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India Gazette
5 days ago
- Business
- India Gazette
Essence of 'India Story' lies in keeping country first: Union Minister Bhupender Yadav at CII Summit
New Delhi [India], May 29 (ANI): Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav, on Thursday, addressed the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Annual Business Summit 2025 on the theme 'Building Trust - India First', and underscored that the essence of the India Story lies in always keeping India First. The Special Plenary Session address was focused on 'India's Climate Policy Architecture: Pathways for Emerging Economies'. Describing the 'India Story', Yadav portrayed it as a blend of tradition and transformation, where democracy walks alongside development, and compassion coexists with assertiveness. Addressing the summit, Union Minister Yadav praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative, Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), which transforms environmental protection into a participative process. He highlighted that Mission LiFE encourages communities, businesses, and individuals to collectively contribute to saving the planet. According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Union Minister Yadav outlined India's climate policy architecture, focusing on three key drivers, such as a self-reliant circular economy, which could be a path to sustainable growth. India is transitioning from a linear to a circular economy model, aiming to reduce waste and enhance resource efficiency. The government has introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines for various sectors, including tyres, batteries, plastics, and e-waste, to promote recycling and sustainable consumption. Between 2022 and 2024, the recycling sector attracted investments totalling Rs 10,000 crore, reflecting industry commitment to sustainable practices. The circular economy sector is projected to be worth 2 trillion dollars by 2050, creating approximately 10 million jobs. The second driver remains to protect natural ecosystems and to strengthen resilience, under which India has launched Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) and the nationwide campaign 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam', a community-driven initiative aimed at environmental conservation. The introduction of Green Credit Rules under Mission LiFE incentivises voluntary actions toward environmental conservation, fostering a culture of sustainability. The third driver is about promoting adaptation, which means building climate resilience. India recognises the challenges posed by climate change and is committed to building resilience through adaptation strategies. The government has released the Draft Framework of the Climate Finance Taxonomy, outlining methodologies for classifying activities under adaptation and mitigation. Moreover, the development of the first National Adaptation Plan, to be submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), focuses on enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening knowledge systems, and reducing exposure to climate risks. In a world characterised by geopolitical uncertainties, Yadav emphasised that India remains the most trusted partner globally. This trust is attributed to India's political stability, visionary leadership, cultural values, and unwavering commitment to a sustainable future. Union Minister Yadav urged industry leaders to actively participate in building a self-reliant circular economy. He invited them to join the Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Industry Coalition, launched under India's G20 Presidency, as a collaborative platform to facilitate knowledge-sharing and sustainable practices. (ANI)
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Business Standard
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
India to submit adaptation plan to UNFCCC in few months: Bhupender Yadav
India will submit its first National Adaptation Plan (NAP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in the coming months, Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Thursday. To strengthen efforts to address climate-related risks and enhance India's climate resilience, the government recently released a draft framework for a climate finance taxonomy. By detailing the methodology for classifying activities, projects and measures under adaptation and mitigation, the taxonomy is expected to contribute to India's climate commitments. It aims to facilitate investment in adaptation solutions and technologies that mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change. 'In a significant step towards strengthening adaptation, the government has embarked on a journey to create an inclusive roadmap through the development of the first National Adaptation Plan, which will be submitted to the UNFCCC in a few months,' Yadav said at the Confederation of Indian Industry's Annual Business Summit. The plan will be based on three pillars: enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening knowledge systems, and reducing exposure to climate change, he added. Business Standard had reported last month that India's forthcoming adaptation plan will be broader and more holistic, extending into economic and social structures to improve the scope of climate resilience. The NAP, expected to be submitted by September, will mark the country's first such framework aligned with its global commitments under the Paris Agreement. While India has the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), this will be the first adaptation-specific plan drafted in compliance with the Paris Agreement. The NAP will be built on eight key principles: country-driven; integrated and multi-sectoral; gender-responsive; participatory and transparent; inclusive of vulnerable groups, communities and ecosystems; science-driven and informed by traditional knowledge; iterative and adaptive; and coordinated through a 'whole-of-government' and 'whole-of-society' approach. It also aims to facilitate the integration of climate change adaptation measures with relevant existing and upcoming policies, programmes, development planning processes and strategies. This development is critical as the global average temperature is projected to remain between 1.2°C and 1.9°C above pre-industrial levels over the next five years. Rising temperatures have already led to an increase in the intensity and duration of extreme weather events—such as heatwaves, cyclones and hazardous climatic episodes—particularly affecting India and other Southeast Asian countries.
