IRIS – Central News Hub

Modi, Johnson Launch IRIS initiative in Glasgow

PM Modi said that the launch of Infrastructure for the Resilient Island States fills us with new hope and beliefs and gives us satisfaction to do something for the most vulnerable nations, reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson on Tuesday launched the initiative Infrastructure for the Resilient Island States (IRIS) at the 26th session of the Conference of Parties (COP26) in Glasgow.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the launch of Infrastructure for the Resilient Island States fills us with new hope and beliefs and gives us satisfaction to do something for the most vulnerable nations.

Launching the IRIS initiative at the 26th session of the Conference of Parties (COP26), along with his British counterpart Boris Johnson, PM Modi said, “The launch of Infrastructure for the Resilient Island States fills us with new hope and beliefs. This gives us the satisfaction to do something for the most vulnerable nations.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the COP26 Summit (Image: PIB)

Speaking about the impact of climate change on the world, PM Modi said, “The past few decades have proven that nobody remains untouched by effects of climate change. Be it developed nations or nations that are rich in natural resources. It’s a huge threat.”

“Small Island Developing States are most threatened with climate change. For them, it is a matter of life and death, a challenge to their existence. Calamities due to climate change can become devastating for them. It is not only a challenge for their lives but also for their economy,” he added.

The Infrastructure for the Resilient Island State (IRIS) is an initiative to boost the infrastructure in small island countries.

PM Modi reached Glasgow on Sunday to participate in the COP26 summit.

The Prime Minister also held bilateral meetings with leaders of Ukraine, Nepal, Israel, Switzerland, Finland, Malawi in Glasgow, Scotland and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

On Monday, PM Modi met Boris Johnson on the sidelines of COP26. He stated that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has accepted PM Modi’s invitation to visit India saying that he would plan his visit as soon as the circumstances allow.

He also met members of the Indian community in Glasgow to strengthen people-to-people bonds between the two countries ahead of his participation in the 26th session of the Conference of Parties (COP26).

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi meeting with Bill Gates, in Glasgow, Scotland on November 02, 2021.

The COP26 is taking place under the Presidency of the UK partnering with Italy. The high-level segment of COP-26 is titled the World Leaders’ Summit (WLS) and the Summit has participation by heads of State/Government of over 120 countries. The Prime Minister is on a two-day visit to participate in the event. (ANI)

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi meeting the President of Ukraine, Mr. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in Glasgow, Scotland on November 02, 2021.

India, UK, Australia to launch new group IRIS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is expected to be in Glasgow for the United Nations climate change conference for two days, is likely to launch IRIS…reports Asian Lite News.

Britain, along with Australia, India and small island developing states (SIDS) will be launching a new grouping of Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) on the sidelines of the upcoming Conference of Parties (COP26).

The platform is aimed at creating a coalition for putting in place infrastructure that can withstand natural disasters and lessen economic losses in island nations.

Australia, India and the UK have committed an initial funding of $10 million for IRIS. “More countries, including Japan, are expected to contribute to the initiative. IRIS is currently at the inception stage and resources will be aligned to the requirement of projects,” said Kamal Kishore, member, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is expected to be in Glasgow for the United Nations climate change conference for two days, is likely to launch IRIS. “We have to put the concerns of the most vulnerable nations and communities first. The Small Island Developing Nations experiencing the impacts of worsening disasters must have easy access to all the technology, knowledge and assistance that they consider necessary,” Modi had said at an event in New Delhi.

For SIDS, losses from disaster, including infrastructure, is the highest as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP). “These countries need critical infrastructure to be connected to each other to have access to the market. The idea is to support the planning process, build capacity as well as infrastructure in an inclusive way that meets the needs of user groups,” said Kishore. “We are receiving requests to support country-level work in Fiji and Mauritius,” he added.

SIDS, comprising 58 countries in the Caribbean, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and South China Sea regions, are among the most vulnerable to geophysical and hydro-meteorological hazards. The impact of climate change in the form of tsunamis, cyclones, earthquakes and heavy rains are more frequent and intense in many of these countries. Susceptibility to very high relative economic losses due to disasters averages 1-10 per cent of GDP annually.

SIDS accounts for two-thirds of the countries that suffer the highest relative losses due to disasters. According to the Asian Development Bank and Inter-American Development Bank, infrastructure investment deficit in the Pacific and the Caribbean SIDS is $42 billion and $46 billion, respectively, over a period of 2015-2040.

Kishore, also the Indian co-chair, executive committee, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, said 78 rounds of consultations were held among SIDS with focus on peer-to-peer learning. These include one on building codes more resistant to natural disasters and making available technical and institutional capacities.

ALSO READ-Australia, UK defend AUKUS pact, say fears overhyped