In an era marked by unprecedented environmental challenges, sustainability education has emerged as an effective tool in our battle against climate change. Being a multifaceted concept, it embodies a commitment to meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Children spending leisure reading time in a Green Campus Program - Pledged school Today, we are here with one of the pioneers, who has been championing her journey of creating zillions of smiles and positive impacts through sustainability education. She has bigger goals and unstoppable aspirations. Presenting Ms. Rekha Lalla, Lead – Green Campus Program, The Climate Project Foundation (India & South Asia branch of The Climate Reality Project). Rekha is a CII-certified expert in Climate Change and sustainability. She is a TEDx Speaker on Climate Change & sustainability. She comes with experience as an educator for 25+ years. Now she is crafting her experiences in leading the Green Campus Program. Let us get to know more about the Green Campus Program, which has created a stir in the sphere of climate change mitigation, climate action, and measurable impacts. And guess what? The major tool behind this is sustainability education. 1. Tell us about why and how Sustainability Education serves as an effective tool for mitigating the issues and effects of the climate crisis. “Sustainability education improves people’s ability to assimilate information, calculate risks, prepare for climate crises, and recover from their effects,” Rekha remarked. She further explains that it equips individuals, communities, and societies with the knowledge, values, and skills necessary to address the complex environmental challenges we face. It contributes to creating a sustainable future by fostering awareness; promoting informed decision-making (by empowering people to make environmentally conscious choices further encouraging sustainable lifestyles); encouraging innovative solutions; building resilience; adapting resource-efficient ways and more. Climate change is a multidisciplinary challenge. Sustainability education integrates knowledge from various fields, including science, economics, social sciences, and ethics, to provide a holistic understanding of climate-related issues. At The Climate Project Foundation, one of our flagship projects is the Green Campus Program, which primarily works on the principles of sustainability and climate change education, and majorly aligns with SDG 13 and 4.7. Sustainability education is a powerful catalyst in the global battle against climate change that drives our revolutionary program! 2. Tell us more about the Green Campus Program. What is its process? Green Campus Program enables schools and colleges to conserve natural resources like water and biodiversity, optimize energy efficiency, manage waste, and educate about climate change and sustainability while addressing the well-being of the students as compared to conventional educational institutes. Those educational institutions pledged for this transformative journey, not only decrease water waste but may also contribute to enriching water reserves, preserving natural resources, defending biodiversity, and enhancing air and water quality. It has a three-pronged approach: Stage 1 - Awareness: We generate awareness through the Principals’ Conclave attended by Principals, Deans, and HODs of the educational institutions, followed by the Teachers’ Training Program which is attended by the teachers. Simagesome of the interactive workshops & sessions with the educators - Keep Clicking on the Slider to View Images Stage 2 - Action: The institutions registered for the Green Campus Program work on 5 thrust Areas – Air and Health, Water Management, Waste Management, and Energy Efficiency with constant guidance and support by our team, followed by an audit. Here is a quick glimpse of the initiatives undertaken by different schools and colleges. You will find an anthology of amazing interventions, each speaking a beautiful story on conserving energy & water, and making resource-efficient campus through installations of LED lights, Solar Panels, Wastewater treatment, Rainwater Harvesting, Farming - vegetable, herbal and butterfly gardens, Vertical Green walls, Waste segregation, Composting, Reuse of wastes (including eco-brick bench), cycling to school, and more. Take a look. Scrolling down is insightful here!! Stage 3 - Accolades / Awards: Based on the initiatives undertaken by the registered educational institutions, and the impacts of ideas and practices The Climate Project Foundation recognizes the campus as Green and awards them. Based on the results, a rating is provided for each Green Campus-certified school (Platinum, Gold, Silver & Bronze). In this entire process, not just the educators, but also the students and local community come together to work for the common goal. We believe that the climate crisis needs a long-term and highly impactful solution, and there is no better tool to resolve it than education. By inculcating the values and behavioral and attitudinal change that make our future generations more planet-sensible, we try to accelerate the learning dividends by setting examples right there on the campuses of their schools, colleges, or universities. 3. How would any educational institution get enrolled and start with it? Schools, colleges, or universities can register with us by filling out our registration form. Once they get registered, they can avail 6 days of the Teachers’ Training Program Later after forming a GCP Committee, they can begin the Pre audit. Later Audit is followed by monitoring and Changes as required by schools/Colleges. Verification by us and rewards A Glimpse of GCP Committee Meeting 4. What are the impacts of GCP? Green Campus Program takes an impactful shift from conventional to the creation of Resource-efficient and Net Zero/ Low Carbon Campuses. The campuses work on lowering their damaging impacts on the atmosphere by creating sustainable Living Labs as a live example, and promoting green living amongst students. Green campuses teach by doing it e.g. lowering the usage of normal electric grids, not using the municipal water source, reusing wastes and more. The most tangible benefits are the reduction in water and energy consumption right from day one of implementation. The energy savings could range from 20 -30 % and water savings around 30 - 50%, reducing energy and water bills, respectively. Other than that, waste is effectively managed and repurposed. By enhancing biodiversity, one can get to see a drastic change in the areas converted into green patches. 5. The legacy of the Green Campus Program goes back to… Its inception took place in 2019. Since then, we have awarded more than 50 schools for their commendable work in converting their conventional school campuses into Green Campuses. 1000+ campuses have embarked on the journey, 200+ schools are undertaking this program and 11000+ teachers have been trained. 6. Is the Green Campus Program, only for educational institutions? The Green Campus Program (GCP) is not limited to educational institutions. Any organization, that has awareness about green building facilities and is willing to undergo such transformation can opt for this program. In fact, corporates can implement it in their campuses, and/or utilize their CSR funds to support GCP for the educational institutions, especially those in the rural areas. 7. How we can work on its scalability? I feel that it is time the climate & green finance aspect is focused on now when we talk about scalability. This model is of course replicable, and we have our own unique methodologies to make it happen. However, we can go at a certain pace being a not-for-profit organization; hence with thriving support from different organizations on the CSR front, I think we can take it higher level at a faster pace. We would love to see some enthusiasm from the corporate sector for this. 8. How do you feel being part of this revolutionary climate change mitigation model? Well, its very rewarding. It (sustainability education and Green Campus Program) is a space that allows you to blend, science and art in a creative yet logical way. I try utilizing my skills and experience to their optimal level in catapulting this, and for a strong cause. Like I said it feels very rewarding. 