AVMA, with its curriculum emphasizing biodiversity has initiated various measures to assist families in meeting their children’s educational needs. Some of these initiatives enable families to set aside funds over time which can then be utilized for higher education or career transitions.

The NYC Green School Conference celebrates various themes including vibrant eco-clubs and programs that engage students in activities like tree planting, waste reduction, and conservation, as well as spreading environmental awareness. The school’s educational focus extends to sustainable techniques, climate change, and ecological conservation. It actively fosters eco-consciousness through activities such as eco clubs, FSCI recognition, and a food safety committee.

AVMA has transformed its campus into an environmentally friendly space, utilizing solar power and implementing rainwater harvesting and waste management systems.

The school actively seeks global partnerships and collaborations, having already established partnerships with UNICEF and working towards finalizing a collaboration with UNESCO. These partnerships aim to share knowledge, facilitate the exchange of best practices, and engage in collaborative efforts to address global challenges while promoting sustainable practices.

AVMA holds the distinction of being the only private school in Gujarat to collaborate with UNICEF and the first private school in Ahmedabad city to receive accreditation from NABET under the Quality Council of India. The school actively participated in the Climate Action Summit, 2023, as part of its collaboration with UNICEF.

Furthermore, two students from AVMA, Alvina Roy and Gitanshu Chavda have earned full scholarships for AFS intercultural exchange programs in Brazil and China.

The Adani Foundation has partnered with NIE International under the facilitation of the Temasek Foundation (Singapore) to launch an extensive STEM Leadership Programme, furthering its commitment to education and sustainable practices.

Also Read: AIADMK Leader KP Munusamy Announces Party’s Plan to Forge Its Own Alliance in Tamil Nadu
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Thousands of litres of water are used, not only to create our favourite products, but also in the process of bringing them to our doorstep. This makes it a responsibility for people and organisations to ensure efficient, equitable and sustainable allocation of this resource. 

That’s why Leo Burnett, India’s foremost creative agency and AqVerium, the pioneering Digital Water Bank by AquaKraft Group Ventures has created a first of its kind Water Sustainability Score.

The world’s first water report card for brands – simply broken down in a 1-100 score, that talks about how water is sourced, used, wasted or recycled in the entire process of creating a product.

This initiative not only rates, but also helps brands with end-to-end solutions that help them offset their score and take stronger actions to becoming more water positive. This score is re-evaluated annually.

Adopting the Water Sustainability Score acts as a commitment from organisations to bring transparency and accountability in their efficient use of water.

Much like compliance logos such as the Cruelty free, Certified Vegan, Fairtrade, Energy Rating Label and the Recyclable symbol, this score can be displayed on the product, packaging and other corporate material through a unique symbol.

Brands from FMCG, lifestyle, electronics, automobile, construction and even airlines, everyone can use this score and show their commitment to water positivity, and give their consumers the choice of choosing a more sustainable product.

Speaking about this initiative Rajdeepak Das, CEO & CCO Leo Burnett South Asia and Chairman, Creative Council – Publicis Groupe India said “At Burnett we believe that creativity’s true power is in solving real problems of the world. The water crisis is already upon us and by adopting the Water Sustainability Score – a first of its kind report card on how water positive a brand really is can bring transparency and accountability in the indiscriminate use of water. This is not just an initiative but a true Humankind idea which has the potential to impact a billion by helping save one of the most important resources for earth – ‘water’ and take us forward to a water positive future.”

Speaking about the joint initiative, Dr. Subramanya Kusnur, Chairman & CEO of AquaKraft Group Ventures said “The water crisis is real and needs immediate action. A lot has been spoken about Climate with water clearly missing the narrative. We are thrilled to have partnered with Leo Burnett – an agency which is known for its impactful work on sustainability to not only amplify this message but take timely action towards this crisis. We already have mapped out water positive practices and getting brands to pledge towards the ‘Water Sustainability Score’ can be a game changer in water preservation. To this effect, we have onboarded Bangalore International Airport Limited on AqVerium and verified & validated the Water Audit report provided to us.  We are happy to present the first “Water Sustainability Score”, recognising & incentivising the water positivity of organisations, along with their commitment to sustainability. ”

The first brand to partner with Leo Burnett and AqVerium on this venture is the Bangalore International Airport Limited which is all set to be a recognised as a pioneer in its commitment towards water sustainability & stewardship.

