shoko Noda further added by saying that greenhouse gas emissions are related to household consumptions, and she underlined that it extremely important that we as individuals also change our behaviors. She said,
It’s very clear step by step actions. And then also emphasize that overconsumption is no longer fashionable. There is also a message that if India can do that, the rest of the world especially those developed countries, which have been over consuming can also re adjust their behavior
(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 – the LGBTQ 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 current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) 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, fight malnutrition, 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 like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
