India has to expand on agriculture and infrastructure development. If not planned and executed carefully, this expansion could add to the existing challenges of deforestation, air pollution and plastic pollution. Representative Image | Photo Credit: Mustafa KK
As the world’s most populous country and one of the fastest growing economies, India has immense human resources. However, ensuring food and water security for more than 1.4 billion people will mean both agricultural expansion and infrastructure development. If not planned and executed carefully, this expansion could exacerbate existing challenges of deforestation, air pollution and plastic pollution, which could have a significant impact on endangered species, habitats and key terrestrial and marine ecosystems, said Sheikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, EAD.
The UAE has won the bid to host the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi in 2025. The event, to be held in Abu Dhabi in October 2025, is expected to attract an estimated 10,000-15,000 delegates from over 160 countries around the world and is expected to be an event that can inspire conservation actions to protect the planet amid local and global challenges.
India’s role
In an interview with The Hindu, Ms. Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of the EAD, which presented the bid on behalf of Abu Dhabi and the UAE government, talked about what the Congress hopes to achieve, what it means for the Middle East and India’s role in it.
“India can help shape the agenda of Congress to achieve positive outcomes for biodiversity and the environment. India has been a member of IUCN since 1969 and two former presidents of IUCN came from India. India has a significant presence in IUCN and has a National Committee with over 30 members representing governments, non-governmental organizations and civil societies. It is this diverse membership, which brings wide-ranging knowledge and expertise, from policy making to natural resource management to livelihoods and food security, that will further enrich the Congressional discussions,” he said.
Listing the challenges faced by India, he pointed out that their resolution would depend on finding innovative solutions, integrating the best of information, communication and space technologies. “India, with its vast technology infrastructure, huge pool of skilled IT resources and advanced space programme, is well equipped to deal with them and demonstrate its leadership to the world. India can play an equally important role in the climate discussion, especially as the country grapples with air pollution challenges in some of its largest metropolitan cities. Much will depend on the coordination between the country’s energy and environmental policies,” he said.
subject to be determined
Although the IUCN has not yet decided on the themes of the 2025 Congress, it said the Congress is likely to focus on key concerns and challenges related to biodiversity, climate change, pollution and overall environmental sustainability. He said that an important part of the deliberations will also revolve around the ways and mechanisms to meet the Global Biodiversity Framework.
“The challenges of biodiversity loss remain our most pressing concern and also an urgent challenge. It is important that Congress KM identifies clear directions for implementing actions under the Global Biodiversity Framework, halting and reversing biodiversity loss and restoring nature through its 23 targets over the next decade. As the IUCN Congress will take place within a year from Climate COP28 in the UAE, it will provide an ideal opportunity to take forward the discussions and actions from the COP and ensure the integration of climate goals and actions into the resolutions coming from the IUCN Congress,” she explained.
Finding long-term finance for species conservation and ecosystem restoration in particular will be a major challenge the world needs to focus on. He said that from a climate change perspective, the transition to clean energy and the development of infrastructure and services will also be a significant challenge in achieving NetZero ambitions.
On what hosting the Congress meant for the Middle East, he said it was returning to the region after a gap of 25 years as the last Congress in the region was held in Amman in 2000. “Bringing the Congress after such a long hiatus is important for the Middle East region and will bring regional conservation issues to the fore, as well as showcase the achievements and progress the region has made despite enormous environmental and geopolitical challenges. The 2025 Congress in Abu Dhabi will also be important for the South and South-East Asia region,” she said.