Modi makes green pitch, raises restoration target

PM says 26mn hectares of degraded land to be restored by 2030

Degraded land spanning 26 million hectares (ha) in India will be restored by 2030, PM Narendra Modi announced at the 14th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP14 UNCCD) being hosted by India, taking up target by five million from the current 21 million ha.

About 96 million hectares, or 29.23%, of India’s land area is undergoing degradation, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (Isro) land atlas 2016. Around 27% of the degraded land will be restored by 2030, according to the new target.

“Going forward, India would be happy to propose initiatives for greater South-south cooperation in addressing issues of climate change, biodiversity and land degradation,” Modi said at the opening of the high-level segment of COP14, which will close on September 13.

With many desertification-affected countries expecting India to share satellite-technology to track the implementation of land degradation control policies, Modi announced the setting set up a South-south Centre for Sustainable Land Restoration to share knowledge and training. “India would be happy to help other friendly countries develop land restoration strategies through cost-effective satellite and space technology,” he added.

The Prime Minister also repeated his promise of phasing out single use plastic starting October 2. “The menace of plastic waste has rendered large tracts of land unproductive and unfit for use. The way ahead is behaviour change,” he said.

Immediately after COP 14, the UN will host the Climate Action Summit which will call on world leaders to take urgent action on climate change. “Agreements we reach here will be crucial in protecting and managing land,” said Ibrahim Thiaw, executive secretary, UNCCD. The convention, however, hasn’t mobilised the kind of funds needed to reverse desertification. “We need public and private funds. We are still far short of resources,” said Thiaw.

Of the 196 countries that are parties to the UNCCD, 122, including India, have agreed to become land degradation neutral by 2030, as specified in Goal 15.3 of the sustainable development goals (SDGS). Around 90 countries, including India, have specific targets on how much degraded land will be restored. Environment minister and COP14 president Prakash Javadekar said the New Delhi draft declaration is almost ready and will feature commitments by ministers from parties to the UNCCD on what they will do to curb and reverse desertification. It will also capture significant issues such as drought-led migration, land tenure and gender equity.

India would be happy to help other friendly countries develop land restoration strategies through cost-effective... technology.

NARENDRA MODI, Prime Minister