World Environment Day, India-Australia Summit, Global Vaccine Summit 2020
1. World Environment Day- 5 June
- World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated on 5 June every year.
- World Environment Day was established in 1972 by the United Nations on the first day of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, resulting from discussions on the integration of human interactions and the environment.
- In 1974, it has been a flagship campaign for raising awareness on emerging from environmental issues to marine pollution, human overpopulation, and global warming, to sustainable consumption and wildlife crime.
- Two years later, in 1974 the first WED was held with the theme “Only One Earth”.
- Hence, The theme for 2020 by UN is “Time for Nature”, and will be hosted in Colombia in partnership with Germany.
- Colombia is one of the largest “Megadiverse” nations in the world to hold 10% of the planet’s biodiversity.
- Since it is part of the Amazon rain forest, Colombia ranks first in bird and orchid species diversity and second in plants, butterflies, freshwater fish, and amphibians.
- However, in this year 2020 Indian Navy operated a Blue Water Operation.
- Environment Protection and Green Initiatives have always been a key focus area of the Indian Navy.
- A responsible multi-dimensional force, the Indian Navy has embarked on reducing its environmental footprint through energy conservation, minimising marine pollution and use of alternative sources of energy.
- The ‘Indian Navy Environment Conservation Roadmap’ (INECR) has been the guiding document and key enabler for progressively achieving this vision of the Indian Navy to add a Green Footprint to its Blue Water operations.
- As The World Environment Day has grown to become a global platform for raising awareness on environmental issues such as marine pollution, global warming and sustainable consumption. Indian Navy conducted the World Environment Day.
- With the aim of reducing pollution from engine exhausts, the Indian Navy collaborated with IOCL to revise the fuel specifications.
- The new specification surpasses international norms and includes reduced sulphur content which in the long run will reduce emissions levels as well as maintenance requirements onboard. Whilst recognising the significance of biodiversity, which incidentally is the theme for World Environment Day-2020, ample emphasis is being accorded within the Navy in protecting ocean ecology.
- Indian Navy has voluntarily implemented all six schedules of International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) regulations.
- All Naval ships have been fitted with MARPOL compliant pollution control equipment such as Oily Water Separators (OWS) and Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) for treating waste generated onboard.
- Further, to ensure upkeep of harbour waters, accelerated bioremediation technology has also been developed through Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL), Mumbai.
- In efforts to reduce carbon footprint, measures have been brought in force for a steady increase in utilisation of e-vehicles such as e-cycles, e-trolley and e-scooters.
- To promote the same, units observe ‘No Vehicle Days’ regularly and the concept of a ‘Vehicle Free Base’ is also being introduced in some Naval establishments.
- In line with emerging trends and Govt of India policy, efforts have also been made in the Navy to enhance the share of renewable energy. 24 MW of Solar Photo Voltaic projects are at various stages of implementation in the Navy’s shore establishments.
- All Naval units have adopted aggressive waste handling processes for collection, segregation and subsequent handling as per GoI Green norms.
- An Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility (ISWMF) is being setup at Naval station, Karwar, which includes a centralised waste segregation plant, Organic Waste Converter (OWC) for wet waste and a facility to handle dry/ unsegregated domestic waste. Green Initiatives of the Navy have also been augmented by afforestation and plantation drives. In the past one year, over 16,500 trees have been planted which would mitigate an estimated 330 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide.
- Successful institution of green measures in the Navy has been possible through a self-conscious Naval community, well-aware of the necessity of environment remediation and energy conservation.
- To foster a sense of responsibility towards the environment, various mass participation events such as mass ‘shramdan’, coastal cleanship drives etc are organized regularly.
- Further, a trophy introduced to recognise the unit adopting best green practices for the year, has proved useful in encouraging units to embrace Green initiatives.
- Overall, Indian Navy has maintained a steadfast focus towards sustainable future while integrating energy efficiency and environment conservation within its operational and strategic roles.
- Further, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change celebrates WED focusing on the theme declared by UNEP and organizes several events and this year’s theme is ‘Biodiversity’.
In view of the prevalent situation due to COVID-19 pandemic the ministry will be holding virtual celebrations of World Environment Day on this year’s theme theme with focus on Nagar Van (Urban Forests). - India though having less land mass and more human and cattle population has nearly 8 percent of biodiversity.
