WORLD SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT 2021

WORLD SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT 2021

Recently, the World Sustainable Development Summit, the annual flagship event of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) was held. The theme of the 2021 Summit was ‘Redefining our common future: Safe and secure environment for all’. TERI is a non-profit research institute, established in 1974. It conducts research work in the fields of energy, environment and sustainable development for India and the Global South. The event was attended by the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar; President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana H.E. Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali; Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Honourable James Marape; Speaker of the People’s Majlis, Republic of Maldives Mohamed Nasheed and Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations Amina J Mohammed. The World Sustainable Development Summit will bring together a wide number of business leaders, governments, climate scientists, academicians, youth, and civil society in the fight against climate change. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, and the Ministry of Earth Sciences are the key partners of the Sustainable Development Summit.

PM MODI AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE SUMMIT

Prime Minister Modi at the inauguration of the World Sustainable Development Summit 2021 highlighted that global platforms like this are significant for our present and for the future. He added that two things that will define how the progress journey of humanity will unfold. First will be the health of the people and second will be the health of the planet. Global platforms like this are important for our present & our future. 2 things will define how progress journey of humanity will unfold in times to come. 1st, health of our people. 2nd, health of our planet. Both are inter-linked. While highlighting the health of the planet, Prime Minister mentioned that there have already been many discussions on the health of the people but today we have gathered here to talk and discuss the health of the planet.

There are already many ongoing discussions on improving people's health. We have gathered here to talk about the health of the planet. PM Modi in his address talked about climate change and mentioned that the road to fight this is only through Climate Justice and at the root of climate justice is the principle of being large-hearted. He added that Climate Justice is thinking about the bigger and long-term picture.

The road to fighting climate change is through climate justice. At the root of climate justice is the principle of being large-hearted. Climate justice is also about thinking of the bigger and long-term picture. Mentioning the impact of environmental changes and natural disasters on the poor, PM Modi explained that Climate Justice is inspired by the vision of trusteeship where the growth will come only with the greater compassion to the poorest.  The sad reality is, changes in the environment & natural disasters impact the poor the most. Climate justice is inspired by a vision of trusteeship where growth comes with greater compassion to the poorest. According to PM Modi, Climate Justice also means giving developing countries enough space to grow. When each and every one of us will understand our collective and individual duties, Climate Justice will be achieved. Climate justice also means giving developing countries enough space to grow. When each and every one of us understand our individual and collective duties, climate justice will be achieved: PM Narendra Modi at World Sustainable Development Summit 2021

KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SUMMIT

Emphasis on Climate Justice: “Climate justice” is a term and more than that a movement that acknowledges climate change can have differing social, economic, public health, and other adverse impacts on underprivileged populations. As per India, ‘climate justice’ is inspired by a vision of trusteeship - where growth comes with greater compassion to the poorest. It also means giving the developing countries enough space to grow.

Reassurance to Climate Mitigation Efforts: India reassured commitments to its targets under the Paris deal to reduce emissions intensity of GDP by 33 to 35 percent from 2005 levels. India’s steady progress on its commitment to Land Degradation Neutrality and setting up of 450 gigawatts of Renewable Energy generating capacity till 2030 was also highlighted. Initiatives of India under International Solar Alliance were also discussed.

Commitment to Enhancing Disaster Resilience: To enhance India’s disaster management capabilities, commitments to Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) were assured.

CDRI: A multi-stakeholder global partnership of country governments, UN agencies, multilateral banks, private sector and knowledge institutions that aims to build resilience into infrastructure systems to ensure sustainable development.

India's Efforts Towards Sustainable Development: In March 2019, India achieved nearly 100% electrification through sustainable technologies and innovative models. Through the Ujala Programme, 367 million LED bulbs were distributed which reduced over 38 million tonnes carbon dioxide per year. Through the PM Ujjwala Yojna, more than 80 million households below the poverty line have access to clean cooking fuel. India is working to increase the share of natural gas in India's energy basket from 6% to 15%.

The Jal Jeevan Mission has connected over 34 million households with tap connections in 18 months. Through conservation efforts, the population of lions, tigers, leopards and Gangetic river dolphins has gone up.

BACKGROUND OF THE SUMMIT

The World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) is the annual flagship event of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

It was earlier known as Delhi Sustainable Development Summit. It has been conceptualized as a single platform to accelerate action towards sustainable development and climate change. It aims to bring together global leaders and thinkers in the fields of sustainable development, energy and environment sectors on a common platform.

Post the signing of the Paris Agreement and the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals, the summit aims at providing long-term solutions for the benefits of the global community by bringing together various stakeholders on a single platform and taking a step in a direction of achieving constructive action in combating issues that are significant to the future of humanity.

Sustainable Development: "Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". This most widely accepted definition of Sustainable Development was given by the Brundtland Commission in its report ‘Our Common Future’ (1987).

Climate Change: It is a long-term change in the average weather patterns that have come to define Earth’s local, regional and global climates.

Climate data records provide evidence of climate change key indicators, such as global land and ocean temperature increases; rising sea levels; ice loss at Earth’s poles and in mountain glaciers; frequency and severity changes in extreme weather such as hurricanes, heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, floods and precipitation; and cloud and vegetation cover changes, to name but a few.

QUESTIONS (1-5)

Q.1 Recently, the World Sustainable Development Summit, which is the annual flagship event held on which of the following themes?

1. 'Attaining the 2030 Agenda: Delivering on our Promise'
2. ‘Redefining our common future: Safe and secure environment for all’: ANSWER
3. Opportunity to strengthen the role of health in sustainable development.
4. None of the above

Q.2 Consider the following statements and state which of the following is/are correct in the context of the above passage?

1. World Sustainable Development Summit, the annual flagship event was organized by TRAI.
2. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, and the Ministry of Earth Sciences are the key partners of the Sustainable Development Summit: ANSWER
3. World Sustainable Development Summit was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Science and Technology, Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Minister of Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan.
4. None of the above

Q.3 Which of the following National Missions on climate change was outlined by the Government of India launched National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)?

1. National Solar Mission
2. National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency
3. National Mission on Sustainable Habitat
4. All of the above: ANSWER

Q.4 Consider the following statements.

1. Through the Ujala Programme,more than 80 million households below the poverty line have access to clean cooking fuel.
2. Through the PM Ujjwala Yojna, 367 million LED bulbs were distributed which reduced over 38 million tonnes carbon dioxide per year.

1. Only I is correct
2. Only II is correct
3. Both I & II are correct
4. Both I & II are incorrect: ANSWER

Q.5 World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) is earlier known as which of the following?

1. Delhi Sustainable Development Summit: ANSWER
2. United Nations Sustainable Development Programme
3. Climate Adaptation Summit.
4. Environment Sustainability programme.