New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the issues of climate change, biodiversity and land degradation at the 14th Conference of Parties (COP14) to United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Greater Noida on Monday.
PM Modi touched upon various issues of climate change at the convention.
“Going forward, India would be happy to propose initiatives for greater South-South cooperation in addressing issues of climate change, biodiversity and land degradation,” PM Modi said.
“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 holistic land and water strategy,” he added.
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PM Modi further talked about water conservation and exclaimed government’s initiatives.
“I call upon the leadership of UNCCD to conceive a global water action agenda which is central to the Land Degradation Neutrality strategy. Today, I am reminded of India’s NDCs that were submitted at the Paris CoP of the UNFCCC. It highlighted India’s deep cultural roots of maintaining a healthy balance between land, water, air, trees and all living beings,” PM Modi said.
Prime Minister also emphasised on the need to plant more trees.
“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 have increased by point eight million hectares,” PM Modi said.
“I am happy to share that only last week, funds amounting to nearly six billion US dollars have been released to the provincial governments in lieu of such diversion for development of forest lands,” he added.
* My Government has launched a program to double the income of farmers by increasing crop yield through various measures. This includes land restoration and micro-irrigation.
Talking about single use plastic, PM Modi said ‘time has come to say good-bye to single-use plastic’.
“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 sadi.