The three states have been the most-affected by the worst of this summer’s extreme heat…reports Asian Lite News
A total of 147 people have died in the US states of Arizona, Nevada and Texas this month as a result of the excruciating summer heat wave that has swept major parts of the country.
The three states have been the most-affected by the worst of this summer’s extreme heat, reports CNN.
Of the 147 fatalities, Arizona’s Pima and Maricopa counties accounted for 64 and 39, respectively; while 26 deaths occurred in Clark county, Nevada; and 11 and seven in Texas’s Webb and Harris counties.
Several heat-related deaths were also reported in California, parts of the South and the Midwest, though the tolls have not been as high as those in the five counties mentioned above.
Maricopa county, which is home to the city of Phoenix and has officially tallied at least 39 heat-related deaths, has 312 more fatalities still under investigation.
The fatalities came as temperatures soared to record-breaking levels at the end of June, and continued to bake much of the South and Southwest through July, reports CNN.
Phoenix logged the hottest month of any US city on record, with 31 consecutive days at or above 43 degrees Celsius from June into July.
The death toll from extreme heat to-date is far higher than tornadoes and flooding combined.
Considering the fact that this part of the country does not boast of being a fashion centre, finding the right people to help with the botanical printing process was quite a task…writes Sukant Deepak
Not the fad of ‘sustainable’, but long everyday walks in Chandigarh’s forested areas is what drove her towards it. Stumbling upon eco-printing not just as a designer’s tool, but an art form during her travels is what drew Chandigarh-based fashion designer Jasmine Bains towards launching her first official capsule in March 2023 this year.
“The intimacy with forests is what got me ‘naturally’ interested in the idea of how to print leaves and flowers onto fabrics especially silk in order to create unique leafy patterns and prints. Post extensive research and DIY experiments with different natural dye recipes and botanical printing, reaching various combinations and conclusions led me to the collection — ‘Sustainably Sexy’.”
Stressing that so far in India, one mostly witnesses fabric dyers experimenting with natural dye techniques, including dyeing with onion, turmeric, beetroot, indigo, and other similar eco-friendly inks and dyes, however, they may not consider the entire life cycle of their products.
“I even use sustainable packaging and have dedicated a programme for educating my clients,” says the designer who started her label ‘Jasmine Bains’ in 2016.
While Eco-printing or Eco-dyeing is essentially printing leaves and flowers on fabric with help of a mordant, it is a process of transferring the colours and patterns of plants onto fabrics or paper using heat and pressure.
Botanical printing uses the natural pigments found in plants such as leaves, flowers and bark. These pigments are then transferred to the fabric or paper using steaming a boiling process.
Considering the fact that this part of the country does not boast of being a fashion centre, finding the right people to help with the botanical printing process was quite a task.
“It needs to be understood that sustainability, despite it being the buzzword nowadays cannot be just about commerce. So, not only did we need skilled crafts people who could handle the steaming and boiling process, but also those who understood and appreciated the philosophy behind it. It took some time to find the right team, but we are so happy with the people we found.”
Pleased that within a few months, her eco-printed garments have found clients across the world, including the UK and the US, besides India, she adds, “It is clear that there is a huge demand for sustainable fashion, and the same will continue for a long time.”
Someone whose body of work is a blend of fine art and functional design, she says feels it would be unfair to push her clothes into a genre.
“Fitting into a style or genre limits the possibilities of a drape. What is important is the fact that they should be eye-catching and provoke complementation.”
Right now, Bains would like to continue to innovate and experiment with new techniques and fabric materials.
“I could also consider expanding my line of products and continue to grow my brand by collaborating with other designers,” she concludes.
Director General, National Mission for Clean Ganga has given presentation on Namami Gange to World Bank Executive Directors during an impact assessment meeting in Agra….reports Asian Lite News
During their visit to Agra, Uttar Pradesh earlier this month, the World Bank’s Executive Directors convened to comprehend the transformative impact of the Bank’s projects within India. G. Asok Kumar, Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), presented an elaborate overview of the Namami Gange initiative to the global cohort of World Bank Executive Directors. The event was also attended by Auguste Kouame, Country Director of the World Bank for India.
