Expressing his concern over the unprecedented scale of environmental degradation and its drastic consequences, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu called upon all nations to collaborate and cooperate in an equally unparalleled manner to ensure sustainable development.

He said that inclusive development was central to sustainable development. It also encompasses sustainable agriculture; sustainable mobility solutions; sustainable urbanization; sustainable energy security and clean energy; sustainable waste management; sustainable efforts in wildlife conservation and sustainable green innovations.

Addressing the World Sustainable Development Summit 2019, organized by The Energy and Resources Institute – TERI, Naidu said that India’s traditional practices reflected a sustainable lifestyle and the Vedic philosophy of India always emphasized the undeniable connection that human beings share with nature.

The Vice President said that every individual must contribute to sustainable development, whether by turning the ignition off at long traffic stops or by recycling and composting or by cycling to work in congested cities.

Emphasizing the importance of judicious use of resources to save them for future generations, he said that one must realize that we are not inheritors but merely trustees of this earth.. It is our prime responsibility to pass it on to posterity in its pristine glory, he added.

Pointing out that the immediate impacts of climate change were felt by developing countries, because of higher dependence on climatic variables, Naidu said that everyone must join hands to minimize the impact of climate change.

The Vice President lauded the efforts of government for initiating efforts to create International Solar Alliance with France for promoting clean energy.

He said that India was on the course to achieving 175 GW renewable energy target and 40% of India’s electricity generation is set to be from non fossil fuels, by 2022.

India is committed to reducing 33 to 35 percent of emission intensity of its GDP during 2005 to 2030 in tune with its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), he added.

The Vice President said that there was an urgent need to make use of the endless possibilities of biotechnology and nano technology to develop a range of green products including nano-fertilisers to attain sustainability in agriculture.

Saying that working with farmers to increase awareness on climate change was crucial, he also stressed upon the need to move towards more efficient systems of irrigation with ‘more crop per drop’ as a mantra. Greater thrust has to be placed on organic farming and on the use of natural means of pest control, he added.