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Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
India witnessing severe climate impacts on Himalayan region: Bhupender Yadav
Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav on Friday said that the country is witnessing severe climate change impact due to which glaciers are retreating threatening the future of water security for populations downstream. 'The science is clear. Himalayas are sounding alarm. As a consequence of global warming due to human activity, glaciers are retreating, threatening the future of water security for populations downstream,' said Yadav in his address at the Sagarmatha Sambaad, a multi-stakeholder meeting on mountains and climate change being hosted by Nepal while adding that the livelihoods of mountain communities are threatened despite contributing the least to the climate crisis. 'The Himalayas bear a significant part of the burden of the environmental crisis. We in India, with our significant Himalayan territory, witness these impacts first-hand. We share the concerns of the mountain States and their peoples. Our environmental futures are intrinsically linked,' he said. Yadav said the future of mountain communities will be dependent on collective action of all nations in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in keeping with the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. 'South Asia has been responsible for only 4% of global cumulative carbon dioxide emissions until 2020, despite being home to almost 25% of the global population,' Yadav said while flagging that the global carbon budget is rapidly being exhausted with the developed nations continuing to disproportionately grab the meagre remaining carbon budget. 'Their commitments to providing climate finance, technology transfer and capacity building have been profoundly neglected, intensifying the climate crisis for which they bear far greater responsibility,' Yadav emphasised. Yadav said India is committed to contributing to climate action with the urgency it demands, despite our minimal role for the crisis it faces. 'Our Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement, and our National Action Plan on Climate Change, are a testament to our resolve. So are the ambitious targets for renewable energy – aiming for 500 Gigawatts of non-fossil fuel based installed electricity generation capacity by 2030 – our leadership in the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and our long-term goal of reaching net zero by 2070, are all testaments to our resolve,' he said. As part of the plan for the Himalayan region, under the 'ek ped ma ke naam' campaign, 1.42 billion saplings have been planted, including 72.1 million trees in the Indian Himalayan Region. India is also implementing a dedicated National Mission focused on sustaining the Himalayan ecosystem, promoting climate-resilient agriculture, and enhancing disaster preparedness. 'We understand that solutions for mountain regions must be context-specific, integrating indigenous knowledge with cutting-edge science and technology,' he said. Further, India is also developing its first National Adaptation Plan (NAP), which aims to develop a roadmap that aligns with sustainable development goals and ensures climate resilience for all sectors and regions including the Himalayan region, he said. India conducted the first Snow Leopard Population Assessment between 2019 and 2023, indicated a total of 718 snow leopards across India, accounting for approximately 10–15% of the global population. Based on present challenges facing the Himalayan region, Yadav called for enhanced scientific cooperation including strengthening research collaboration, and monitoring cryosphere changes, hydrological cycles, and biodiversity; building climate resilience: Investing in climate adaptation measures, early warning systems for disasters like Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), and climate-resilient infrastructure in mountain areas; empowering mountain communities: Ensuring that the welfare, needs and aspirations of local communities are at the heart of policy-making and their benefit from green livelihoods and sustainable tourism, among others. HT reported on May 13 that glaciologists and local communities mourned the loss of Nepal's Yala glacier, believed to be the first Nepalese glacier to be declared 'dead'. HT reported on April 21 that snow persistence in the Ganga basin this year has been 24.1% below normal — the lowest in the past 23 years, vis-a-vis 30.2% above normal (the highest) in 2015 — which could lead to reduced flows in early summer, as per ICIMOD. Snow persistence over the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region has plummeted to a 23-year record low, registering a staggering 23.6% fall from the long-term average. This unprecedented level of reduced snow cover, which measures the fraction of time snow remains on the ground after snowfall, underscores a significant and growing threat to water security of nearly 2 billion people who are dependent on the HKH's river systems, ICIMOD said, adding that the alarming statistic is compounded by the fact that 2025 marks the third consecutive year of below-normal seasonal snow across the region. On March 21, the World Meteorological Organisation said the period between 2022 and 2024 witnessed the largest three-year loss of glacier mass on record. Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Friday launched Nepal's nationally determined contribution 3.0 for 2035 period.
