India should develop on agricultural and infrastructure improvement. If not deliberate and executed with care, this enlargement can additional exacerbate current challenges of deforestation, air air pollution and plastic air pollution | consultant picture
| Photo Credit: MUSTAFAH KK
As the world’s most populous nation and one of many quickest rising economies, India has immense human resources. However, making certain meals and water safety for over 1.4 billion folks will imply each agricultural enlargement and infrastructure improvement. If not deliberate and executed with care, this enlargement can additional exacerbate current challenges of deforestation, air air pollution and plastic air pollution which might have vital implications for endangered species, habitats, and key terrestrial and marine ecosystems, stated Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD).
The UAE has gained the bid to host the World Conservation Congress of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2025 in Abu Dhabi. Slated to be held in Abu Dhabi in October, 2025, it’s anticipated to convey an estimated 10,000-15,000 delegates from over 160 nations throughout the globe and is hoping to be an occasion which may galvanise conservation actions to guard the planet amid native and world challenges.
India’s position
In an interview with The Hindu, Ms. Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of EAD, which submitted the bid on behalf of Abu Dhabi and the UAE authorities, spoke about what the Congress expects to realize, what it means for the Middle East, and India’s position in it.
“India can help shape the agenda of the Congress to achieve positive outcomes for biodiversity and environment. India has been an IUCN member since 1969 with two of the former IUCN Presidents coming from India. India has significant presence in the IUCN and has a National Committee with over 30 members representing governments, non-government organisations and civil societies. It is this diverse membership, which brings extensive knowledge and expertise, from policy making to natural resources management to livelihood and food security, that will further enrich the Congress discussions,” she stated.
Listing the challenges confronted by India, she identified that addressing them will depend upon discovering modern options, integrating better of the knowledge, communication, and space applied sciences. “India, with its enormous technology infrastructure, vast pool of skilled IT resources and advanced space programme, is well equipped to deal with them and demonstrate its leadership to the world. India can also play an equally important role in climate related discussion, especially as the country grapples with challenges of air pollution in some of its biggest metropolitan cities. Much will depend on synergies between country’s energy and environment policies,” she added.
Theme to be determined
Though the IUCN is but to resolve on the themes for the 2025 Congress, she stated the Congress is prone to concentrate on key issues and challenges associated to biodiversity, local weather change, air pollution, and total environmental sustainability. A big a part of the deliberations would additionally revolve round methods and mechanism for delivering on the Global Biodiversity Framework, she added.
“The challenges of biodiversity loss remain our most pressing concern and an immediate challenge too. It is critical that the Congress identifies clear directions for implementing actions under the KM Global Biodiversity framework, to stop and reverse biodiversity loss and to restore nature through its 23 targets over the next decade. As the IUCN Congress will take place within a years’ time from the Climate COP28 in the UAE, it will provide an ideal opportunity to take forward discussions and actions from the COP and ensure integration of climate goals and actions into resolutions coming out of the IUCN Congress,” she defined.
Finding long-term finance for species conservation and significantly for ecosystem restoration will likely be an enormous problem and that is one thing that the world must concentrate on. From local weather change standpoint, transition to wash power and creating infrastructure and providers to realize NetZero ambitions can even be a major problem, she added.
About what internet hosting the Congress means to the Middle East, she stated it could be returning to the area after a spot of 25 years because the final Congress held within the area was in Amman in 2000. “Bringing the Congress after such a long gap is important for the Middle East region and will bring the regional conservation issues at the forefront, besides showcasing achievements and progress the region has made despite enormous environmental and geopolitical challenges. The 2025 Congress in Abu Dhabi will also be important for the South and South-East Asia region as well,” she stated.