In the meeting, discussions were held with the World Bank EDs on various aspects of river rejuvenation and the role of the World Bank. The EDs appreciated the development across water sector enabled by transformational reforms and private sector participation, especially under Namami Gange Mission, in India’s pursuit of becoming water-secured nation. They appreciated that NMCG has started a new chapter of public participation with multiple stakeholders including people, educational institutes, social organizations and civil society become part of Namami Gange becoming a global name to reckon with in river rejuvenation. The EDs appreciated the clarity of vision of the leadership and were especially impressed by the HAM model, One City One Operator Model, Arth Ganga initiative and Public Participation efforts put under Namami Gange mission.
Nine EDs of the World Bank Group were present during the meeting: Jack Kurski, Poland; Khalid Bawazier, Saudi Arabia; Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, Nigeria; Junhong Chang, China; Erivaldo Gomes, Brazil; Ernesto Acevedo, Mexico; Cecilia Nohan, Argentina; and Robin Tasker, United Kingdom. Bhaskar Dasgupta, ED, Finance, NMCG and D.P. Mathuria, ED, Technical, NMCG were also present. A tour to the iconic Taj Mahal was also organised.
Giving a detailed presentation to the dignitaries on the Namami Gange Programme, the Mr. G. Asok Kumar said that water has been recognized as one of the most important component for India’s economic growth and a lot of initiatives have been taken up the water sector in the past 7-8 years. In 2019, under the leadership of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, Jal Shakti Ministry was created by bringing together various departments to enable quick decision-making without conflict. Some of the major initiatives in the water sector include Jal Jeevan Mission, that aims to provide household tap connections to all by 2024, Atal Bhujal Yojana for effective management of groundwater through participatory approach and Swachh Bharat Mission as part of which more than 100 million toilets were built, taking the burden off the world in the direction of sanitation for all.
DG, NMCG informed that dignitaries about Catch the Rain: Where it Falls, When it Falls campaign that was launched for decentralized storage of rainwater (in-situ storage of water) as part of which lakhs of rainwater harvesting structures were constructed.
Giving an overview of the Namami Gange Programme, he said it is a holistic and integrated river rejuvenation programme not just to clean River Ganga but restore its entire riverine ecosystem through public participation. Namami Gange is premised on the five important pillars of – Nirmal Ganga (unpolluted river), Aviral Ganga (unrestricted flow), Jan Ganga (People’s Participation), Gyan Ganga (knowledge and research based interventions) and Arth Ganga (people-river connect through the bridge of economy). “442 projects worth around 4.5 billion US $ have been sanctioned out of which 193 pertain to sewage management,” he informed, adding, “The funding is also sourced from organisations like the World Bank, JICA, Asian Development Bank etc.” Explaining the 5-tier structure of NMCG, he talked about the National Ganga Council meetings headed by the Prime Minister held in Kanpur (2019) and Kolkata (2022) and emphasized on the unwavering political commitment to the Namami Gange Programme.
He said that Namami Gange was chosen as one of the world’s top ten restoration flagships to revive the natural world. Namami Gange, selected from over 160 eco-restoration programmes around the world, was awarded at Montreal, Canada during the UN Conference on Biological Diversity (COP15) on 13th December 2022. NMCG was the only entity from India to participate in the United Nations World Water Conference held in New York in March 2023.
He said that the increased sightings and thriving of aquatic species like Gangetic Dolphins and local fishes is indicative of improved water quality in the Ganga River. “In 2014, there were two polluted stretches in Category V and one each in Category II and III. In comparison, in 2023, two stretches (Haridwar to Sultanpur and Buxar to Bhagalpur) are now ‘unpolluted’ and the remaining two in Category V (Kannauj to Varanasi and Triveni to Diamond Harbour) are exceeding the accepted range by minor points,” he said.