9. A message you would like to give out to the educational institutions. This Program is a great way of learning for the students, teachers, and everyone involved in the sphere of the Green Campus Program. Let students learn from the activities and audits, and not just them, everyone involved in the process will experience great takeaways. Commercially, you save a lot on the bills; optimize the usage of available resources; and the best part is you innovate and engage with the communities. We have several schools that produce their own food with the help of their farming exercise. We have seen yarn spinners too in a school that produces fabric for the uniform. One school has taken: cycle to school” initiative. Many such inspiring and self-led initiatives have come out, as a result of the GCP implementation. If I speak of attitudinal reformation, once you have it implemented in your school, college, or university, or in any campus for that matter you can never go back to the mindset you were in prior to the enrolment in this program. It not just transforms the campuses; it changes the lives. It changes the perceptions of the people, and how they see nature. It’s an experience of a lifetime as you connect better with yourself and nature. It was a good eye-opening rendezvous with Ms. Rekha Lalla. The Green Campus Program (GCP), being a flagship project of The Climate Project Foundation, acts as a vital tool in the fight against climate change. By converting traditional campuses into eco-friendly spaces, GCP harnesses education's transformative power to address the climate crisis. This program models planet-conscious behavior and cultivates values in the next generation that make them more sensible towards nature and offer effective & long-term solutions. Click here to witness one of our Green Campus Program - certified campus that has undertaken milestone-worthy initiatives to tread the path of True Net Zero or Low Carbon Future. This is one such campus of many. We'll be back with some more real stories adding to the saga of sustainability education and the Green Campus Program. Till then, take care and be Planet-Wise. About Rekha Lalla Rekha Lalla is a multifaceted individual making a meaningful impact. She's a certified expert in Climate Change and Sustainability, a compelling TEDx Speaker, and a dedicated Buddhist scholar. With over 25 years in education, she's shared her expertise in Science and led as Head at TERI Prakriti School, Gurgaon. She holds dual master's degrees in Botany, highlighting her commitment to the environment. She's an Environmentalist, Mentor, and Climate Reality Leader, nurturing future environmental leaders. Rekha's creativity extends to art, with exhibitions at renowned venues. She's also authored engaging children's books on General Knowledge and Science, inspiring young minds. Her influence reaches environmental projects, with roles supported by the Delhi Government's Department of Environment. She's also designed educational toys for LEO METTLE Thomson Connect. Collaborating with various NGOs, Rekha's work has received accolades, including recognition from former Chief Minister Ms. Sheila Dixit. She exemplifies the power of passion and dedication in creating positive change. To know more about her, take a peek at her LinkedIn profile. About the Author The author, Smruti Sweta Samantray, a Climate Reality Mentor, at The Climate Reality Project, has been advocating sustainability education, especially in the preschool segment, and in the allied areas of sustainability for more than seven years now. Academically, she has pursued a Master’s in Mass Communication, and Environmental Law. Currently, she is working as Manager of Communication and Collaboration at The Climate Project Foundation (The Climate Reality Project— India & South Asia branch). Professionally, she is known in the domain of marketing communications for her innovative/ creative initiatives, for ten years. She has counseled approximately 3,000 students and 1,500 parents on choosing the right career paths. She has written 3500+ feature stories along with research papers (one of them published with Cambridge Scholar Publishing), and reviewed 40+ books. She is very enthusiastic, and passionately working towards communication in the sphere of sustainability and CSR. To know more about her, take a peek at her LinkedIn profile. #SustainabilityEducation #GreenCampuses #ClimateActionNow

Women are playing a pivotal role in combating climate change through their interventions, innovative approaches, influential leadership, and spearheading of initiatives in renewable energy, conservation, sustainable agriculture, and climate policy advocacy. Image Courtesy: Pixabay By promoting clean technologies, implementing sustainable practices, and raising awareness, women are driving significant impacts and transformations on a local, regional, and global scale, overlooking at an optimistic tomorrow. Their inclusive and collaborative approaches foster community resilience, empowering marginalized groups to actively participate in climate action. With expertise, passion, and determination, these women shape a sustainable and resilient future for generations to come. They are at the forefront of the sustainability movement, leading the charge against climate change. Their remarkable efforts and leadership are driving positive change and inspiring others to join the fight for a sustainable future. Image Courtesy: Pixabay At The Climate Project Foundation, we firmly believe in the power, enthusiasm, perseverance, and management skills that women bring in, to make things happen. We consider women to be one of our key pillars of existence, who have been our Pole Star throughout our journey. We have wonderful and amazing women Climate Reality Leaders in our network, who have been transforming lives while treading the path of sustainability and creating inspiring milestones. We are proud to have such wonderful women with us. As a sequel to our celebrations of World Environment Day and solidarity in the fight against the climate crisis, we present to you our women’s army that we openly brag about. Dear Women Climate Leaders, You are special! You always make us proud with your work and dedication towards creating a sustainable future, and a healthy Earth with all the reasons we offer it to smile back. Thank You Team — The Climate Project Foundation PRESENTING OUR WOMEN FORCE WHO ARE STANDING STRONG IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Madhu Bhatnagar Madhu Bhatnagar, an accomplished Climate Reality Leader and among the notable educators in India who made environmental education mandatory in schools. She is also credited as the first one to implement Rooftop Water Harvesting (1998) in schools and stop tiger poaching in 2005 as a part of the Moghiya Rehabilitation project around Ranthambore National Park. Fawzia Tarannum 2. Fawzia Tarannum, a University of Nairobi-IDRC Doctorial Research Grant recipient and a Climate Reality Leader, who has conducted 5000+ training programs on water & sustainability, climate change, participatory water governance, gender equality, and ESG. For her interventions, Fawzia is also recognized as one of the 17 SDG Women Changemakers by Sayfty and Twitter India. Nita Ganguly 3. Nita Ganguly, a Climate Leader-Mentor and National Coordinator- Waste to Wealth (TCPF), received The Indian Achievers Clubs’ 99 Women achievers of India acclaim (2020) and The Most Admired Inspiring Indian Award (2021). As a Climate Reality Leader, she believes that people should embrace a sense of responsibility & accountability to protect the environment and has reached out to both defense personnel and civil society groups, including the Rag Pickers. Joshitha Sankam 4. Joshitha Sankam, a Climate Reality Leader, who is working on spreading awareness among communities & health professionals on various effects of climate change on human health. She is one of the organizers of “Health in a Changing Climate: Empowering Health Professionals”, a comprehensive training program on climate change & health, and is also a part of the “Women Leaders of Planetary Health” community. Deeksha C Bhatia 5. Deeksha Chopra Bhatia, a Climate Reality Leader, and environmental educator, who designed various educational programs and workshops on critical topics such as water conservation, waste management, and urban environmental sustainability. She is well known for her articles on environmental sustainability which have been published by international foundations. Leena Joshi 6. Leena Joshi, the founder of Ethereal Inc. and a Climate Reality Leader, is determined to disrupt the status quo & empower girls by mentoring them. As an environmental activist, she worked with international organizations such as United Nations, UN Climate Change, World Bank Group, and Girl Up United Nations Foundation. She was named GrasshoppHer IT Girl for founding her international organization. Kavya Govindarajan 7. Kavya Govindarajan, a Climate Reality Leader, addresses various environmental concerns and solutions to spread awareness about environmental protection through her write-ups. She firmly believes in the creation of resources such as blogs and research articles to enlighten people on various environmental issues and solutions. Sarika 8. Sarika, a Climate Reality Leader, has worked on a variety of interdisciplinary projects such as “Restoration by Phytoremediation “and the “Effect of Global Warming on Medicinal Plants in the High-Altitude Trans-Himalaya.” She believes in sharing her insights, and working with a broader range of audiences in order to achieve a sustainable & equitable future for all. Garima Verma 9. Garima Verma, a Climate Reality Leader, whose focus is majorly on health and wellness and is specialized in Reiki level 2 healing, sound therapy, yogic teachings, Taichi, and meditation. She is also the brand owner of ‘Urban Yogini’, where she curates & makes organic, natural, and chemical-free beauty products. Dr. Ketna A Matkar 10. Dr. Ketna Atul Matkar, a Climate Reality Leader and the Founder & Managing Director of Cipher Environmental Solutions LLP, Thane has delivered training on capacity building of Municipal officials on two of the five components of CSCAF (Climate Smart City Action Framework) - “Proportion of Green Cover” and “Climate Smart City Action Plan” and capacity building for Solid Waste Management under the SBM program. She has also worked on a research project for understanding the local governance perspective in building Climate Resilience in the cities, providing key insights and suggested policy requirements. She is also involved with the capacity building of faculties and staff for creating and maintaining a green campus at college, also advocating sustainable lifestyle changes and best practices. She engages with various colleges and institutes for advocating best practices for disaster