U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity, COP 15 Commences in Canada
U.N.
Convention on Biological Diversity, COP 15 Commences in Canada
Why
In News
The
United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, also called as Conference of
Parties (COP-15) commenced in Montreal, Canada on 7 December 2022.
Key Points
The United Nations Convention on Biological
Diversity, also called as Conference of Parties (COP-15) commenced in
Montreal, Canada on 7 December 2022. The two-weeklong conference (7-19
December 2022) was originally scheduled to be held in Kunming,
China in October but was shifted to Montreal, Canada due to covid
situation in China.
This is the second part of the COP15. The
first part was hosted by China on 18 August 2021 virtually and the second part
was to be held in a face to face conference but it has been shifted from China
to Canada. However the host of the COP15 in Montreal is still China.
During COP15, negotiators are expected to
finalize and sign a document called the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity
Framework. One can think of it as the Paris agreement but for
biodiversity — a strategy with nearly two dozen measurable targets designed to
conserve ecosystems and the benefits they provide, such as food and
plant-derived medicines.
One of the splashiest and most contested targets
is a commitment to conserve at least 30 percent of Earth’s land and water
by 2030. The agreement also addresses another controversial
topic: Who will pay for all of this? This is especially relevant for
poorer nations and Indigenous communities, which harbor most of the world’s
remaining biodiversity.
The
Convention on Biological Diversity:
The UN
oversees hundreds of global treaties on everything from human rights to
outer space. They’re essentially contracts between a bunch of countries that
stipulate how they should behave, and they’re legally binding. One of them is
the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) — that’s what
sprouted the Paris agreement and the goal to keep global warming below 1.5
degrees Celsius.
A related treaty is the Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD), which dates back to the early ’90s. It lays
out three primary goals:-
To conserve biodiversity, which includes
species, ecosystems, and genetic diversity.
To use its components, like wild animals, in a
sustainable way.
And
to share the various benefits of genetic resources fairly.
Those resources might include medicines derived from bacteria or genes
that produce desirable traits in crops, such as drought tolerance.
Parties
to the CBD normally meet every two years at events known as the
Conference of the Parties, or COP, to check in on progress and update the terms
of the contract. That’s what’s starting now in Montreal (COP15 was
supposed to begin in 2020, but it got delayed several times due to Covid; the
first part of the event took place last year in Kunming, China).
Basic History
The first COP -1 was held in Nassau,
Bahamas 1994.
The
14th meeting was held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt (17-19 November 2018).
Opening Ceremony of International Year of Millets 2023 Held in Rome
Opening
Ceremony of International Year of Millets 2023 Held in Rome
Why
In News
The
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, organized an
opening ceremony for the International Year of Millets – 2023 (IYM2023) in
Rome, Italy.
Key Points
The Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) of the United Nations, organized an opening ceremony for
the International Year of Millets – 2023 (IYM2023) in Rome, Italy. An
Indian delegation led by Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, Minister of State,
Agriculture & Farmers Welfare were present at the opening ceremony.
During the event, India’s ceremonial message by the Prime Minister Shri
Narendra Modi was conveyed by Sushri Shobha Karandlaje.
India’s Approach
Sushri
Shobha Karandlaje conveyed PM Modi’s compliments to the United Nations for
declaring the Year 2023 as the International Year of Millets. PM, through
his message, thanked the global community for supporting India’s proposal to
mark the International Year of Millets (IYM).
Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, in her speech, said
nations need to collaborate to develop a sustainable future, and millets will
play a pivotal role in the process. There is an opportunity to contribute to
the future well-being of mankind by bringing back ancient food grains through
IYM. India will steer the IYM2023 celebrations worldwide and organise campaigns
to promote the cultivation and consumption of Millets, both in India and abroad
during the next year.
Sushri Shobha Karandlaje said the IYM2023 will
lead India towards Food and Nutritional Security. Millets are considered
‘Smart Food’ as they are easy to cultivate, mostly organic and contains high
nutritional value, she said. With PM Modi’s vision of “Vasudaiva
Kutumbakam” (The World is One Family), the IYM2023 celebration is an
opportunity for India to promote Nutri-cereal Millets globally and
place them in the world’s ‘food map‘, she added.
Speaking on the occasion, Director General, FAO
Mr. QU Dongyu said the IYM2023 will provide us with a unique opportunity to
give visibility to crops that have great potential to strengthen global
nutrition, food security, decent jobs & economies, while accelerating
Climate Action. Millets are basically Asian crops, climate resilient, lead
to sustainable development and help ensure Food Security & Nutrition for
all, he said.
Importance Of Millets:
Millets are resilient and rain-fed crops that thrive in dry regions and grow well in conditions of low soil fertility and moisture. In terms of nutritional value, millets are superior to popular cereals like wheat and rice. The calcium, iron and fibre content of millets provide important nutrients for children’s healthy growth.