DG, NMCG explained in detail the Hybrid Annuity Model used for sewage management projects in the Ganga Basin under Namami Gange. Under this model, the development, operation and maintenance of the STP is undertaken by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) at the local level. As per this model, 40% of the Capital cost would be paid during construction while the remaining 60% of the cost will be paid over the life of the project as annuities along with operation and maintenance cost (O&M) expenses for the next 15 years. The Annuity and O&M payments are linked to the performance of the STP. This will ensure continued performance of the assets created due to better accountability, ownership and optimal performance. There are total 32 projects sanctioned HAM, out of which 7 are funded by the World Bank. “It ensures performance-based contracting and improved governance,” DG, NMCG added.
Shri Kumar also spoke on the River-Cities Alliance (RCA) initiative under Namami Gange which was launched in November 2021 with 30 members. Now, with 142 members, including the international city of Aarhus, RCA has become a desirable platform to ideate, discuss and exchange information for sustainable management of urban rivers. RCA Global witnessed participation of high ranking officials from Embassies. Cities of Manchester, Arhus, Copen Hagen and Hamberg made presentations on their efforts to use rivers flowing by them as growth engines.
The proposed concrete water cistern, with a capacity of 760 metric cubes will store and provide clean water to students, teachers and school staff promoting hygiene…reports Asian Lite News
India will be providing support worth 700,000 USD from the India-UN Development Partnership Fund to the project in Tuvalu to store and provide clean water in school, India’s Permanent Mission to the UN said in a statement.
Notably, ‘Motufoua Secondary School’ is Tuvalu’s only public school. The proposed concrete water cistern, with a capacity of 760 metric cubes will store and provide clean water to students, teachers and school staff promoting hygiene and reducing water-borne diseases.
“India will provide funding support of 700,000 USD from the India-UN Development Partnership Fund for the project, “Motufoua concrete water cistern” as requested by the Government of Tuvalu,” the statement read.
In May this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the “Sagar Amrut Scholarship” scheme for the Pacific Island countries, at the Summit of the Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation.
He had also announced a 12-point action plan focusing on health, wellness and community development sectors as per priorities of the Pacific island countries. The water cistern project in Tuvalu is in pursuance of these initiatives focused on the importance of high-impact community development projects in areas of choice by the Pacific countries.
The Permanent Representative of India, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, said that India’s philosophy views the whole world as one family and this project is another step towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
“Indian philosophy has always viewed the world as one family. India remains engaged with the Pacific island countries on issues of common concern, such as climate change and sustainable development, capacity building and training, health and well-being, infrastructure and economic development. This project, like many others, is another step as India moves along with fellow developing countries towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,” she stated.
The India-UN Development Partnership Fund, established by the Government of India in June 2017, provides support to projects in developing countries that aim to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Fund adheres to the principles of South-South cooperation and places a priority on national ownership and leadership, equality, sustainability, development of local capacity and mutual benefit.
A total of 150 million USD over the next decade has been committed by the Government of India for the Fund. Till date, 75 development projects across 56 countries have been supported through the Fund. (ANI)
Heat, wildfires, floods make summer of 2023 ‘a summer of extremes’
The summer of 2023 is “a summer of extremes” due to the scorching heat, wildfires and floods that have resulted in major damage to people’s health and the environment, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said.
Clare Nullis, spokesperson for the WMO, said at a press briefing here on Friday that dangerous weather, including intense heat and devastating rainfall, has impacted large parts of the world in this “summer of extremes”, reports Xinhua news agency
She said many new station temperature records around the world were broken in July, and the start of August also saw a winter heat wave in parts of South America.
In a series of updates on extreme weather, WMO said earlier this week that many countries like France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Algeria and Tunisia all reported new maximum daytime and overnight station temperature records.
Large parts of the US have also been gripped by extensive heat waves.