risk reduction, adapting and mitigating climate change, and climate literacy. Dr. Vidhi Vora 11. Dr. Vidhi Vora, a Climate Reality Leader and a renowned International Public Speaker, who conducted training and awareness programs for multiple topics such as Women’s health & safety, Eco-tourism, etc. She believes in the concept of ‘Sustainability begins at home,’ therefore, she set up Green Phoenix Circular Solutions, with a vision to develop a human society that has circularity and safety maintaining environmental health. Varsha Rajkhowa 12. Varsha Rajkhowa, a Climate Reality Leader, is the first Indian to win the International crown of Miss Scuba International in 2016 and also is the National Director of Miss Scuba India and Founder Director of Oceanic Divas. She is awarded the FICCI FLO Women Achievers Award of excellence for recognition of her contribution towards ocean conservation and environmental protection. Sandhya Kakkar 13. Ms. Sandhya Kakkar, Vice Principal of Bal Bharati Public School in Dwarka, New Delhi, has been a proactive Climate Reality Leader, driving community outreach and social development initiatives. Under her guidance, the school has received numerous accolades, including the Rex Karamveer Global Education Change Champion Award and the Green Campus Program Award in 2019 by The Climate Project Foundation for promoting volunteering, sustainable practices, and combating global warming. Ms. Kakkar has successfully led various programs such as digital literacy camps, relief efforts for the underprivileged, and the establishment of a library for disadvantaged children. The school has also undertaken various campaigns to promote literacy, education for school dropouts, conducting awareness campaigns, noise pollution control, and more. The school has won several accolades like “Microsoft Tech for Good Challenge 2021” for demonstrating the effective use of technology to achieve Sustainable Development goals; “Parayavarna Mitra Earthian Award” for School for taking green initiatives taken to save the environment; and NDTV Greenathon Award for successfully demonstrating the inclusive practices in school, among many. Through her path-breaking work, Ms. Kakkar has inspired students to selflessly engage in community service, fostering a unique approach where each student contributes to social good through dedicated volunteering efforts. Manisha Balani 14. Manisha Balani, a Climate Reality Leader, working towards providing urban design consultancy both in the public & private sectors (such as TOD Zones & Godrej Properties) as she strongly believes that sustainable urbanism can potentially turn around climate change. She also introduced a platform, Conscious Gurugram, to provide research and advocacy on designing liveable & environment-friendly cities. Swayamprabha Das 15. Swayamprabha Das, National Coordinator – Marine Ecosystems, The Climate Project Foundation, holds a Ph.D. degree in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She was trained as a Climate Reality Leader (trained in 2015). She is also a Hubert Humphrey fellow (2007). With a focus on gender and climate change, she has dedicated over 24 years to the field of environment and development. She possesses expertise in program management, policy advocacy, and knowledge management. Her diverse experience includes collaborations with the government, international organizations, NGOs, and the private sector. Apart from her professional pursuits, she has a profound passion for traveling and engaging in discussions regarding oceans and marine conservation. Sheetal Antil 16. Sheetal Antil, National Coordinator for Green Jobs at The Climate Project Foundation, is an experienced professional focusing on nature-based solutions and climate change education. She currently works as a Manager for Nature-Based Solutions at the South Pole, sourcing projects for conservation and restoration in South Asia and the Middle East. As a Climate Reality Leader, Sheetal has organized campaigns and educational programs on climate action. She has also worked with organizations like IUCN and Capgemini Invent, gaining expertise in conservation and sustainability. Sheetal's commitment as a Green Jobs National Coordinator lies in empowering youth to make environmentally conscious choices. Dr. Nandini Deshmukh 17. Dr. Nandini Deshmukh, National Coordinator – Climate Education, The Climate Project Foundation has served as an academician for more than 30 years and guided many young minds under her aegis. Throughout she has motivated and sensitized the students about environmental conservation. After being trained as a Climate Reality Leader in Istanbul (2013), she has been consistently working in the western parts of Maharashtra and covered many colleges and educational institutes in her agenda of combating climate crises. Recently, she was conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Mumbai Tarun Bharat at the Species & Habitats Warriors Awards 2023 in recognition of her remarkable contribution to environmental projects in Maharashtra, preserving species and habitats. She is one of the torchbearers of climate education. Her unwavering commitment inspires others in the field. Dr. Bharti Chhibber 18. Dr. Bharti Chhibber, National Coordinator for Sustainability Education at The Climate Project Foundation is a highly respected academic, author, socio-political analyst, and environmentalist. With over seventeen years of teaching experience at the University of Delhi, India, she has made significant contributions to fields such as international relations, foreign diplomacy, Sustainable Development Goals, gender issues, health concerns, climate change, climate justice, refugees, environmental education, renewable energy, international environmental laws, waste management, and biodiversity conservation. Dr. Chhibber actively collaborates with various organizations to raise awareness and empower individuals in areas related to the environment, education, and gender. Her contributions extend to initiatives like sapling plantation drives, wastepaper recycling, herbal garden projects, and waste-to-compost endeavors. Additionally, she combines art with climate change communication through her written and directed plays focusing on environmental conservation and women's rights, performed by college students. With a remarkable body of work, Dr. Chhibber has published over 150 books, research papers, and articles in national and international journals, as well as through mass media platforms. Her expertise has earned her prestigious international and national awards, fellowships, and invitations as a subject expert for interviews and discussions in electronic and print media. Dr. Chhibber's outstanding contributions have established her as a distinguished figure in the fields of education, environmental conservation, and sustainable development. Elsie Gabriel 19. Elsie Gabriel, National Coordinator – Oceans, The Climate Project Foundation was awarded the prestigious UNESCO Green Citizen-Ocean Literacy prize. She is also the Founder-President of the Young Environmentalists Programme. She has made significant contributions to youth climate and ocean education programs, particularly in the Lakshadweep Islands and Mumbai. She focuses on researching about fisherwomen, indigenous women, surfers, and divers as agents of change in ocean education. Her diving adventures have taken her to various locations worldwide. Elsie contributed to C20 working committee for G20 Global Summit on Environment and Disasters, Gender Equality & Disability Working Group Summit. She is also an Ambassador for India Ocean Quest, Co-Founder of Ocean School, and holds positions at Poseidon Handicap Scuba. She was invited to speak at the UN Ocean Conference in Portugal, emphasizing the importance of ocean literacy for conservation and climate mitigation. She has authored the book "Get Out Get Going Outdoors" to promote wilderness education and digital detox. Elsie also mentors young adults in Assam, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Sri Lanka, RAWA Malaysia, and Maldives. In acknowledgment of her commitment to sustainable tourism, Elsie was conferred with the Golden Award from the Maldives Tourism Ministry. She was also honoured with the Mayor's Award in Mumbai for her exceptional work in lake conservation and recycling water hyacinths into Eco bricks. Recently, she was recognized as “L'Oréal Women Climate Champion”. Priya Talwar 20. Priya Talwar, the Founder of TalVer Ventures is a Climate Reality Leader. She provides consultancy for CSR projects, recruitment solutions, ESL coaching for underprivileged individuals, and supports traditional art among underprivileged youth and artists with livelihood opportunities. As a Climate Reality Leader, she has been integral in promoting Youth For Earth 2023, on SDG 13 - Climate Action, fostering youth participation from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Maldives. She has conducted capacity-building workshops on Water and Climate Change Resilient Youth Champions & Communities, focusing on Saharanpur, Baghpat, and Ghaziabad villages near Hindon River Basin, utilizing climate reality presentations. With over 20 years of experience, Priya excels in project management, partnerships, networking, marketing, content development, and documentation. Her leadership extends to organizing workshops, competitions, panel discussions, fellowships, media briefings, film festivals, grants, campaigns, and research projects on diverse topics like environment, climate change, water security, livelihood, wildlife, social change, etc.

