Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

[ ] 20 In the year when another important and high-profile global event on environment, Rio+20, was held, the COP-11 decision on resource mobilization was widely hailed as a more significant outcome attributed to India’s leadership, than even Rio+20. The UN General Assembly too, in its 67th session, adopted a resolution with extensive reference to the significant outcomes of COP–11. Continuing to guide and steer the process post-COP–11 during her two-year Presidency, India was instrumental in achievement of the first Aichi biodiversity target (Target 16) by expediting the requisite number of ratifications of the Nagoya Protocol by June 2014, much before the target date of 2015. Recognizing the stellar leadership role played by India in facilitating entry into force of the Nagoya Protocol, India was invited to preside over its historic first Meeting of Parties held concurrently with COP–12 in Pyeongchang in October 2014. Taking further lead towards operationalization of the Nagoya Protocol, India became the first country to publish an Internationally Recognised Certificate of Compliance under the Protocol in October 2014, and continues to be way ahead of other countries on the matter to date. In respect of another Aichi target 11, India with over 20 per cent of its geographical area under biodiversity conservation, has surpassed the global target of 17 per cent of terrestrial area based conservation. For the first time by any host country, India has brought out pictorial books titled ‘ Hosting of COP–11 by India: A Pictorial Presentation ’, and ‘ A Panoramic view of India’s Presidency of COP to CBD 2012–2014 ’. As one of the few countries where forest cover is on the rise, India, under the able leadership of Prime Minister Mr. Modi, has embarked upon ambitious actions in areas of afforestation, low carbon strategies, energy efficiency, planned urban development, adaptation, marine and coastal ecosystems, and the Himalayan Region. Some recent path-breaking initiatives taken by India in this regard include: anchoring the International Solar Alliance, 2030 Nationally Determined Contribu- tions including through creating a carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equiv- alent by 2030; voluntarily reducing the emissions intensity of GDP by 20 to 25 per cent over 2005 levels by 2020; the Namami Gange Initiative for revival of the river Ganga; ensuring ‘more crop per drop’ in agriculture; working towards electrifying every household; launch of world’s largest govern- ment-funded health scheme; a plan to draw 175 gigawatts of energy from renewable sources by 2022; and introducing a Soil Health Card scheme for enhancing agricultural production in a sustainable manner. All of these innovative initiatives contribute significantly to biodiversity enhancement. The lasting legacy of COP–11 thus continues, not only in the form of a commemorative Pylon and Botanic Garden in Hyderabad, and the adoption of the COP–11 logo and slogan as the new logo and slogan of my Ministry (‘Prakriti rakshati rakshita’ in Sanskrit, meaning ‘Nature Protects if She is Protected’); but more importantly, through pursuing our traditional practices for a sustainable lifestyle. Not surprisingly, National Geographic’s Greendex Report of 2014, that assesses environmental sustainability of consumer choice, ranked India at the top for its greenest consumption pattern, which is a testimony to India’s culture and ethos of living in complete harmony with nature. Dr. Harsh Vardhan Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India