“We need to broaden focus beyond maximum temperatures because the minimum temperature is most important for health and critical infrastructure,” said WMO extreme heat senior advisor John Nairn.
WMO pointed out that heatwaves are among the deadliest natural hazards with thousands of people dying from heat-related causes each year, while the full impact of a heatwave is often not known until weeks or months afterwards.
According to WMO, sea surface temperatures of the Mediterranean are set to be exceptionally high in the coming days and weeks, exceeding 30 degrees Celsius in some parts, and more than 4 degrees Celsius above average in a large part of the western Mediterranean.
WMO believes that the impacts of marine heatwaves include migration of species and extinctions, arrival of invasive species with consequences for fisheries and aquaculture.
A wildfire is seen in Riverside County of Southern California, the United States.(Xinhua/IANS)
Speaking at Friday’s press briefing, the WMO spokesperson also said that Canada is experiencing its worst wildfire season on record.
In Canada, record-breaking wildfires continue to burn big forest areas.
More than 650 wildfires were out of control as of July 24.
And earlier this week WMO said wildfires had forced evacuation of hundreds of residents and tourists on the Greek islands of Rhodes, Evia and Corfu since July 17.
The emissions of these wildfires have reached record levels.
Heavy rains and flooding also caused severe damage and loss of life in parts of the world.
India’s National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel during the rescue operation of people stuck in the flood-affected Rishi Colony area after heavy monsoon rains caused rapid rise in the water level of Badi Nadi river, in Patiala. (ANI Photo)
“As the planet warms, the expectation is that we will see more and more intense, more frequent, more severe rainfall events, leading also to more severe flooding,” said Stefan Uhlenbrook, director of hydrology, water and cryosphere at WMO.
WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas noted that “the extreme weather — an increasingly frequent occurrence in our warming climate — is having a major impact on human health, ecosystems, economies, agriculture, energy and water supplies”.
“This underlines the increasing urgency of cutting greenhouse gas emissions as quickly and as deeply as possible,” said Taalas.
The White House previously announced that the President Biden would make climate change and his environmental agenda a focus of his stops on Arizona tour.
US President Joe Biden is leaning toward designating a vast area near the Grand Canyon as a national monument to safeguard it from uranium mining, a media report said.
“Leaders of local tribes and environmentalists have spent years lobbying to protect areas near the park from potential uranium mining, which they say would threaten aquifers and water supplies,” Xinhua news agency quoted The Washington Post report as saying citing sources.
“They have asked Washington to double the protected area around the canyon by including 1.1 million acres of public lands in a Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument.”
According to the report, Biden will embark on a tour through Arizona next week.
The White House previously announced that the President would make climate change and his environmental agenda a focus of his stops on the tour.
Federal officials have started telling tribal and environmental groups to be available for a potential Grand Canyon announcement early next week, which would fall during Biden’s travel, said the report.
“No decisions have been made,” White House spokesman Abdullah Hasan said in an email.
“But I can tell you that President Biden has conserved more land and water in his first year than any president since JFK, and his climate protection record is unmatched.”
Uranium deposits sit deep within sandstone, siltstone, and mudstone layers across the US Southwest.
In the Grand Canyon region, uranium ore is found in geologic features called breccia pipes.
Uranium mining near Grand Canyon National Park began in the 1950s at Orphan Mine. At least eight uranium mines have operated near the park, including the active Canyon Mine.
Since 2012, a 20-year mineral withdrawal has blocked new efforts to mine uranium on 1 million acres of public lands surrounding the Grand Canyon.
But the relief is temporary.
As of May 2022, there were still nearly 600 mining claims on national forest and other public lands around the Grand Canyon.
The workshop aimed to discuss the role of early warning systems and raising awareness among communities exposed to risks…reports Asian Lite News
The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) hosted a workshop titled “Early Warning for All,” organiSed by the World Meteorological OrganiSation in partnership with local authorities, at its headquarters in Abu Dhabi.