“Roti, Kapda, Makaan” (Food, clothing and shelter), the famous dialogue from silver screens makes us assume that life is content if we are able to secure the said things but seems the narrative was put across differently. Education and good healthcare are fundamental to a thriving and progressively north-looking nation. But how are they made to function, function well; one fundamental aspect is ‘Energy or our Electricity’ needs. Imagine, a house (Makaan) is made but without electricity, it is incomplete. Clothing (Kapda) can’t be thought of as made by looms alone, so to suffice a nation of billion plus, we need machines running on electricity. Image Courtesy: Pixabay The same goes for education, we need books to be published, computers to run; fans and lights to be switched ON while in school/college; electricity forms a fundamental aspect here as well. And thus comes the debate of equity, the equitable distribution of resources. Rich nations achieved these basics many decades ago and countries like India are aspiring for it now. Of late, debates at national/international forums are revolving around these very ‘Parity issues. We celebrated electricity reaching each village, every hamlet. In modern times, it is almost a deprivation, if we don’t have electricity made available to everyone almost akin to the ‘Right to Food and Right to Education’ considering its usage. Governments understand this well and hence have been advocating for ‘Energy Security’. But how to find this security when resources are getting scarce with every passing day, and energy requirements are increasing? The peak electricity demand is expected to reach 229 GW up from 211GW last year, imagine, how to bridge this gap given all the supply chain constraints, renewable sources/generation part procurement issues, and discomfort financial health. Then there are minion issues as well that become big if not given attention like the transportation of fuel. Railway tracks were used for other items with the COVID supply chain given priority and now with ship transportation being used, the cost has increased from 4400 Rs per tonne to 7300 Rs per tonne, imagine the extra burden falling on generators, when their financial health is already in the red. So, where is the ray of hope? Energy efficiency is the key. Image Courtesy: Pixabay It is considered the lowest-hanging fruit; we just need to pluck it. Households, industries, and institutions can be powerhouses of 5–8% savings just by taking small measures in their day-to-day usage of electric appliances. Imagine, one unit saved here is three units saved at generation and even more on the resource input side like usage of gas or coal. New and green technology like Hydrogen, fuel cells, and battery storage are currently under experiments for big-scale deployment, hope there is more harmony among nations for tech transfer so as to have a more accelerated and acceptable deployment across the global north and south. As has happened with mobile and defense manufacturing, India is envisaged to become a solar module manufacturing hub with an outlay of 14000 cr. incentive to kick start these industries which would produce 38000 MW worth of energy in times to come with modules made in these mega factories. In the wind energy sector, we are a net exporter of gears, drives, and blades, thus making us stand tall in the world’s supply chain for this sector. In all, these steps are also going to provide ‘Green Jobs’ for more than 40,000 people directly and 60,000 plus indirectly in maintenance deployment and after-sales-related issues. Overall, it seems we are trending in the right direction but to sum it all up, our own ‘mindful’ energy usage would be a showcase to the world on how to follow suit. Let’s be the source of charge to the world. About the Author Bhavesh Swami is an energy advocate who envisions India to tread on sustainability by having reliance on renewable energy solutions. Currently, he is working as the Lead — Energy in The Climate Reality Project — India & South Asia branch. He has more than seventeen years of experience working with national/international development agencies, multilateral organizations like World Bank and Global Environment Facility (The GEF), Govt bodies, finance, policy institutes, and NGOs in various capacities. He helped set the ball rolling for NCR’s biggest Renewable Energy Park in Gurgaon, a collective effort by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the Haryana Government, and ADEME, The French Development Agency. Working on the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Govt. of India project, he helped percolate benefits of resource efficiency among the Indian SME fraternity. His project with Indian industries has helped reduce 2 million tons of CO2 over its cumulative timeframe. These efforts got featured in India’s submission at UNFCCCs at COP15 as a ‘Project worth emulating’. He is a Climate Reality leader, Mentor lead and keeps an active engagement with a range of stakeholders including students, teachers, high-level govt. officials and civic society representatives at national and international levels on the subject of clean energy and climate change.

Image Courtesy: Pixabay At the 2023 session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), the UN Secretary-General António Guterres lauded indigenous peoples for their pioneering efforts in protecting nature and preserving biodiversity. The Secretary-General recognized the crucial role of indigenous people and local communities as guardians of the world’s biodiversity, particularly in regions like the Amazon, the Sahel, and the Himalayas. Many of the world’s major biodiversity hotspots are located in areas inhabited or controlled by indigenous peoples. Traditional Indigenous Territories cover around 22 percent of the Earth’s land surface and hold 80 percent of its biodiversity. Moreover, the greatest diversity of indigenous groups can be found in the largest tropical forest wilderness areas across the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Indigenous Peoples and communities legally own 11 percent of the world’s forest lands, presenting an opportunity to expand biodiversity conservation efforts beyond protected areas. Image Courtesy: Pexels Involving indigenous peoples as experts in biodiversity conservation and natural resource management can result in comprehensive and cost-effective practices worldwide. Territories with secured land rights have demonstrated better conservation outcomes compared to adjacent lands. The Global Biodiversity Framework has recognized the full and effective involvement of indigenous communities in meeting global targets and emerging biodiversity governance. Indigenous peoples possess valuable solutions to the climate crisis, given their ancestral knowledge and wisdom, and have a key role in climate change mitigation and adaptation around the world. Preserving vast forested areas not only aligns with climate change objectives but also respects the rights of Indigenous Peoples and conserves biodiversity. The full involvement of indigenous peoples in the climate change agenda has been mandated by the UNFCCC at the Glasgow Climate Conference (COP26). Image Courtesy: Pexels Despite their significant contributions to the environment, indigenous peoples are among the most vulnerable groups affected by climate change. However, their ancestral territories often exhibit resilient landscape designs that can withstand the negative impacts of climate change. Over time, Indigenous Peoples have developed adaptation models and genetic varieties of plants and animals with natural resistance to climatic and ecological variability. Indigenous Peoples, as custodians of 80 percent of the world’s biodiversity, possess traditional expertise in adapting to, mitigating, and reducing climate risks. Their knowledge and practices sustain biodiversity and inform scientific research and management approaches. Indigenous peoples contribute to biodiversity conservation through various means. They act as stewards of the land, employing sustainable practices like selective harvesting, rotational farming, and controlled burning to maintain ecosystem health and productivity. Additionally, they collaborate with governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders to actively engage in conservation efforts and advocate for the protection of biodiversity and indigenous rights. However, indigenous peoples face significant challenges in biodiversity conservation. The loss of traditional lands and territories remains a major obstacle, leading to ecosystem fragmentation and degradation. Factors such as land grabbing, resource extraction, and climate change contribute to this loss, adversely impacting both biodiversity and indigenous livelihoods. Additionally, indigenous peoples are often marginalized and excluded from decision-making processes related to biodiversity conservation, despite being crucial stakeholders and knowledge-holders. Image Courtesy: Pexels To address these challenges, it is crucial to support indigenous peoples’ efforts in conserving biodiversity and protecting their rights. This includes recognizing and respecting their rights to traditional lands and territories, involving them in decision-making processes, revitalizing and transmitting indigenous knowledge and practices, and fostering partnerships and collaborations among indigenous peoples, governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders. Image Courtesy: Pixabay By recognizing their rights, supporting the revitalization of their knowledge and practices, and promoting collaborative approaches, we can ensure the continued health and productivity of our planet’s ecosystems, benefiting all inhabitants, including indigenous peoples. About the Author: Rituraj Phukan is an environmental writer, adventurer & naturalist based out of Assam. He serves as the National Coordinator for Biodiversity, Climate Reality India and is a member of the IUCN.