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Business Standard
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
India advocates for international financing mechanism to manage waste
India, at the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS COPs), called for predictable international financing mechanisms and the mobilisation of domestic resources through tools like progressive taxation, carbon levies, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to tackle chemicals and waste better for human health and the environment. The BRS COPs occur every two years and aim to advance global action on hazardous chemicals and waste management. These joint meetings, often referred to as a 'triple COP', provide a unique platform for discussing and implementing measures to safeguard human health and the environment. With the theme of 'Make visible the invisible: sound management of chemicals and wastes', the 2025 BRS COPs began on 28 April in Geneva and will conclude on 9 May. At a ministerial roundtable on 'Means of Implementation' on Wednesday, Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupendra Yadav said that effective execution of the BRS Conventions heavily depends on access to finance, technology transfer, capacity building, technical assistance, and enhanced international cooperation, according to an official statement. He outlined India's integrated approach to implementing the conventions through national legislation such as the Environment (Protection) Act, the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, and the E-Waste Management Rules of 2016, all supported by sustained investments in institutional and technical infrastructure. In 2022, India banned single-use plastic items that have limited utility but are frequently littered, damaging terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Despite this, India continues to be the largest plastic polluter in the world, releasing 9.3 million tonnes of plastic annually, as revealed by a study published in the journal Nature last year. The roundtable discussion underscored the need for strong institutional mechanisms. Participating ministers stressed the importance of inter-agency coordination, capacity building, and empowering environmental ministries to effectively lead the implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements. They recognised that robust data infrastructure and transparent monitoring systems are essential for evidence-based decision-making and building public trust. Ministers also called for enhanced regional cooperation, urging the strengthening of regional centres to facilitate technical exchanges, shared infrastructure, and capacity development. Special attention was given to the needs of conflict-affected nations and countries with limited institutional capacities. Proposals included providing direct access to international financing, conflict-sensitive programming, and tailored technical partnerships to ensure inclusive and equitable implementation. The discussion highlighted the need for innovative financing solutions, such as green bonds, debt-for-nature swaps, chemical certificates, and green loans, to attract private investment—especially in countries facing fiscal constraints or emerging from crises. The necessity for coherent and transparent regulatory frameworks that encourage private sector engagement through policies like bans on single-use plastics and tax incentives for green technologies was also emphasised. Furthermore, the importance of cross-sectoral alignment of environmental goals to drive transformative outcomes was highlighted. The 2023 BRS COPs resulted in several key outcomes for the management of hazardous chemicals and waste. These included the listing of three new chemicals under the Stockholm Convention, the addition of a pesticide to the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure under the Rotterdam Convention, and the adoption of technical guidelines for managing plastic waste, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) waste, and electronic waste (e-waste) under the Basel Convention.
Hans India
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Delhi govt puts off launch of 330 electric buses due to mourning on demise of Pope Francis
The Delhi government on Tuesday postponed its launch of 330 electric buses due to the national mourning on the demise of Pope Francis. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said a new date for the launch under the Delhi Electric Vehicle Interconnector (DEVI) scheme would be announced soon. In a message on social media site X, CM Gupta said, 'Due to the national mourning declared by the Government of India on the demise of His Holiness Pope Francis, the launch of electric buses under the DEVI scheme has been postponed. The new date will be announced soon.' The launch of the new fleet of nine-metre green mini-buses was planned to be a major step towards revolutionising the national capital's public transport sector and counter pollution. The now-postponed launch was to be presided over by Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav. Before deciding to delay the launch, CM Rekha said in a social media post, 'On this #EarthDay, we are taking a transformative step towards a greener future with the launch of 330 new electric buses under the #DEVI initiative...' 'This is our sincere effort to make Delhi's journey cleaner, safer, and more sustainable for generations to come. Join us today as we celebrate this historic milestone. Your support matters- together, let's drive Delhi towards a greener and healthier tomorrow!' she said. The green-coloured buses, which were earlier proposed to be named 'Mohalla Buses' by the previous AAP government, will soon hit the road. These buses were undergoing trial runs on half a dozen routes over the past few months. On the eve of the now-postponed launch, Delhi Transport Minister Pankaj Singh said that the free travel facility for women shall continue in the new buses, which will follow the existing fare rates followed in the bigger 12-metre-long buses. The mini-electric bus service, christened DEVI, promise to offer relief to citizens living in congested areas as these mini-buses are capable of moving easily on narrow roads. Each DEVI bus will have 23 seats and space for 13 standing passengers. With routes not longer than 12 km and a charging time of less than an hour, the DEVI buses, modelled on Delhi Metro's feeder buses, are likely to bring commuters from interior streets to wider arterial roads that are serviced by Delhi Transport Corporation's longer 12-metre buses. Officials said the first batch of Devi buses will operate from the Ghazipur, Nangloi and East Vinod Nagar depots.