Times of Oman
04-05-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
India announces $200 million defence credit line for modernisation of Angola's armed forces
New Delhi: India and Angola have decided to boost their defence cooperation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi offering $200 million worth of lines of credit in defence sector during the visit of Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco. Briefing reporters about the visit, Secretary (Economic Relations), Dammu Ravi said defence is another area of cooperation that has attracted a lot of attention. 'During this visit, the Prime Minister has offered 200 million dollars worth of lines of credit, defence line of credit in Indian rupees. They will be sourcing defence equipment from India. Already they are in touch with the private companies and also public sector companies for various items to be sourced from India,' he said. 'Important aspect is there is a commonality. They have a large number of Soviet equipment, defence equipment, which needs to be serviced, overhauled, and do the maintenance. So in the days to come, both sides will be engaging, expert-level interactions as to how to take forward this particular cooperation,' he added. PM Modi held delegation-level talks with the visiting leader. In his remarks during the press statements, PM Modi said it is a historic moment and that President of Angola is visiting India after 38 years. 'His visit is not only giving a new direction and momentum to India-Angola ties, but also strengthening India-Africa partnership. This year, India and Angola are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. But our ties are much older and deeper than that. When Angola was fighting for its freedom, India stood by it with unwavering faith and friendship,' PM Modi said. 'Today, we have close cooperation in various sectors. India is one of the largest buyers of Angola's oil and gas. We have decided to expand our energy partnership. I am pleased to announce the approval of a $200 million defence credit line for the modernization of Angola's armed forces. We have also discussed the repair and overhaul of defence platforms and supplies. India would be glad to cooperate in the training of Angola's armed forces,' he added. PM Modi said India will share its capabilities with Angola in Digital Public Infrastructure, Space Technology, and Capacity Building. 'Today we have also decided to further strengthen our relations in the sectors of Healthcare, Diamond processing, fertilizer and Critical minerals. The popularity of Yoga and Bollywood in Angola reflects the deep cultural connection between our two countries. To strengthen our people-to-people relations, we have decided to start a Youth Exchange Programme among our youth,' PM Modi said. He said India welcomes Angola's decision to join the International Solar Alliance. 'We have also invited Angola to join India's initiatives Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, Big Cat Alliance and Global Biofuels Alliance,' PM Modi said. He said both agree that terrorism is the biggest threat to humanity. 'I thanked President Lourenço and the people of Angola for their condolences on the loss of lives in the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. We are committed to take firm and decisive action against the terrorists and those who support them. We thank Angola for their support in our fight against cross-border terrorism,' he said. PM Modi extended his best wishes to Angola for its chairmanship of the African Union. 'It is a matter of great pride for us that the African Union was granted permanent membership of the G20, during India's G20 presidency. India and African countries raised their voices in unison against colonial rule, inspiring one another in the process. Today, we stand united in advocating for the interests, hopes, expectations, and aspirations of the Global South,' he said. 'Our cooperation with African countries has gained momentum in the last decade. Our mutual trade has reached nearly $100 billion. There has been progress on defence cooperation and maritime security,' he said. Last month, the first naval maritime exercise between India and Africa, "AIKEYME' was conducted. PM Modi said that over the past decade, India has established 17 new embassies across Africa. 'Credit lines worth more than $12 billion have been allocated for Africa. Apart from this, grant assistance of $700 million has been given to African countries. Vocational training centres have been opened in 8 African countries. We are collaborating with five African countries in the development of Digital Public Infrastructure. In times of disaster, we have been privileged to serve as 'First Responders', standing shoulder to shoulder with the people of Africa,' PM Modi said. 'India and the African Union are partners in progress. We are pillars of the Global South. I am confident that under Angola's leadership, the relationship between India and the African Union will reach new heights,' he added.