Co-creating values of co-existence is the first step towards preserving biodiversity. Image Source: Pixabay and Canva for graphics The Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting warming to 1.5 C focuses on reaching net-zero CO2 emissions by transitioning to renewable energy generation by 2050 and stopping deforestation and land conversion to prevent the emissions of carbon already stored in ecosystems. However, even if fully implemented, current commitments will still take us beyond a catastrophic 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels. Besides, more measures are required, including ‘negative emissions’ solutions that remove and store up to 500 Gt of atmospheric CO2 by the turn of the century, to negate the heat-trapping potential of the already extant CO2 in the atmosphere. In this context, one recent paper “Trophic rewilding can expand natural climate solutions” presents scientific evidence to show that protecting and restoring wild animals and their functional roles can enhance natural carbon capture and storage. The researchers called for new thinking that includes restoring and conserving wild animals and their ecosystem roles as key components of natural climate solutions. The paper asserts that while natural climate solutions can arrest climate change by protecting and enhancing carbon capture and storage in plants, soils, and sediments in ecosystems, while also protecting habitats and landscapes to conserve the diversity of wildlife species, we must now pay attention to the role animals play in controlling the carbon cycle. Wild animals, especially terrestrial and marine mammals, and marine fish, also have consequential effects with a diversity of functional roles in the ecosystem. The authors explain that using wild animal conservation explicitly to enhance carbon capture and storage is known as ‘animating the carbon cycle’ and requires the creation of dynamic landscapes. Protecting and restoring the ability of animal species to reach ecologically meaningful densities so that as they move and interact with each other and fulfill their functional roles in ecosystems is known as trophic rewilding. Image Courtesy: Author The current focus of trophic rewilding on larger-bodied wild vertebrates like whales, elephants, bison, tiger, wolves, etc., is because of their larger ecological effects, sensitivity to human exploitation, habitat loss, etc., and because rewilding these require challenging interventions compared to restoring plant biomass and diversity. The authors see a huge scope for expansion of natural climate solutions and rewilding, as wild animal species occur in all ecosystems, and the variety of locally relevant, community-led initiatives, depending on the prevalence of diverse species in different regions. The authors also underlined the need to consider the complexities associated with trophic rewilding because some species’ impacts may vary across ecosystems. Another concern is that trophic rewilding of large herbivores will increase methane release unless it occurs with measured reductions in domestic livestock. There is an urgency for further research, policy changes, and implementation because we are losing populations of many animal species just as we are discovering how much they functionally impact carbon capture and storage. Image Source: Canva Trophic rewilding solutions represent the convergence of action to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, the Global Biodiversity Framework, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Deploying natural climate solution-based projects is more likely to create an opportunity to address regional inequalities. The return of the great mammals to their historic populations will have trophic cascading impacts and ensure long-term planetary health and human wellbeing. About the Author: Rituraj Phukan is an environmental writer, adventurer & naturalist based out of Assam. He serves as the National Coordinator for Biodiversity, Climate Reality India and is a member of the IUCN.

Nature as an Element for Learning, Connecting & Resilience: EfS is Imperative Image Couresty: Pixabay It is never late to learn, but it is good to start early. By writing such an oxymoron-ic statement, I am trying to stir the need to segregate the realization and methodologies of execution for a better approach towards an effective start. Many people who already are parents and those expecting to-become parents soon, must acknowledge the significance of nature and environment in the art of parenting. Everything that we consume or use, be it vegetables, fruits, water, air, and other resources, are all from nature. Nothing more we can do towards nature than cultivating the art of gratefulness towards it by being sensible and sustainable. To make this simple process more efficient, we need to start early. Right from their birth, children should be inculcated with the attitude of realizing the values of gifts nature bestows upon us. What could be the best way of thanking than integrating the same in the system of education? Sustainability education unlocks a lot of doors for everyone on Earth to decipher solutions to problems that look even impossible to be bent. It encompasses a broad range of topics, including climate change, biodiversity, resource conservation, and sustainable development. It aims to provide individuals with an understanding of the interconnectedness of social, economic, and environmental systems, and to equip them with the tools to make informed decisions and take action to address environmental challenges. Hence, it has immense potential to transform lives and our future. Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), a program by United Nations, underlines the system of education that encourages a sustainable and just society for all, through knowledge, skills, attitude, and values. If developed and implemented properly, ESD can become a powerful tool against the climate crisis and its impacts. ESD aims at a balanced future. Its objective is to equip the present and future generations to meet their needs using a balanced and integrated approach toward economic, social, and environmental aspects of sustainable development. As a component of measurement, ESD is an indicator for SDG 12 (Sustainable Development Goals) which stands for “responsible consumption and production.” Of 11, 8th target of SDG 12 aims at making people aware of sustainable development and lifestyles, with relevant information and harmony with nature. This goes without saying that all of this wouldn’t be possible without a strategic scheme of education. As Fredrich Froebel has emphasized that educational environment plays an important role in the development of a child’s mind and body, then why not start this process of strategic learning from their preschool and primary days? Image Courtesy: Green Campus Program team, The Climate Project Foundation The relation between nature and humans renders two-way impacts. Our actions, and nature’s resources. Nature, through its abundance and love, provides ample opportunities to children to connect with them (nature) and themselves. Not through rote memorization, but through unstructured free-play with nature and its systems, children improve their thought processes, creativity, comprehension, and sensibilities toward sustainable living. Let the child decide which path to walk inside the biodiversity parks, of course, you follow and guide them. At least, with this freedom of choice, they would know what they feel there and are curious about. Another activity in the nature trails could be letting them analyze the variety of flowers, leaves, trees, birds, etc. they witness during their trails. By asking them to maintain a scrapbook of the same (maybe a sample leaf, stem, or anything else), you teach the attitude of valuing nature. This lets them connect. I would like to cite an example here. Four-year-old Kashvi spent her weekends with her parents on a seashore. There, she drank tender coconut water as her father mentioned that coconut trees are abundantly found in such regions. She saw fishermen catching varieties of fish. She also created a sandcastle by mashing, cupping, mixing, and molding wet and dry sand. She loved the texture. She also collected conches from the seashore and made a neckpiece out of some of them. She used the remaining shells in decorating her pen stand. Observe! Right from getting the essence of natural beauty, here, Kashvi learned several other things, including sustainable crafts, flora and fauna, and others. Just one visit of free-play (topped with guidance) increased her knowledge bank. There is one of the programs that is close to my heart as it transforms lives of children and youth by transforming the campuses of schools, colleges, and Universities and guides them to tread the path of Net Zero or Low Carbon Future. The Climate Project Foundation (TCPF) — India and South Asia branch has a flagship program, known as the “Green Campus Program (GCP).” GCP enables schools and colleges to conserve natural resources like water and biodiversity, optimize energy efficiency, manage waste, and educate about climate change and sustainability while addressing the well-being of the students as compared to conventional educational institutes.” The vision and mission of this program is to create a sustainable tomorrow. TCPF believes that the climate crisis needs long-term and highly impactful solutions, and there is no better tool to resolve it than do it through education. To inculcate the values and bring about behavioral changes in our future generations making them more planet-sensible, TCPF is setting perfect examples right there in the campuses through physical and behavioral changes through GCP. Image Courtesy: Green Campus Program team, The Climate Project Foundation “GCP serves as an effective transformative catalyst. As the name suggests, the objective of the program is to transform conventional campuses into green campuses. It is a platform wherein schools/Colleges are suggested measures to improve the sustainability factor and green practices on the core parameters of water, energy, waste management, biodiversity, air quality, and wellness. GCP also imparts climate change education