On World Water Day, which is celebrated every 22nd of March, three animation films were unveiled under the “H2Ooooh! – Water Wise program for the Children of India”. This initiative is a collaboration between National Mission for Clean Ganga, UNESCO, and other partners. The films are inspired by stories from school students that center on protecting and preserving Indian Rivers.
About UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is dedicated to fostering peace through international cooperation in education, science, and culture. It plays an instrumental role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals as defined in the 2030 Agenda, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015. UNESCO, headquartered in Paris, France, has 193 Member and 11 Associate Countries, with India joining the organization in 1946. In 2019, both the USA and Israel officially withdrew their membership.
UNESCO-IOC, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, is spearheading an international effort to establish ocean-based tsunami warning systems for an overall multi-hazard disaster reduction strategy. In 2020, it acknowledged two communities in Odisha, Venkatraipur and Noliasahi, as being prepared for tsunamis.
Other UNESCO Initiatives
UNESCO has several other programs aimed at promoting sustainability, including the Man and Biosphere Programme, World Heritage Programme, UNESCO Global Geopark Network, and the Network of Creative Cities.
About H2Ooooh! Initiative
In July 2021, UNESCO, in collaboration with the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), launched the H2Ooooh! initiative. This program is designed specifically for Indian school students from grades 1-8. Its main objectives are to raise awareness about the scarcity of water, promote its sustainable use, and discuss topics such as conservation and exploitation. The program encourages students to share their experiences and suggestions for environmental protection.
The initiative is divided into three phases to stir creativity and foster awareness on water preservation and its sustainable use among kids aged 6-14 years. It provides training and promotes submission of paintings and storylines for animated shorts. To date, around 31,000 students from 53 schools across 18 Indian states have actively participated, with assistance from over 400 teachers.
Major Indian Initiatives for Water Conservation
India has also launched other major initiatives to conserve water. These include Jal Kranti Abhiyan, National Water Mission, National Rural Drinking Water Programme, NITI Aayog Composite Water Management Index, Jal Jeevan Mission, Jal Shakti Abhiyan, Atal Bhujal Yojana, and National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme.
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
One of the questions in the UPSC Civil Services Examination was: “Momentum for Change: Climate Neutral Now” is an initiative launched by (2018) (a) The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(b) The UNEP Secretariat(c) The UNFCCC Secretariat(d) The World Meteorological Organisation. The correct answer is (c).