The opening side-event at the India Pavilion at the ongoing Conference of Parties (COP 22) in Marrakech, Morocco, initiated a lively discussion on Sustainable Lifestyles and Climate Justice. Speaking after the inauguration of the Pavilion in Marrakech yesterday, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Mr. Anil Madhav Dave, shared his thoughts on the importance of adopting Sustainable practices and termed it as the way forward to battle Climate Change. The India Pavilion registered a heavy footfall, following the opening address by the Minister and the eye-catching LED display screens, Visual Book Projection and Aqua Curtains kept the visitors coming to the Pavilion, informed and engaged.The theme of the first session held in Marrakesh yesterday was, “Sustainable Lifestyles and Climate Justice”. The session discussed the various factors that go into developing and evolving a sustainable lifestyle. The discussion also focused on how education had a major transformative role to play. This would involve not just formal education, but also non-formal and in-formal education. The session concluded that more evidence of the role education played in achieving climate change adaptation and mitigation was needed.
Director, Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Mr. Kartikeya Sarabhai, mentioned how it was largely due to the efforts of the Prime Minister of India that lifestyle was included in the Charter of the Paris Agreement, 2015. Ms. Adriana Valenzuela, UNFCCC, pointed out how guidelines had been developed for Article 6 focal points, (on education, public awareness and empowerment) and will be launched during the current COP at Marrakech. Representatives from The Energy Resource Institute (TERI), Mr. Sanjay Seth and Ms. Swati Agarwal, spoke of how most of India’s infrastructure is yet to be built and how issues of lifestyle can be integrated in the new developments. Mr. Alan Reid of Global Environment Education Partnership (GEEP) spoke of how education also needs to focus on values and a larger world view. Ms. Vijeta Rattani from Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), shared data on consumption pattern in the USA and how it was grossly wasteful and many times that of developing countries.The event, organized by CEE, included participants from TERI, CSE, UNFCCC and GEEP.
Another side-event held yesterday was Session 2: “Climate Change Adaptation Actions in India” at the India pavilion at COP-22. This session served as an important platform to deliberate on the lessons that have been learnt so far in terms of adaptation, planning, prioritization and implementation under national and international funding mechanisms. It also discussed the challenges being faced in terms of stakeholder engagement, technical and capacity building support and scaling-up of adaptation.The panel deliberated on sharing of national and international perspectives on Adaptation Actions, development of synergy of national and international funding mechanism for adaptation action in India and at the global level. Evolving a strategy for mainstreaming of adaptation action in development planning was also emphasised during the session.
Addressing the gathering, Special Secretary Mr R R Rashmi, spoke of the National Action Plans and the State Action Plans. He emphasised the importance of Adaptation and said that 5 out of the 8 National Missions are exclusively devoted to Adaptation. He also pointed out to the successful preparation of State Action Plan on Climate Change, in line with the objectives of National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).The panelists for the side-event represented stakeholders’ responsible action in India and include - Special Secretary, MoEFCC, Mr. R. R. Rashmi, Deputy Managing Director, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Mr. H.R. Dave, Ms. Young Lee, Adaptation Fund, Washington DC, Director - Environment & Climate Change, Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ-India), Ms. Sabine Preuss, and Mr. Nambi Appadurai of World Resources Institute (WRI) – India.