The workshop aimed to discuss the role of early warning systems in contributing to the goals of the World Meteorological Organisation and raising awareness among communities exposed to risks.
The discussions in the workshop revolved around the significance of early warning systems in achieving the goals of the World Meteorological Organisation and the necessity of preparedness to face natural disasters. The workshop also addressed the objectives of providing early warning systems for everyone, regardless of location or financial capabilities, considering the increasing frequency of natural disasters and their adverse effects on humans and societies.
In his opening speech, Omar Alyazeedi, Deputy Director-General of NCM, representing Dr. Abdullah Ahmed Al Mandous, Director-General of NCM and President of the World Meteorological Organisation, emphasised the importance of preparedness and collaboration to achieve the objectives of this initiative and enhance early warning systems. He also stressed the significance of strengthening strategic partnerships to improve preparedness for climate change and develop innovative solutions to address its consequences.
He added, “The workshop reflects the commitment of the UAE to achieve the goals of the United Nations’ programme for reducing the risks of natural disasters and enhancing our efforts in building strategic partnerships to strengthen early warning systems and harness data for innovative solutions that mitigate the impacts of climate change. The pivotal role of the UAE in protecting everyone from various risks is evident through our approach to implementing early warning systems. The National Centre of Meteorology will serve as a SOFF peer advisor providing technical assistance and Leveraging UAE knowledge and expertise to the deep dive countries and beyond.”
Representatives from the Ministry of Interior, the National Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management Authority, Abu Dhabi City Municipality, as well as the University of the Emirates, Khalifa University, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the Ministry of Defense, the General Civil Aviation Authority, the National Guard, and Abu Dhabi Development Fund participated in the workshop. The UNDRR and the World Meteorological Organisation representatives briefed and moderated the workshop. Representatives from COP 28 official Team, IRENA, and the UAE UN Resident Coordinator office also joined the discussion.
It is worth mentioning that the “United Nations Early Warning for All” initiative has been officially recognised as the top priority of the World Meteorological Organisation since the end of 2027. It has garnered increasing attention from relevant meteorological authorities recently, as part of international efforts to address the consequences of climate change. This is in response to the call made by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, to establish early warning systems for all the world’s inhabitants within five years, by adopting an action plan during COP-27 to activate early warning systems for all and oversee their implementation. This includes ensuring the existence of political, technical, and financial solutions capable of accelerating the implementation process, looking for funding support to the Multi-Donor Trust funds like SOFF is also a crucial step in the same direction.
The Systematic Observation Financing Facility (SOFF) is an initiative launched by the World Meteorological Organisation in 2017 and funded by the World Bank. It aims to assist countries in collecting and using data to improve disaster risk management. The SOFF system provides technical support to countries to help them develop and implement strategies for collecting and using data related to disaster risks. It also conducts research on data for disaster risk management and disseminates knowledge about data for managing disaster risks.
After a recent meeting of G20 energy ministers, they faced a lack of progress in their negotiations as they were unable to reach a consensus on a roadmap to reduce fossil fuels’ presence in the global energy mix…reports Asian Lite News
China has responded to accusations of obstructing climate discussions among G20 environment ministers and expressed regret over the lack of consensus reached during the recent negotiations in India.
According to French ecological transition minister Christophe Bechu, discussions with China, Saudi Arabia, and Russia were challenging.
The Financial Times reported that China employed “wrecking tactics” to hinder debate. However, Beijing has denied these allegations, asserting that such reports do not align with the actual events.
In a statement, the foreign ministry maintained that the meeting yielded a positive and balanced outcome. However, some countries introduced geopolitical matters that ultimately led to the failure to adopt a communique.
After a recent meeting of G20 energy ministers, they faced a lack of progress in their negotiations as they were unable to reach a consensus on a roadmap to reduce fossil fuels’ presence in the global energy mix.
Earlier, China and Russia to support the G20 outcome document and Chair’s summary, which at the culmination of the 3rd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting at Gandhinagar, deplored “in strongest terms the aggression by Russia Federation against Ukraine”.
