UNEP is one of the foremost voices on the global stage to work on the cause of environment. It acts as a leader and encourages partnership in taking care of the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations as well as people to improve their quality of life, with a focus on not to compromise on the future of the generations to come. India has been engaged in working closely with the UNEP since 1972.
Bhupender Yadav, the Union Minister of Environment delivered a statement on the 50th session of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi on Friday. The Minister congratulated the United Nations Environment Programme for completing 50 years, during which it has provided extraordinary service to the world.
He stressed that UNEP’s 50th anniversary must strive to strengthen global cooperation and encourage joint action to address today’s major environmental issues, which includes climate change, conserving and enhancing biodiversity, and handling pollution and waste, while moving forward on the path of sustainability.
The minister further said that UNEP needs to tackle today’s environmental crisis using the latest science and cutting-edge digital tools and technologies. For achieve this, fostering global knowledge and technology exchange without barriers will play a crucial role.
The Minister noted that in 2018, when India had hosted the World Environment Day on the theme of ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’, the Prime Minister of India had raised a global call for putting an end to the single use plastics. This Indian call provided the momentum which has led to significant action and reduction in plastic pollution around the globe, which ended in a historic resolution and its adoption.
He said that on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, UNEP should start paying greater attention to the issue of the implementation. Support through finance, technology transfer and capacity building will go a long way in ensuring that the agreement implementation does not become a burden for the developing countries, instead paves the pathway to a greener and healthier planet.
UNEP must work on strengthening the international cooperation and should encourage collective actions so as to handle the major environmental challenges of our time.
Yadav further added that a sustainable lifestyle is the base for the survival of our planet. The resources utilization must be based on ‘Mindful and Deliberate Utilization’ and not on ‘Mindless and Destructive Consumption’. The minister said that UNEP should join hands with India to further outspread the Indian Prime Minister’s message of L.I.F.E. (Lifestyles for Environment), to the global community with an aim to safeguarding the humanity as well as the planet.
India is looking forward to stronger collaboration with UNEP on environmental issues, including the conventions and multilateral agreements relating to the environment. Yadav said that UNEP should also build a strong collection of projects, especially for delivering on the environmental dimensions of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, and other multilaterally agreed global environmental goals.
The Minister concluded his remarks, saying that India walks the talk and speaks from a position of strength and responsibility on biodiversity and climate change. It is because of this experience that India sends a message of hope and optimism that humanity and all nations together can strive together and meet these challenges.