to teachers as well as students. The best part is students get involved in the process. They can calculate their carbon footprints, change their lifestyle bring in behavioural changes to make this Earth a better place to live for all living beings.,” shared Rekha Lalla, Program Manager — GCP, TCPF. As a perfect catalyst of STEM education, nature contributes to children’s social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development. It boosts critical thinking, problem-solving attitude, creativity, enthusiasm, and relationship skills among others. Fresh air, sunlight, oxygen, and greenery can push children to get into physical activities with their friends or groups. They may run and play; climb trees or hug them; dip their feet in the water; splash water from the spring collected in their cupped palms; or simply lay down and gaze at the clouds to create their own imaginary world. Any child or any person, who has spent a substantial amount of time in nature or natural patches, knows the real meaning of connection, freedom, happiness, and serenity. Ambitious SDGs have a universal agenda to transform the world for the better, and the challenge it has issued is to provide all children with quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education by 2030. Nature-based education offers a platform that blends quality with learning. Tapping the emotional wellness, nature helps in reducing anger, anxiety, impulsive nature, stress, disorderly behavior, and negative thinking. Nature dons plentiful health benefits, including a healthy heart and mind. It is the best pillow, mattress or quilt to improve your coping skills and resilience. A simple barefoot walk on green grass can stimulate reflexology further reducing pain and inflammation. Likewise basking under the sun improves the level of Vitamin D, which further helps in balancing mood, motivation, strengths, and positivity. Walking, jogging, exercising, or sprinting in a lush green park or biodiversity park alleviates oxygen levels stimulating brainpower and working as a stress buster. A picnic spot in the lap of nature is incomparable! Outdoors is magical and so is indoors. Image Courtesy: Pixabay The pandemonium of pandemic COVID has put a thick cloak of suspicion on outdoor activities. The limitations or restrictions of staying indoors have affected the overall development of the children. However, the good news is that one can still stay connected to nature and be sustainable even while indoors. Indoor air-purifying plants can help children breathe better-quality of oxygen. Children can still be taught to be responsible towards nature by participating in upcycling and waste management activities that take place at home. Simply by knowing when to turn off the lights and water taps and more, you make them responsible towards nature. Make a few bottle planters with them and make them part of your daily gardening activities, especially for vegetables and fruits. This will help them understand how food grows and gets into their plates. Acknowledging natural elements like birch, sand, leaves, rocks, pebbles, etc. is another way. Listen to the natural sounds and they calm the mind and senses. How does a cuckoo or a cow sound? How does a flowing river sound? Let them hear and register in their memory of formative years and during primary education that gradually transitions to secondary and higher education. You can also give them near-to-reality experiences through 3D or Augmented Reality systems (especially, books), as these will help them observe and learn better. Expose them to crafts and art with nature. Be it indoors or outdoors, one can stay connected with nature. The will to do so should be strong and backed by thorough understanding of the reason. The idea is to stay connected with nature by incorporating the EfS approach (Education for Sustainability) that brings together students, schools, and communities with the values and motivation to step up for sustainability-related actions starting with their personal lives and scaling it up to the community and worldwide, starting now. Moreover, the opportunity for green jobs is expanding day by day. They are well-paying too. This underlines the fact that they will get a humongous amount of scope to implement their learning professionally and make a living. However, this cannot be a one-way process. There must be a holistic approach for this. The entire ecosystem of pedagogy should have students, teachers, Heads/ Deans/ Principals, parents, and communities intertwined so as to have a positive fission reaction in the co-creation of a greener future. Image Courtesy: Green Campus Program team, The Climate Project Foundation It is never late for either the parents, teachers, or schools to begin teaching their children keeping an angle of sustainability in mind — anyone can start EfS anyway at any growing age of a child. This is how a positive behavioral and attitudinal change in them can be nurtured so they can visualize the world in a much better way and undertake decisions accordingly. Lastly, this is how impacts can be seen, felt, and optimized. All it requires are your time and dedicated efforts. It goes without saying, by investing ourselves for sustainability education, we’re not only investing in our planet but also investing in our future. This Earth Day, we have pledged to be invested in our planet and be proactive in the transformative journey. Image Courtesy: Pixabay About the Author The author, Smruti S Samantray, a Climate Reality Leader, The Climate Reality Project, who has been advocating sustainability education, esp. in the preschool segment, and in the allied areas of sustainability for more than seven years now. Academically, she has pursued Master’s in Mass Communication, and Environmental Law. Currently, she is working as Manager — Communication & Collaborations, The Climate Reality Project — India & South Asia branch. Professionally, she is known in the domain of marketing communications for her innovative/ creative initiatives, since ten years. She has counseled approximately 3000 students and 1500 parents on choosing the right career paths. She has written 3500+ feature stories along with research papers (one of them published with Cambridge Scholar Publishing), and reviewed 40+ books. She is very enthusiastic, and passionately working towards communication in the sphere of sustainability and CSR.

Image Courtesy: The Climate Project Foundation The eponymous Molaikathoni, named after “Molai”, now known as the Forest man of India, is the inspiration for the Molaikathoni Nursery Project. Jadav Payeng has been planting in the famous forest on a sandbar called Arunachapori for over a period of forty-three years now. This one-of-a-kind forest now is now home to the Royal Bengal Tiger, Indian Elephant, Indian Rhinoceros, deer, reptiles, and hundreds of species of birds, including endangered vultures. Launched on World Water Day 2022, the Molaikathoni Nursery Project India is an initiative of The Climate Project Foundation in association with the Forest Man Foundation and the Indigenous People’s Climate Justice Forum. The objective of the nursery is to facilitate the forestation efforts of the large, barren sandbars abundant in the region, replicating the success of the Molaikathoni forest. Image Courtesy: Author The nursery is located at a short distance from the forest, ensuring a seasonal source of native saplings, seeds, and cuttings to nurture before replantation. The species planted include Pride of India, Elephant Apple, Moringa, Jackfruit, Black Plum, Bullet Wood, Amberalla, Burmese Grape, Red Silk Cotton, Indian Jujube, English Beechwood, False White Teak, Custard Apple, Mango, Guava, Lemon, etc. Image Courtesy: Diputa Muli There is a plan to set up 3 other nurseries across Assam as repositories of native species ready to be replanted in deforested areas. It may be mentioned here that the latest Forest Survey of India reports have pointed to a loss of forest cover in Assam and the northeast while showing a positive growth rate in other parts of the country. These nurseries will be an outstanding contribution to combat deforestation and biodiversity loss and enhance carbon sequestration throw intensive forestation initiatives. Image Courtesy: Author Image Courtesy: Author Additionally, a recent study of the Molaikathoni forest found it to be a “major carbon sink” with substantial carbon sequestration nearly four decades after the plantation started. Based on the research, “Planted Forest can be a preferable ecosystem management tool to fulfil the objectives of biodiversity conservation and provisioning climate services like C sequestration.” The nursery will continue to help in expanding the most effective climate action available to the flood and erosion-affected indigenous community. Visitors to the Molaikathoni forest have acknowledged the nursery project as a scalable and replicable grassroots climate action led by indigenous communities. The outcomes include the preservation of biodiversity, water and food security, preservation of traditions, knowledge systems, cultures, and livelihoods dependent on flora and fauna, and enhanced resilience to frequent floods and erosion. Image Courtesy: Author The project has provided livelihood to some villagers for several months, directly motivating the communities to participate in the conservation of the forest and the wildlife species. This project is accepted as an initiative that will also protect traditional indigenous knowledge systems, increase resilience to floods and erosion, preserve biodiversity, and ensure food security. The Molaikathoni Nursery Project will be sustained by the local communities and the nursery will continue to provide saplings of native species for the forestation efforts. Here are 5 facts about Molaikothani Nursery. Watch the video here: Watch the video here https://tinyurl.com/Instagram-TCPF-forest https://tinyurl.com/LinkedIn-TCPF-forest https://tinyurl.com/FB-TCPF-forest https://tinyurl.com/Twitter-TCPF-forest About the Author: Rituraj Phukan is an environmental writer, adventurer & naturalist based out of Assam. He serves as the National Coordinator for Biodiversity, Climate Reality India and is a member of the IUCN.