While China stated that the G20 FMCBG meeting was not the right forum to discuss geopolitical issues, Russia dissociated itself from the status of the document.
Beijing reports heaviest rain in 140 years as China denies sinking G20 climate talks https://t.co/fVCp3PkzjT
The outcome document deplored “in the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine and demands its complete and unconditional withdrawal from the territory of Ukraine. Most members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine and stressed that it is causing immense human suffering and exacerbating existing fragilities in the global economy constraining growth, increasing inflation, disrupting supply chains, heightening energy and food insecurity, and elevating financial stability risks”.
“The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible. The peaceful resolution of conflicts, efforts to address crises, as well as diplomacy and dialogue are vital. Today’s era must not be of war,” the outcome document reiterated.
Meanwhile on host of other issues, it looked forward to an ambitious replenishment of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) resources at the end of the year by IFAD members, to support IFAD’s fight against food insecurity.
The FMCBG welcomed the discussions on the potential macro-financial implications arising from the introduction and adoption of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), notably on cross-border payments as well as on the international monetary and financial system.
It re-emphasised the importance of addressing debt vulnerabilities in low and middle-income countries in an effective, comprehensive and systematic manner.
“… We welcome all efforts for timely resolution of the debt situation of Sri Lanka, including the formation of the official creditor committee, and we call for the resolution as soon as possible,” it said.
The G20 FMCBG reaffirmed the commitment made by developed countries to the goal of mobilising jointly $100 billion climate finance per year by 2020, and annually through 2025, to address the needs of developing countries, in the context of meaningful mitigation action and transparency in implementation.
“Developed country- contributors expect this goal to be met for the first time in 2023. In this context, we also support continued deliberations on an ambitious new collective quantified goal of climate finance from a floor of $100 billion per year to support developing countries, that helps in fulfilling the objective of the UNFCCC and implementation of the Paris Agreement,” the outcome document said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, alongside India’s leadership and initiatives, exemplified dedication to environmental conservation and prosperity…reports Mahdeep
The two-day G20 policy workshop on the Green and Sustainable Growth Agenda for the Global Economy, held in New Delhi, marked a pivotal moment in environmental progress.
It was organised by NITI Aayog, in collaboration with IDRC and GDN, the workshop brought together over 40 global experts from diverse fields. It served as a side event of the G20 and delved into crucial themes of green growth, energy, climate, technology, and policy, among others.
The gathering generated valuable recommendations for green and sustainable growth, emphasizing a resolute commitment to a greener future.
Concurrently, the 4th and last ECSWG and Ministers meeting was held in Chennai that highlighted significant achievements while acknowledging the urgent challenges that demand global attention.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, alongside India’s leadership and initiatives, exemplified dedication to environmental conservation and prosperity.
As the G20 reaffirmed its commitment to climate action and the Paris Agreement, some areas remained unresolved, necessitating focused efforts at the upcoming COP28 talks to drive tangible progress.
A two-day G20 policy workshop on the Green and Sustainable Growth Agenda for the Global Economy was held on July 28-29 in New Delhi. It was organised by NITI Aayog in collaboration with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Ottawa, and the Global Development Network (GDN), New Delhi, to discuss the prospects and challenges of green and sustainable growth on a global scale.
The workshop was a side event of G20 that covered various themes related to green growth, energy, climate, technology, policy, employment, multilateralism as well as adjustment, resilience and inclusion in an uncertain world, etc. The two-day policy workshop was attended by more than 40 global experts from diverse fields.
NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Suman Bery emphatically asserted that the goal of achieving a green transition aligns with the larger objective of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
NITI Aayog will convene a two-day #G20 conference on the Green and Sustainable Growth Agenda for the Global Economy in New Delhi tomorrow.
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) July 27, 2023
The discussions during this policy workshop have generated several important suggestions and recommendations for green and sustainable growth. Bery observed that NITI Aayog will pursue some of these through various fora. With unwavering dedication, they endeavour to propel the global economy towards a future defined by environmental resilience and prosperity.
