Road to COP of UNFCCC: Global Initiatives by India, G-7 and G-20
The two-day refresher course for Forest Service Officers nominated by the Environment Ministry aims to sensitise them on various initiatives taken by India to meet its voluntary commitments taken at COP 21 in Paris, 2015 to create additional carbon sink equivalent to 2.5–3.0 billion tonne CO2e by 2030 through additional forest and tree covers.
On 29 - 30 September 2021, 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM IST
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is organizing a two-day online refresher training course for the Indian Forest Service officers nominated by MoEF&CC on the theme “Road to COP of UNFCCC: Global initiatives by India, G-7 and G-20”. The programme objective is to sensitize the participants on various initiatives taken by India to meet its voluntary commitments taken at COP 21 in Paris, 2015 to create additional carbon sink equivalent to 2.5–3.0 billion tonne CO2e by 2030 through additional forest and tree covers.
The major goals of Paris summit are securing global net zero carbon by mid-century and keep 1.5 degrees within reach. Countries are were expected to come forward with ambitious 2030 emissions reductions targets that align with reaching net zero by the middle of the century, and the nations must finalize the Paris Rulebook (the detailed rules that make the Paris Agreement operational) and accelerate action to tackle the climate crisis through collaboration between governments, businesses and civil society.
Further, a key outcome of the COP 21- initiation of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) - is also being spearheaded by India. The International Solar Alliance (ISA) has been conceived as a coalition of solar-resource-rich countries (which lie either completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn) to address their special energy needs. The ISA has 122 sun-belt countries that lie between the two tropics as its prospective member countries and currently boasts a membership of 86 countries globally. India with such initiatives is moving towards its goal of 45 per cent energy from zero carbon emission sources by 2030.
During G20's Climate and Energy Ministers' Meeting held in 2021, India stated that the pledge taken by some countries to achieve Net Zero GHG emissions or carbon Neutrality by or around mid-century may not be adequate in view of fast depleting available Carbon space. Therefore, and keeping in view, the legitimate need of developing countries to growth, they urged G20 countries to commit to bringing down per Capita emissions to Global average by 2030.
India was also an invited guest country in this year's G7 summit where it urged the G7 nations to keep their unfulfilled promise of setting aside $100 billion annually to finance mitigation and transfer of technology to developing countries to meet the challenges posed by climate change.
The upcoming COP 26 is going to be one of the most important climate summits since the landmark Paris Agreement. Currently, India's forest and tree covers is about 24.56% of its geographical area, and its efforts are directed at increasing the forest cover to at least 33% of its total area goal. A better understanding of possibilities, scale and road map on how to achieve this goal will help the IFS officers to take befitting administrative and management decisions. Also, through deliberations on issues and challenges during the course will also enrich their knowledge. The course will help build their capacity as top-level forestry professionals.