LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh government showcased achievements, innovations and initiatives made by it to address the issue of climate change at the Sharm El-Sheikh CoP 27 in which minister of state for environment, forest and climate change (independent charge) Ak Saxena and chief secretary Durga Shankar Mishra participated along with other officials through video conferencing on Friday.
Minister AK Saxena highlighted the vision of the state government on environment and climate change and echoed the sentiments expressed by the Prime Minister and the chief minister on empowering people and making climate change a mass movement.
Chief secretary DS Mishra, on the other hand, talked about the major achievements made by the state to tackle the issues related to climate change and highlighted the flagship schemes that the state government, with the help of the central government, has implemented and taking forward programmes like National Clean Air Programme, Amrit Mission, Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission, Amrit Sarovar and others.
The achievements and efforts made by the state government include a detailed climate action plan, roadmap to empower communities to address climate change, reducing waste, village level adaptation and mitigation projects and eliminating the use of single use plastic besides other similar actions.
The two also released a short audio-visual film on the occasion to showcase how UP has given top priority to mitigating the impact of climate change. The film was appreciated by the audience.
ACS, Environment, Manoj Singh made a presentation on the state's second Climate Action Plan which is in line with India's updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).
Secretary, Environment, Ashish Tiwari gave a detailed presentation on various key and iconic events and campaigns that the UP government has undertaken in the recent past, ranging from conference of panchayats to the RACE campaign to the annual climate change conclave, 2021.
The entire administration of UP welcomed the international community to come to the state and explore meaningful and productive partnership towards addressing climate change.
A panel discussion was also held. Director, TERI, JV Sharma made a presentation on the learnings of a pilot project on carbon finance for strengthening livelihood through agroforestry that TERI has implemented in partnership with the department of environment, forest and climate change.
Christoph Wolf, executive director, Smart Freight Centre, appreciated the efforts made by the UP government in scaling up electric vehicles. He said that UP is number 1 in India in terms of EV sales and adoption. He expressed his desire to work in UP in promoting zero vehicle freight too.
To showcase its efforts at the international level, UP government was invited by the union Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change to host side events and to be part of India Pavilion at Sharm El-Sheikh CoP 27, being held between November 6 to November 18.
The state government, in the side event, presented the efforts it has made to bring climate change mitigation and sustainable development goals into the mainstream of development while it has already set a target of becoming a one trillion economy.
The partner organizations, like GIZ, Vasudha Foundation, GEAG and international experts such as Bloomberg Philanthropies, Children Investment Fund Foundation, Smart Freight Centre and others, working in collaboration with the department of environment, forest and climate change in the state on various projects also participated in the side event.
