On 19th July, 2024, commemorating the 4th International Climate Summit on “Bioenergy: Path to Viksit Bharat” at New Delhi, Jagdeep Dhankhar, Vice-President, cautioned that climate change is a ticking time bomb an existential crisis for mankind, informed PIB.
“Our planet, once a pristine green heaven, is not a shade of its past. Bled by climate change, triggered by reckless exploitation of natural resources and deforestation, the planet has been brought near catastrophe,” he said while warning that “humanity is cliff hanging.” Dhankhar while delivering keynote address at the valedictory session stated, “there is no contingent plan, no other planet than earth and it needs to be conserved and nurtured.”
Further, Dhankhar stressed on the issues of prolonged droughts, intensified wildfires, and unprecedented storms, and stated that, “these changes not only endanger vulnerable populations but also threaten biodiversity and food security, placing significant strain on our natural resources and agricultural systems,” which is leading to community collapse.
Referring to our age old values, the Vice-President noted that “harmonious coexistence with nature, and deep respect for our ecology, has been an intrinsic facet of Bharat’s civilisational ethos.”
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Dhankhar lauded the leadership role played by Bharat in bringing about sustainable energy through Global Biofuel Alliance, Green Hydrogen Mission and International Solar Alliance. “Modern bioenergy not only provides clean fuels, but also helps mitigate pollution, enhances farmers’ income, reduces import bills, and creates local jobs,” he stated highlighting clean energy.
“When the day of reckoning will come, nobody will be spared. And therefore, we have to move unitedly, as much as we can, unleash our energy to the maximum, exploit our potential, give everything we can,” he added exhorting all stakeholders including the governments, corporate leaders and the people for a collective action to tackle this menace.
Acknowledging the revolutionary potential of the ‘Ek Ped Maa ke Naam’ campaign, he said, “this is not just an emotive appeal or a slogan, it is a revolutionary step. The step will ensure that 1.4 billion people will plant it every year. It will have great positive, cascading impact. It will help us deal with the existential problem, a problem that is of our making – exploitation of natural resources and deforestation.”
Sanjeev Agarwal, President, PHDCCI, Hemant Jain, Sr. Vice President, PHDCCI, Dr. J P Gupta, Chair, Environment & Climate Change, Dr. Ranjeet Mehta, Executive Director, PHDCCI and other dignitaries were present on this occasion.