The G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant observed that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and climate action needs an investment of about five to six trillion dollars. This in turn is likely to throw up business opportunities of about 90 trillion dollars.
Referring to the Indian Prime Minister Modi’s vision of achieving the Net Zero target by 2070, Kant observed that India will play a key role in green growth and sustainable development. B.V. R. Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog, underlined the institution’s commitment to a fundamental role in creating ecosystems that facilitate the adoption of frontier technologies.
At about the same time, the 4th and conclusive Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) and Environment and Climate Ministers meeting, took place in Chennai.
The meet saw the consensual adoption of an Outcome document, the Chennai High Level Principles for a Sustainable and Resilient Blue/Ocean-based Economy.
It will be submitted to the Leaders for their consideration to be appended to the G20 New Delhi Leader’s Declaration 2023. This milestone underscores a steadfast commitment to nurturing a sustainable and resilient blue economy, resonating profoundly with environmentalists worldwide.
Shri Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change presided over the Ministerial meeting and commanded the attendance of 41 Ministers or their deputies from the various nations.
They highlighted significant achievements and key takeaways centered around the priority areas under the Environment and Climate track: Land and Biodiversity, Blue Economy, the judicious management of Water Resources, and the transformative potential of the Circular Economy.
The meeting was animated by proactive engagement from over 225 delegates representing G20 member countries, invitee countries and heads and representatives of 23 International organizations including UNEP, UNFCC, COP28 and UNCCD. Their interventions revolved around critical challenges pertaining to concerns about climate and environment which call for urgent global attention.
In his video message to the delegates and ministers participating in the meeting, Indian
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressed his confidence in the G20 countries joining hands to tackle the climate and environmental challenges in a holistic way. Commending the achievements of the priority areas under the ECSWG, he lauded the efforts in restoring priority landscapes impacted by forest fires and mining through the Gandhinagar Information Platform and Gandhinagar Implementation Roadmap.
He also commended the dedication to wildlife conservation manifest in the recent launch of the International Big Cat Alliance. Highlighting India’s initiatives being powered by people’s participation, Modi cited the example of Mission Amrit Sarovar, a unique water conservation initiative under which more than sixty-three thousand water bodies have been created.
The leaders acknowledged India’s Presidency for efforts in developing the compendiums of best practices in water management, mining-affected areas, and forest fire-impacted areas, and for conducting a technical study on ‘Accelerating the transition to a sustainable and resilient blue economy’, and preparing technical documents on significant topics such as Knowledge Exchange on Circular Economy in Steel Sector, Extended Producer Responsibility and Circular Bioeconomy. India has also prepared the Gandhinagar Implementation Roadmap and Gandhinagar Implementation Framework for voluntary adoption by G20 members.
Addressing a Press Conference following the Ministerial meeting Bhupender Yadav noted with satisfaction that the Environment Climate and Sustainability Working Group had arrived at a high degree of consensus towards addressing the critical pillars of environment and sustainability. The ECSWG’s journey under India’s Presidency concluded with the adoption of the Chair’s Summary and Outcome Documents.
Yadav also highlighted the successful Mega Beach Clean Up Event at Juhu in Mumbai, with participation from 20 countries and 37 Indian beaches spanning coastal states and Union Territories. The event aimed to raise awareness and sensitize people in line with the
Indian Ministers’ message of ‘Swachhta’ (cleanliness) and ‘Jan Bhagidari’ (Community participation). He further emphasized the unique concept of ‘Lifestyle for Environment’ (LiFE) and the crucial role of individual actions in combatting marine pollution.
The launch of an industry-led Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Industry Coalition (RECEIC) was another significant intervention under India’s G20 Presidency. The coalition was launched by minister Yadav in the presence of the Commissioner from EU and Ministers from France, Canada, Italy, Denmark, Mauritius and the UAE. The G20 Ministers also called for the G20 Resource Efficiency dialogue to engage with RECEIC and leverage synergies.