Snow Leopard (Image Courtesy: Pixabay) As humans, we are fascinated by the feline kingdom, from the unassuming housecat to the pompous lions of the Savannah. Their mature demeanour and grace of movement exudes a high degree of confidence that we aspire to imbibe in our everyday lives. As Mark Twain once mused, “Of all God’s creatures, there is only one that cannot be made slave of the lash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve the man, but it would deteriorate the cat”. Among its brethren, perhaps no one has a more mythical status than the Snow Leopard (Panthera Uncia), native to the rugged and snowy highlands of the Himalaya and Central Asia that constitute some of the harshest and remotest locations on the planet. Eking out its prey in surreal landscapes where mere survival is an accomplishment for the homo sapien, it epitomizes the natural and spiritual fabric of these higher climes, forming an integral part of the folklore of the handful of communities that inhabit these regions, who consider its rare sighting a divine experience. Image Courtesy: Author Let us look at the larger picture. Not only are ecosystems inhabited by the Snow Leopards some of the most unique on the planet, they are the progenitors of life as we know it — the glaciers act as water towers providing freshwater to billions downstream, their rocks are weathered into fertile soils through millions of years of geological processes, and their lofty peaks define the most important climatic event for more than a quarter of the world’s population that are the monsoons. How does a Snow Leopard fit into the scheme of things? As one of the apex predators in the food chain, it maintains the balance of these fragile ecosystems, keeping populations of ungulates like Blue Himalayan Sheep and Ibex in control which prevent overgrazing and subsequently erosion or flash floods. Current population estimates range from 4,000–7,000 individuals across 12 range countries, and intensive efforts are underway both at national and transboundary levels to narrow down these estimations to more accurate figures. Even though Snow Leopards are rare to spot, and their large territories can exceed even 100 sq kms, they still succumb to poaching for their pelt and other body parts. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) lists the Snow Leopard under Appendix I (i.e. species threatened with extinction), and its status was elevated to ‘requiring concerted action’ by the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) in 2002. It is also listed as vulnerable in the IUCN Red List. Image Courtesy: Pixabay Not only this, there are other factors threatening the survival of the cat. Climate change, especially rising temperatures, are shrinking their habitats and forcing them in proximity of human settlements in search for food, leading to a typical example of human-wildlife conflict where the cat is often killed to protect livestock. Overgrazing by livestock also leads to scarcity of fodder for wild grazing animals, thereby reducing the natural prey base and leading to the same problem as above. Then there are other issues like over extraction of natural resources which add fuel to the fire. What do we do then? There are two broad areas to address — restoring the ecological balance by optimizing human dependency upon natural resources and curbing illegal trade in plants and wildlife. The snow leopard remains one of the most unique wildlife species, its demure nature a sign of reverence to the elements of nature that rage at their fiercest in these remote regions. Unlike other big cats, its inability to roar has seemed to render it ‘silent’, with very few people aware of the immense threat the declining population of the animal and destruction of its habitat poses for people downstream. We need to spare a thought for this majestic species and do our bit to revive it in popular imagination, introducing our younger generations to the marvel of this species and the breath-taking beauty of its habitat. About the Author Parth Joshi is a Climate Reality Leader at The Climate Reality Project Foundation. He is also the National Livelihoods Specialist, SECURE Himalaya at UNDP. He is an enthusiastic expeditioner/ mountaineer, and a nature and wildlife photographer.

Image Courtesy: Pixabay When it comes to wildlife and biodiversity conservation, whose responsibility is it ultimately to share the burden of conservation equitably? Wildlife and biodiversity conservation is the basis to bring about sustainable living on planet earth. Right now, humankind is facing a conflict wherein conservation and development are at the crossroads and there are a lot of arguments going on as to how the two should be balanced and which one should be prioritized. Over the years, scientists and economists have realized that the economy cannot thrive without the environment, and conserving the environment is the only way to sustain the society and economy. The biosphere (Environment) is the basis of the Global economy, which is imperative for all of us. (Hans et al., 2013) The Millenium Ecosystems Assessment, 2005 clearly pointed out that many of the ecosystems are facing degradation and need to be restored to maintain the continuous supply of ecosystem services. Continuous and sustained availability of all ecosystem services is necessary for human well-being. The ecosystem constitutes biodiversity and wildlife. Wildlife is an integral part of the ecosystem and they need to be conserved for various reasons. Image Courtesy: Pixabay Ecosystem services are alternatively known as nature’s goods and services and they are of four major categories (provisioning services like food, shelter; regulatory services like soil and water conservation; supporting services like habitat services and aesthetic services like cultural values, tourism etc.,) Except for the provisioning services and a to a little extent the aesthetic services, we do not put a monetary value on the rest of the services and hence they are taken for granted. Wildlife is valued for the aesthetic values and exploited more than the tolerance capacity in terms of unsustained and exploitative tourism in many cases. The extent of Protected Areas kept aside for wildlife conservation in the entire country is only 5% of the geographical area (envis.wii.gov.in). Ideally, it should be more. If more areas are to be brought under conservation, private owned areas will have to be roped in for conservation as Protected Areas. The question then arises as to why a private individual will bear the cost of conservation for the sake of the entire society. Image Courtesy: Pixabay We will need to find ways to fund the conservation of Private Areas so that the societies and specific beneficiaries of the ecosystem services provided by those areas pay for the conservation and the money can be offered to the private owners to promote biodiversity and wildlife conservation. There are examples of hundreds of such schemes which are termed as “Payments/ Compensations for conservation” known in short as PES/CES and should be tried and emulated in India to bring about equity in Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation. Symbolic representation of PES cifor.org About the Author Geethanjali Mariaselvam is an Indian Forest Services (IFS) officer with 20 years of experience working with the Government of India and Punjab state in the forestry sector. Currently, she is serving as Chief General Manager in Punjab Forest Development Corporation. She graduated with a degree in Horticulture and a Post Graduate degree in Agriculture from the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. She also completed a rigorous three-year training program equivalent to a master’s degree in forestry and holds a postgraduate diploma in ecology and environment. In addition, she completed a diploma in Wildlife Management from the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. Her interests include nature and environment conservation through people’s participation, and she has worked on large-scale tree plantations in rural areas of Bathinda, Punjab, with people’s involvement. Geethanjali has also worked in the Forest Survey of India and held various positions in the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in New Delhi.

The much anticipated ‘Paris Moment for Biodiversity’ arrived on the last day of the UN Biodiversity Conference in Montreal with the signing of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The GBF lays down 4 global goals and 23 targets to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, besides other measures to stop and reverse biodiversity loss and protect vital ecosystems. The framework will seek to completely stop the loss of areas of high biodiversity importance, including ecosystems of high ecological integrity. More than 100 countries had signed up for the 30X30 pledge even before the commencement of COP15 and it is the most important part of the GBF. Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) have agreed to place 30% of terrestrial and marine areas under protection, including inland waters and coastal areas. The framework will prioritize ecologically-representative, well-connected and equitably governed systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation, recognizing indigenous and traditional territories and practices. Image Courtesy: Author The GBF will mobilize at least $200 billion per year in biodiversity-related funding from all sources by 2030 and increase financial flows to developing countries. Parties also established a multilateral fund for equitable sharing of benefits from Digital Sequence Information (DSI), which has many applications and will help biodiversity-rich developing countries like India with the necessary funds for conservation of nature and biodiversity. Multinational companies and financial institutions will now have to monitor, assess, and disclose all the risks, dependencies and impacts of their business operations on biodiversity as per the provisions of the GBF. The framework will seek to progressively phase out or reform by 2030 subsidies that harm biodiversity by at least $500 billion per year. Another GBF goal is to reduce global food waste, overconsumption, and waste generation. Target 16 will aim to ensure that people are encouraged and enabled to make sustainable consumption choices including by establishing supportive policy, legislative or regulatory frameworks, improving education and access to relevant and accurate information and alternatives. Image Courtesy: Author Target 10 of the GBF elaborates on the sustainable management of areas under agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries, and forestry through agroecological and other innovative approaches contributing to long-term efficiency and food security. Gender equality is addressed in Target 23, with emphasis on the implementation of the framework through a gender-responsive approach and recognizing equal rights and access to land and natural resources, and informed participation and leadership at all levels. A press statement released to announce the launch of the GBF warned that “Without such action, there will be a further acceleration in the global rate of species extinction, which is already at least tens to hundreds of times higher than it has averaged over the past 10 million years.” With monitoring mechanisms that were absent in earlier agreements and the GBF will facilitate the restoration of vital ecosystems, reverse biodiversity loss and propel us towards a nature positive future. About the Author: Rituraj Phukan is an environmental writer, adventurer & naturalist based out of Assam. He serves as the National Coordinator for Biodiversity, Climate Reality India and is a member of the IUCN.

