In news– The United Nations (UN) has recognized Namami Gange initiative to rejuvenate India’s sacred River Ganga as one of the top 10 World Restoration Flagships to revive the natural world.
Key updates-
- The Award was received by the Director General, Namami Gange at a function in the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) in Montreal, Canada on 14th December 2022, the World Restoration Day.
- Namami Gange was selected from over 150 such initiatives from 70 countries across the globe.
- They were selected under the banner of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
- The recognized initiatives, including Namami Gange, will now be eligible to receive UN support, funding or technical expertise.
What is the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration?
- It is a global movement coordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
- The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration runs from 2021 to 2030.
- It is designed to prevent and reverse the degradation of natural spaces across the planet.
- It aims to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean.
- It can help to end poverty, combat climate change and prevent a mass extinction.
- Following on from the 2011 – 2020 United Nations Decade on Biodiversity, the decade on Ecosystem Restoration was launched in June 2021.
- The United Nations called for countries to follow through on existing pledges to restore a total area similar to the size of China by 2030.
About Namami Gange-
‘Namami Gange Programme’, is an Integrated Conservation Mission, approved as ‘Flagship Programme’ by the Union Government in June 2014 with budget outlay of Rs.20,000 Crore to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.
Main pillars of the programme are:
- Sewerage Treatment Infrastructure.
- River-Front Development.
- River-Surface Cleaning.
- Bio-Diversity.
- Afforestation.
- Public Awareness.
Note:
- The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has previously won the “Public Water Agency of the Year” in the Global Water Awards, 2019 by Global Water Intelligence 3.
- The documentary ‘Ganga: River from the Skies’ co-produced with National Geographic India, has also received awards under three categories- Best Documentary, Best Current Affairs and Best Natural History or Wildlife Programme- in the Asian Academy Creative Awards, 2022.