The goal of achieving green transition goes hand-in-hand with the larger goal of becoming Viksit Bharat by 2047: @suman_bery, VC NITI Aayog
NITI Aayog concludes 2-day #G20 conference on ‘A Green and Sustainable Growth Agenda for the Global Economy’ at New Delhi.
India’s G20 Presidency released one outcome document and two Presidency Documents under the theme of Blue Economy. Four Presidency Documents and Compendiums of Best Practices under the theme of Land and Biodiversity and Water resources management were released. There are four more Presidency Documents under the theme of Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy.
G20 countries reaffirmed their resolve to tackle climate change and ambitious action across all pillars of the Paris Agreement. Themes like ecological restoration, marine spatial planning, and circular economy were addressed for the first time in the G20 discussions in detail.
However, the Chennai meet saw some challenges in reaching a consensus on various environmental goals, such as renewable energy, fossil fuel reduction, energy efficiency improvement, and GHG emissions peaking by 2025.
Despite the presence of climate and energy ministers from all G20 nations, along with US special climate envoy John Kerry and COP28 president-designate Sultan Al-Jaber, significant progress on these issues remained elusive. Now, the focus shifts to the upcoming COP28 talks this winter, where tangible strides towards addressing these concerns can be achieved.
About 45,000 people in 13 districts in Beijing were severely affected and 127,000 were evacuated…reports Asian Lite News
Eleven people were killed and 27 others were missing as of Tuesday morning due to flooding in Beijing caused due to typhoon Doksuri that resulted in heavy rains, China-based Global Times reported. Among these, two died in the line of duty.
About 45,000 people in 13 districts in Beijing were severely affected and 127,000 were evacuated. According to municipal authorities, economic losses are being calculated. The rainstorm lashed western, southern and southwestern Beijing the hardest since July 29. As of Tuesday morning, the average precipitation was recorded at 257.9mm. Suburban Mentougou and Fangshang districts witnessed precipitation of 470.2mm and 414.6mm, Global Times reported.
The rainfall intensity has so far reached above the level of July 21, 2012, when 79 people were killed in Beijing. The peak rainfall reached above 700mm at two weather stations. Meanwhile, the peak rainfall in 2012 was recorded at 541mm.
Some trains passing through Beijing West Station and Fengtai Station have been suspended. The power and telecommunication have not restarted in the Mentougou district, according to Global Times report.
The authorities in Beijing are intensifying their efforts in disaster relief by using People’s Liberation Army (PLA) helicopters to airdrop essential supplies and shift stranded citizens.
Beijing is also working in cooperation with neighbouring Tianjin Municipality and Hebei Province in flood control by discharging floodwaters into available reservoirs, Global Times reported.
On Tuesday morning, four PLA ground force helicopters airdropped 1,900 relief supply packages to the stranded residents. On Monday night, a brigade under the PLA 81st Group Army completed material loading and flight preparation overnight and converted transport helicopters to install medical equipment to facilitate the shifting of injured people.
Around 5 am (local time) on Tuesday, the four helicopters carrying 26 PLA soldiers flew to Yanhecheng Railway Station in Mentougou and other areas to distribute relief supplies and shift patients. As many as 1,900 food packages, 900 raincoats, 700 blankets and other emergency supplies were dispatched in batches for stranded citizens.
According to the city’s meteorological authorities, from 8 pm (local time) on Saturday to 1 pm (local time) Sunday, the city’s average accumulated rainfall was 176.9 mm, with Mentougou’s accumulated rainfall averaging 322.1 mm.
On Monday, the Municipal Flood Control Office reminded people that rainfall is forecast to continue for Monday and Tuesday, Global Times reported. It further said that the city is in the level-I response for flooding risk. The authorities asked the people of Beijing to stay indoors and avoid activities in mountainous areas, rivers, and areas of potential geologic hazards. (ANI)
