What UnEarth

There’s a lot to uncover in the 350 pages of niti aayog’s 2021 report on india’s performance in achieving the UN sdgs.

Here’s an outline in under a minute.

The report is essentially divided into 4 chapters. Three of these are pretty much entirely made up of data, comparing how sustainably developed India states really are. we’ll get to those.

The other chapter, however, deserves some attention. Because what it repeatedly stresses about, for nearly 50 pages, is the importance of government ‘partnerships’ with NGOs in ensuring India sustainably develops. At one point, the report outright says “Civil Society Organizations play an essential role in providing a voice to the vulnerable”.

That’s beautiful…maybe now the government will stop cracking down on NGOs, and arresting protestors? Or is the only vulnerable voice in need of protection that of the incumbent?

The NITI Aayog has put out its annual report detailing India’s progress in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs. This Report, however, is of particular importance, not just because its one of the rare occasions in recent times when the central government has put out comprehensive data, but it also acknowledges that we only have a decade left until things get really bad. The report basically compares the different Indian states and their performance against each other in achieving various SDG, such  as No Poverty, Zero Hunger, and Climate Action. Guess which Indian State performs the best! Hint: its kerala.

Since the government has been generous with the data, I’m going to be as detailed in analyzing the report. Watch this space through the next week.

Why do we celebrate 5th June as World Environment day? Because nearly half the year has gone and you’ve miserably failed in your new years resolution of segregating your trash. It’s a reminder to be a better person in the second half of the year.

No, okay, seriously though. 5th June is celebrated as world environment day as it marks the beginning of the UN Stockholm Conference, the first real global acknowledgment of humanity’s polluting effect on our ecology. In many ways, the Stockholm declaration, a result of the conference, has shaped many of the ideas central to the climate movement, including the idea of sustainable development. That’s right, we’ve been talking about sustainable development since 1972. 50 years later, how is India doing in achieving that goal? Watch this space to find out.

Here’s proof for why bad ecology leads to bad economy.

A recent report has revealed that 7 of the top 10, and 43 out of the 100 cities most exposed to environmental risks are in India. This isn’t news though. We’ve heard it year after year, and frankly, it seems like nobody -really- cares. It’s okay a couple million die each year because of polluted air, at least we’re getting that 5 trillion economy right? Well, maybe not.

Because this report isn’t by a human rights organization, it’s a research firm analysing business risk, and they recommend that global companies should invest in low risk cities across the world. If this anti-national report is to be trusted, india’s is going to have to become a lot more aatmanirbhar a lot faster.

The Delhi High Court recently held that the construction of Central Vista Avenue is of national importance and cannot be stopped. owing to the fact that no rules were being broken and the project has to be completed by November 2021, or else we risk causing hindrance to the Republic Day celebrations 2022, guys the Republic day celebrations! There’s so much to celebrate about our republic this year…right?!

I personally welcome this judgment, and the strict adherence to timelines of national importance. this is the judicial activism that was missing! Finally we can enforce the Supreme Court mandated deadlines for rejuvenating river Yamuna, or cleaning the air in Delhi, both of which have been pushed forward indefinitely for past 30 years or so…right?

Remember the Draft EIA 2020? The law that reduced public participation, exempted projects from seeking approval, allowed for post facto clearance, basically destroyed environmental protections? Yeah, that draft EIA 2020.

Well, a government report has analysed 20, 42, 157 objections in 10 different Indian languages, sent in by the Indian public for over a period of 5 months, and for some magical reason, they’ve concluded that there ‘this EIA might not be the best idea’, and that the government should reconsider the law in the larger interest of environmental protection

 Anusuiya Dev Sarmah explains how the Circle of Solidarity was solving several farmers problems during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Donate to Greenpeace India's Circle of Solidarity now! Find the link at linktr.ee/whatunearth

Find out more @whatunearth