- The country is endowed with rich biodiversity having several species of animals and plants and hosts 4 of the 35 global bio-diversity hotspots containing several endemic species.
- Biodiversity conservation has traditionally been considered confined to remote forest areas but with increasing urbanization a need has arisen to safeguard and save biodiversity in urban areas also.
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change relaunched a scheme for creating urban forest in 200 corporations and cities because all these cities have gardens but not forest.
- The urban forest will help in creating and enhancing the lung capacities of these cities.
- In Pune city on the forest land of 40 acres a forest has been developed. More than 65000 trees, 5 ponds, 2 watch towers have been established, with many trees growing up to 25-30 feet.
- This year more trees would be planted.
- Today, the forest is rich in biodiversity with 23 plant species, 29 bird species, 15 butterfly species, 10 reptiles and 3 mammal species.
- Not only the Urban Forest project is helping maintain ecological balance, but also provides the Punaikars a good walk way and a place to be for the morning and evening walkers.
- The Warje Urban Forest is now a role model for the rest of the country.
2. Gavi the international vaccine alliance
- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was addressing the virtual Global Vaccine Summit hosted by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in which over 50 countries – business leaders, UN agencies, civil society, government ministers, Heads of State and country leaders participated.
- As India stands in solidarity with the World in these challenging times.
- However, India has pledged 15 Million US Dollars to Gavi, the international vaccine alliance.
- India’s civilization teaches to see the world as one family and that during this pandemic it had tried to live upto this teaching. He said India did it so by sharing the country’s available stocks of medicines with over 120 countries, by forging a common response strategy in its immediate neighborhood and by providing specific support to countries that sought it, while also protecting India’s own vast population.
- Referring to Gavi, our PM said it is not just a global alliance but also a symbol of global solidarity and a reminder of that by helping others we can also help ourselves.
- And has exposed the limitations of global cooperation and that for the first time in recent history, the human kind faces a clear common enemy. as India has a vast population and limited health facilities and that it understands the importance of immunization.
- The first programmes launched by his government was Mission Indradhanush, which aims to ensure full vaccination of the country’s children and pregnant women, including those in the remote parts of the vast nation.
- Also in order to expand protection, India has added six new vaccines to its National Immunization Programme.
India had digitized its entire vaccine supply line and developed an electronic vaccine intelligence network to monitor the integrity of its cold chain.
These innovations are ensuring the availability of safe and potent vaccines in the right quantities at the right time till the last mile.
- India is also the World’s foremost producer of vaccines and that it is fortunate to contribute to the immunization of about 60 percent of the World’s children.
- India recognizes and values the work of GAVI, that is why it became a donor to GAVI while still being eligible for GAVI support.
- At last India stands in solidarity with the world along with its proven capacity to produce quality medicines and vaccines at low cost, its own domestic experience in rapidly expanding immunization and its considerable scientific research talent.
India not only has the capacity to contribute to the global health efforts, but also has the will to do so in a spirit of sharing and caring
3. India-Australia Summit
- India-Australia relations are wide-ranging and deep.And this depth comes from our shared values, shared interests, shared geography and shared objectives.
- In the last few years, India-Australia cooperation and synergy has gained momentum.It is fortunate that one end of the reins of India-Australia relationship is in the hands of a strong and visionary leader like Australia. that we believe, this is the perfect time, the perfect opportunity to further strengthen the relations between India and Australia.
- As India’s growing economy which needs natural resources which Australia has.
- Canberra’s intelligence establishment is valued in many parts of the world.
- With this Australia has deep economic, political and security connections with the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries.Canberra has a little “sphere of influence” of its own in the South Pacific regions which is now under threat from Chinese penetration.
- With respect to the India-Australia relationship India’s nuclear tests in 1998 have been significant changes in the course.
- Now, the Indian diaspora estimates nearly 7,00,000, is the fastest growing in Australia which has the positive factor in the bilateral relations.
- If we talk about India-Australia relations, there is common membership of many groupings like the G-20, East Asia Summit, IORA, and the Quad.
- India is committed to expanding its relations with Australia in a comprehensive and quick manner.
- This is important not only for our two countries but also for the Indo-Pacific region and the world.
- There are also continuous high-level exchanges between the two countries.Trade and investment are also increasing.
- The role of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will be more important in this period of a global pandemic.
- The world needs a coordinated and collaborative approach to come out of the economic and social side effects of this pandemic.
