India takes over COP Presidency from China for next two years

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) Prakash Javadekar and Executive Secretary, UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Ibrahim Thiaw, on September 2, 2019, jointly inaugurated the 12- day 14^th Conference of Parties (COP14) to UNCCD at India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida.

Addressing the Inaugural session of the Conference, the Environment Minister who is also the elected COP President for next two years, expressed India’s resounding commitment to finding a long-term solution for minimising the impact of desertification and land degradation.

“ This year, India being the global host for COP 14 will take over the COP Presidency from China for the next two years till 2021. India is privileged to be among the select few countries to have hosted the COP of all three Rio conventions on climate change, biodiversity and land. Through hosting COP 14, India will highlight its leadership in navigating the land management agenda at global level. It will also provide a stage to mainstream sustainable land management in country’s national development policies,” said Javadekar, according to a PIB release.

Highlighting the importance of mobilisation at the grassroots and strong policies in place, Javadekar stressed on how the Government is playing a key role to find and deliver solutions. Acknowledging the importance of holding an International Conference of this nature, the Environment Minister said, “The key outcomes of COP 14 will facilitate in delivering convergence and synergies among the existing programmes in the field of agriculture, forestry, land, water management and poverty alleviation, which will cater the need to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and focused vision of our  Prime Minister’s agenda of “Doubling the Farmer’s Income by 2022.”

Speaking on the occasion,  Ibrahim Thiaw said, “For the next two weeks we are over six thousand tasked with making life better for the 3 and half billion affected by the degradation of three quarters of our land.”

Giving the Host country statement, MoS, MoEF&CC,  Babul Supriyo said, “India has been proactive in combating land degradation, desertification and drought. We have added more than 15,000 Sq km of tree cover inside and outside forest areas in last 5 years, which is a big success in land restoration.”

The opening session of the High Level Segment (HLS) on September9,  2019, will be inaugurated byPM Narendra Modi who will address the august gathering comprising Deputy Secretary General United Nations, Executive Secretary UNCCD, President of the COP, Head of States, Environment Ministers and Heads of delegation from 197 Country Parties.