New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the 14th Conference of Parties (COP14) to United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Greater Noida on Monday. PM Modi will lay out plans to combat the phenomenon that is a threat to climate. Prakash Javadekar, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, is two-year term as the president of the COP.
India is hosting the 14th Conference of Parties (COP) at India Expo Mart Limited in Greater Noida. As many as 197 countries are expected to participate in the conference. The 14th session of COP will stress on three crucial issues- desertification, land degradation and drought.
Speaking ahead of the key convention, the Executive Secretary of UNCCD, Ibrahim Thiaw, said "good announcement" is expected from PM Narendra Modi on what India wants to do to fight desertification at the meeting.
"The Prime Minister is expected to make his statement on Monday. I cannot tell you more. Please stay tuned. The Prime Minister will make his announcement. We are expecting a good announcement there," Thiaw was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Thiaw said "there is a big ambition that India has that they will address after the COP as part of their legacy to this entire process."
Ibrahim Thiaw said he expected the meeting to adopt a Delhi Declaration on combating desertification that will contribute to the Climate Action Summit in September.
I would like to announce that India would raise its ambition of the total area that would be restored from its land degradation status, from 21 million hectares to 26 million hectares between now and 2030: PM Modi
It would make you happy that India has been able to increase its tree cover. Between 2015 to 2017, India’s tree and forest cover has increased by 0.8 million hectares: PM Modi
My government has announced that India will put an end to single use plastic in the coming years. I believe the time has come for even the world to say good-bye to single use plastic: PM Modi
When we address degraded lands, we also address water scarcity. Augmenting water supply, enhancing water recharge, slowing down water run-off and retaining moisture in the soil are all parts of a holistic land and water strategy: PM Modi
Climate and environment impact both biodiversity and land. It's widely accepted that world is facing negative impact of climate change. It is also leading to land degradation be it due to rise in sea levels, wave action, erratic rainfall, storms and sand storms caused by hot temperatures: PM Modi
India looks forward to making an effective contribution as we take over the COP Presidency for a two-year term: PM Modi
Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves is also present at the event.
Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar is currently speaking at the 14th Conference of Parties.
