Haryana presents initiatives supporting Mission Life at COP 27 of UNFCCC at Sharm-El Sheikh, Egypt

A delegation led by Sh Vineet Garg, Additional Chief Secretary is presently in Sharm El Shiekh, Egypt for participation in CoP (Conference of Parties)-27 of UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). Delegation members include Sh Jagdish Chander, PCCF; Dr Vivek Saxena, APCCF and CEO CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority) and Dr T.P.Singh, Secretary, Forests.

UNFCCC is one of the Rio Conventions and more than 190 member countries are participating in CoP 27 to deliberate on challenges and road map for addressing climate change. For the first time, the Haryana delegation is participating in UNFCCC-CoP.

A side event was also hosted to Showcase“Haryana Initiatives to Support Climate Goals Through Actions for LiFE-Lifestyle for Environment.” under the visionary leadership and guidance of Hon’ble Chief Minister, Haryana Sh Manohar Lal Khattar, who also holds the Environment Portfolio and Sh Kanwar Pal, Forest and Education Minister, who has ensured the participation of students in youth in plantation and greening campaign.

Mission LiFE was launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister, Sh Narendra Modi and UN Secretary-General Sh António Guterres in October 2022 at Ekta Nagar, Gujrat, India. Dr Vivek Saxena presented initiatives of Haryana State to align climate action goals in convergence with five nectar elements (Panchamrit) of India’s climate action and commitments by the Honourable Prime Minister of India during COP 26 at Glasgow, UK. Haryana’s climate actions also address the adoption of LIFE (Lifestyle for Environment) as part of a global campaign launched on the occasion of World Environment Day 2022. The side event showcased initiatives of the Haryana Government that support climate goals and India’s commitment for climate neutrality by 2070.

a) Haryana State has led by example in promoting Agroforestry and Trees Outside Forest (TOF) and despite being a forest-deficient state with only about 3.5% area under forest, farm-based wood sourced from non-forest areas supporting about 50% of the plywood production of the country. Green livelihoods through support to farm-based wood industries and TOFs also facilitate a contribution to India’s commitments through Nationally Determined Contributions under Paris Climate Change Agreement. Haryana State is also a part of the USAID-supported TOFI (Tress Outside Forests in India) programme- to be implemented in seven states of India. TOFI programme will contribute to 420 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent sequestration and cover 2.8 million hectares of new land under TOFs.

b) Climate change and environmental sustainability require new research which is not bounded by existing disciplines. Haryana Government has proposed to promote research in such thematic areas to address the unpredictable impact of climate change on agriculture and livelihoods as part of a budgetary announcement. The side event will showcase the initiation of climate action through the setting up of six interdisciplinary centres focussing on thematic areas- Jal (water), Vayu (Air), Prithvi (Land), Jangal (Afforestation and Ecology) and Urja (Energy) and conduct research on processes and technologies for conservation of waste to usable products (Waste to Wealth).

c) Climate action for water conservation under the State campaign ‘Mera Pani Mera Virasat’ and incentive-based crop diversification for the adoption of crops having relatively less water demand. The campaign strives to make farming an efficient, climate-smart, economically viable, knowledge-based, progressive and respectable green livelihood venture contributing towards a green economy.

d) Wetland conservation and rejuvenation of water bodies and ponds through the focused campaign by The Haryana Pond and Waste Water Management Authority and Haryana Forest Department as part of National level Amrit Sarovar Mission’, Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. The mission promotes and monitors the development, protection, rejuvenation, conservation, construction and management of ponds & utilization of pond water after treatment thereof and for management and utilization of treated effluent of sewage effluent treatment plants for the purpose of irrigation, reducing the stress of exploitation of groundwater and for matters incidental thereto.

e) Forest landscape restoration planning through Restoration Opportunities Assessment Methodologies (ROAM) Tool for effective planning to restore the landscape. Haryana State has implemented IUCN supported project for mapping the opportunities for landscape-level planning. This methodology has been proven effective in assessing and laying the groundwork for FLR work with practical steps for diverse stakeholders to restore landscapes at any scale.

Sh Jagdish Chander, PCCF presented about Climate Change, Phenology and Agroforestry with special reference to Haryana. Dr T P Singh, Secretary of Forests presented initiatives to support Agroforestry based Tree Growers in accessing Carbon Markets for supplementing Green Livelihoods. Sh. Harjaap Singh Mann, Managing Director Skysight AI Pvt Ltd, India presented about results of a pilot study on an Artificial Intelligence based assessment of Trees & Biodiversity using Drones.

A panel discussion on “Potential of Forest and Natural Resources Deficient State in meeting Climate Goals, Green Livelihoods and Mission LIFE” was also organised regarding challenges and future road map for adopting and upscaling objectives of Mission Life. Ms Bharati Chaturvedi, Founder-Director, Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group expressed views regarding waste management and challenges in Haryana based on her experience at grassroots level.

The side event was attended by a large number of participants from various countries, UN organisations, Civil Society organisations and youth.