The deluge in Assam not a new occurrence as it takes place every year. Assam, an integral part of Northeaster India’s “Seven Sister States” shares common border with Bangladesh and Bhutan, and has influence of diverse cultures and ethnicities. It is also connected to Nepal, China and Burma via West Bengal, Sikkim, Mizoram and Manipur, respectively. With an enormous network of rivers, Assam has been prone to climate havocs like land erosion and floods, marring the developmental activities of the state. The Brahmaputra and Barak rivers have 50 tributaries that act as protagonists in causing flood and erosion desolations during monsoons. However, floods and erosions in Assam are singularly different from those occurring in other states, and are unique, if the magnitude of erosion, and extent and duration of floods are considered. According to RBA, 39.58 percent of Assam’s total land area is prone to floods. In 2022, more than 6 lakhs of people in 500+ villages and 11 districts were affected due to floods, as per Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) report in July. One of our Climate Reality Leaders from Assam, Gaurab Talukdar, whose house was also submerged in water, provided us with real life images of the grim situation. On request, he could get into waist-deep water to capture a few shots to comprehend the scenario and gravity and share with us a portrayal of the flood situations in Assam. Here are some of the shots form his lenses. “Water, water, everywhere, And all the boards did shrink; Water, water, every where, Nor any drop to drink.” The pictures remind me of most-used lines of ST Coleridge’s, “The Rime of Ancient Mariner.” The spread of flood water compels me to think about the life of the people, who have lost their dear ones and houses. What they must be going through! The survivors in the affected regions don’t have access to basic things and facilities that they need for leading a life. Let alone food and utility objects, access to drinkable water seems like a far-fetched dream in such scenarios. In the photos shared below, you can see how the need for survival supersedes the need for hygiene and sanitation, health, and happiness. While Gaurab’s family and neighbourhood are trying to get back to normalcy, he recalls the devastation. “It was horrible. Houses are gone. Roads are gone. Farms are gone. Floods shake you from within,” he said. “Wherever you set your eyes, you get to see endless horizons of water; unimaginable pain of people; sufferings; and so much more to be overwhelmed,” he takes a heavy breath. He explains it further, “I mean, you can see people trying their best to cope and get back on their feet at the earliest as they have responsibilities and a vision for their future (however and whatever, it maybe). I’m still in a better position, owing to the geography I live in. But it was unthinkable to figure out what we are left with if we don’t have a life in the first place. What if everything just gets washed away in a whooosh (he waves his hand)? Even if we do, is the life going to be safe and qualitative? We, surely, can’t neglect the health, next to survival, but is that an immediate possibility? Such questions keep hitting you hard.” Early this month, the Centre releasing INR 648.90 crores for disaster assistance to Assam (for the victims of floods and landslides) was in the news. A few days ago this month, the Assam government launched Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) programme to extend rehabilitation grants to the flood victims whose houses were damaged by floods this year. According to the news, a list of flood-damaged houses is prepared that amounts to 2, 04, 348 houses that were either partially or severely damaged. Nevertheless, keeping aside all the temporary solutions and arrangements, its high time that a new perspective is added to the format of mitigation, wherein Sustainability Education should be positioned as the prime driver of long-term solution. Unless and until people are aware and educated about climate change, acts of sustainability, and how to enhance disaster-preparedness, it is going to be a rough walk. We’re set on a journey of empowering people with education. At The Climate Project Foundation (TCPF), we focus on actions that empower our climate reality leaders’ network and societies so they can stand firm and strong in the fight of climate change. We impart sustainability education in different versions, and our projects like Green Campus Program, Teachers’ Training Program, Principals’ Conclave and One Million Fruit Tree Plantation along with focused Workshops & Training Sessions, and Strategic Collaborations, support us in translating our vision into reality. You can get to know more about our initiatives here. However, the devastations due to inundations in Assam (on one hand) and facing extreme sweltering with rising temperatures a few days later (on the other hand), seems quite alarming. Needless to say, we need to gear up and be planet-wiser now, and not shut the eyes to any ray of hope that we witness in the dismal times, even if it shows up in a blink. About the Authors Photos/ Images by Garuab Talukdar Gaurab is a Climate Reality Leader trained during Global Training in 2020. He is bird enthusiast, nature photographer and filmmaker from Assam, India. He has pursued Masters in Economics from Assam University, Silchar, Assam. He has played an active role in human-elephant conflict mitigation programs with communities, providing awareness in schools and wildlife rescues. He is also a Green Hub Fellow (2018), where he learned documentary filmmaking and conservation issues. Written by Smruti S Samantray Smruti is a Climate Reality Leader trained during Global Training in 2015 in New Delhi. She supports sustainability education in every inch, and tries to promote the same at optimum levels, as she firmly believes that it will help mitigating the climate crisis in the most efficient and effective way, while securing future. She has pursued Master’s in Urban Environment Management & Law , National Law University — Delhi and WWF, and Master’s in Mass Communication.

For the second year in a row, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are not showing any progress. The Sustainable Development Report (SDR) is a global assessment of countries’ progress towards achieving these goals, and this year, India has been placed at 121st rank among 163 countries from where data was available for the rankings. The data for India indicate ‘Stagnating’ trends for 7 of the SDGs including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 15 (Life On Land), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The worst trend is for SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) in a ‘Red box’ representing ‘Major challenges’ and a ‘Decreasing’ trend. All indicators for SDG 11 are either decreasing or stagnating. The ones classified as ‘Moderately Improving’ fall under SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), with most placed in ‘Red boxes’ having ‘Major challenges’ towards their realization. No information is available for SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) to indicate trend and is in a box of ‘Significant challenges.’ The two ‘Green’ boxes are SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) with both showing trends of ‘On track or maintaining SDG achievement’. All indicators for SDG 12, including municipal solid waste, electronic waste, plastic waste export, and emissions of SO2 and Nitrogen are ‘Green’ indicating targets on track or already achieved. Similarly for SDG 13, all indicators of CO2 emissions are either on target or SDG is already achieved. The average SDG Index score slightly declined in 2021, partly due to slow or nonexistent recovery in poor and vulnerable countries. Multiple and overlapping health and security crises have led to a reversal in SDG progress. Performance on SDG 1 and 8 remains below pre-pandemic levels in many low-income countries and lower-middle-income countries. This is a major setback, especially considering that before the pandemic, over the period 2015–2019, the world was progressing on the SDGs, with poorer countries making greater gains than rich countries. The 7th edition of the SDR is published exactly fifty years after the release of Limits to Growth and the first UN Conference on the Environment, held in Stockholm in 1972. SDR 2022 comes at a time when the fundamental SDG principles of social inclusion, international cooperation, responsible production and consumption, and universal access to clean energy are being challenged by multiple health, security and climate crises. Although the top ten countries in the SDG Index are all in Europe, the detailed dashboards show that major SDG challenges remain even in these countries, especially on SDGs 12 -15 (related to climate and biodiversity) and in relation to international spillovers. Image Courtesy: Felipe, Pixabay Low-income countries tend to have lower SDG Index scores. This is partly due to the nature of the SDGs, which focus to a large extent on ending extreme poverty and providing access for all to basic services and infrastructure. Overall, East and South Asia has progressed on the SDGs more than any other region since their adoption in 2015, with Bangladesh and Cambodia showing the most progress of all countries. Therefore, India’s ranking is a cause for concern and needs a realignment of policy actions. The achievement of the SDGs is held back by severe financial constraints faced by the developing countries that have further aggravated due to pandemic and the war. The key to achieving the SDGs, besides preserving peace and lowering geopolitical tensions, is having a proper plan to finance them. Ahead of the SDG Summit in September 2023, which is slated to convene at the level of heads of state under the auspices of the UN General Assembly, the SDR 2022 identifies major priorities to restore and accelerate SDG progress towards 2030 and beyond. Source: Sachs, J., Kroll, C., Lafortune, G., Fuller, G., & Woelm, F. (2022). Sustainable Development Report 2022. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. About the Author: Rituraj Phukan is an environmental writer, adventurer & naturalist based out of Assam. He serves as the National Coordinator for Biodiversity, The Climate Project Foundation, and is a member of the IUCN.