The annual flagship event of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), the World Sustainable Development Summit, recently made headlines. The 2021 summit focused on a theme of defining a common future that ensures the safety and security of the environment for everyone. TERI is a not-for-profit research institute established in 1974 to conduct research in energy, environment, and sustainable development for India and the Global South.
India’s Key Perspectives at the Event
At the summit, India put forth an emphasis on Climate Justice. This is a movement that recognizes the varying impacts climate change can have on economically disadvantaged populations. In the view of India, ‘climate justice’ is based on a vision of trusteeship where growth is marked by profound empathy for the poorest. It supports the space for developing nations to expand further.
India reassured its commitment to the Paris agreement targets to cut the emissions intensity of GDP by 33 to 35% from the 2005 figures. Highlights included India’s consistent strides toward Land Degradation Neutrality and the establishment of 450 GW of Renewable Energy capacity by 2030. India’s contributions under International Solar Alliance were also reviewed.
Enhancing Disaster Resilience: The Indian Commitment
India reiterated its commitment to enhance disaster management capabilities through the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). The CDRI comprises national governments, UN agencies, multilateral banks, private sector, and knowledge institutions. It aims to integrate resilience into infrastructure systems to ensure sustainable development.
Sustainable Development Efforts by India
India has made significant strides towards sustainable development. In March 2019, it achieved nearly 100% electrification using sustainable technologies and innovative models. Through the Ujala Programme, 367 million LED bulbs were distributed, resulting in a reduction of over 38 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
The PM Ujjwala Yojna provided over 80 million low-income households with access to clean cooking fuel. Efforts are underway to increase the share of natural gas from 6% to 15% in India’s energy mix. Moreover, the Jal Jeevan Mission connected over 34 million households with tap water connections in just 18 months. Conservation efforts have seen an increase in the population of lions, tigers, leopards, and Gangetic river dolphins.
About The World Sustainable Development Summit
The World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS), previously termed as Delhi Sustainable Development Summit, is TERI’s annual flagship event. It has been envisioned as a single platform to expedite action towards sustainable development and climate change by bringing together leaders and thinkers in the global environment, energy, and sustainable development sectors.
The Concept of Sustainable Development
As per the most widely accepted definition given by the Brundtland Commission, Sustainable Development refers to meeting present needs without sacrificing future generations’ capacity to meet theirs.
Climate Change: What Does it Entail?
Climate change implies long-term alterations in average weather patterns that define Earth’s local, regional, and global climates. Evidence of climate change is collected from key indicators such as land and ocean temperature rises; ice loss at the Earth’s poles and mountain glaciers; changes in frequency and severity of extreme weather events like hurricanes, heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, floods, and precipitation; and changes in cloud and vegetation covers.