The Water Sustainability Score was unveiled at the launch of AQUAFLUENCE – A Centre of Influence for Water Sustainability on July 25, 2023. AQUAFLUENCE, a joint initiative of the prestigious Institute of Chemical Technology (formerly known as UDCT) & AquaKraft was launched by Hon’ble Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat ji – Minister for Jal Shakti, Government of India. In his keynote address the Hon’ble Minister Shekhawat ji said “It is very heartening to see Bangalore International Airport Limited’s water sustainability program have voluntarily onboarded themselves on AquaKraft’s AqVerium which shows commitment towards corporate water stewardship. The Water Sustainability Score is an innovative way of branding sustainability and will build a healthy competition amongst corporates in water stewardship.”

There has been a noticeable impact of climate change on the world, but the topic shouldn’t just remain a conversation; we need to be aware of our natural surroundings and understand how our actions affect the environment locally and globally. That is exactly what Greenmosphere initiative has been working towards. Launched in 2021 by Adani Total Gas Limited, a joint venture between the Adani Group and Total Energies, this green corporate movement targets afforestation, outreach to millennials, and creating a platform for spreading awareness on energy conservation for our community circle.

Green Millennials

Raising awareness about environmental issues starts at school, where students, the future of our world, can learn from the eco initiatives that Greenmosphere has brilliantly tapped into. Through the Green Millennials platform, this initiative spreads awareness among millennials across all schools and colleges.

The awareness is raised through a structured program based on green technology, energy efficiency, and conservation. ATGL has partnered with CERC (Consumer Education and Research Centre) to launch the ATGL Greenmosphere Students’ Club for students of 30 selected schools with over 4250 members. An heirloom of a better future is generated by educating and implanting the seeds of optimal techniques and thoughts of environmentally conscious choices, along with engaging activities in which they will learn and grow in a greener future.

The Green Millennials Achievers Awards has been constituted recently, which is an interschool competition for the Greenmosphere Students’ Club of these schools. The nominations have been accepted in categories such as story writing, comic book creation, presentation, animation, poetry writing, slogan writing, working model to show different forms of energy, drawing, poster making, solo dance, group dance and skit, solo act. The awards ceremony, which will declare awards in 13 categories, is slated to be held in April.

The Greenmosphere park

In collaboration with Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), Greenmosphere is developing a Biodiversity Park at Gota in Ahmedabad. This 36,200 square meter park, whose foundation stone was laid on World Forest Day in March 2022, uses the Miyawaki methodology to grow dense, self-sustaining forests by planting two to four trees per square meter. The forest area will help lower temperatures, reduce air and noise pollution, become a habitat for birds and insects. It will also act as a carbon sink. Besides attracting a variety of birds, the park also provides an ideal ecosystem for aquatic animals.

The entire park is designed by innovative solutions of reusing waste materials in collaboration with students of Unitedworld Institute of Design (UID) – Karnavati University). The park has adopted permaculture technique that eliminates use of any chemicals or inorganic nutrients and improves soil and plant health by natural composting of fallen plant parts like leaves, twigs, fruits, seeds etc. The benches, pathway and other installations will be an iconic design made from waste or recycled material, making the project aligned to SDG 12, which is about Sustainable Consumption and Production Pattern.

In addition, the 2.5 lakh trees generate 1,536 metric tonnes of oxygen per year, which is aligned with SDG 13, which calls for action to combat climate change.
Natural forest walkways, bird-attracting trees, yoga lawns near water features, natural waterfalls and waterbodies, rest areas, natural contours like mounds, hilly land features, natural amphitheatres, butterfly gardens, herb gardens, medicinal plants, and public amenities are just some of the facilities available at the Park. In addition to attracting residents, seniors, students, educators, environmentalists, thinkers, and others, Gota’s Biodiversity Park will help fulfill SDG 15, which calls for communities to prevent, restore and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, manage forests sustainably, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and biodiversity loss by achieving sustainable development.

With a 1:1 male/female employee ratio, the overall project will see a healthy participation of women. This project also aligns with SDG 5, which calls on achieving gender equality and empowering women. ATGL’s business model ensures access to affordable, reliable, sustainable & modern energy for all, which is in line with SDG 7.

Speaking on the gravity of the issue, Dr J S Sharma Head ICCSA said, “India is the third largest emitter of methane, behind China and the United States. According to the Global Methane Assessment report by the United Nations, our methane emissions in 2020 were approximately 36 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent. Which means India’s contribution to global methane emissions is about 6 percent. The emissions from the agriculture sector accounted for about 60 percent.”

Dr Sharma said, while the country is investing in creating clean energy generation infrastructure, the country should deploy a regulatory framework to check methane emission while exploring low cost workable solutions to control methane emissions. There is a need to bring in mainstream mitigation policies to achieve the goal of Paris Agreement that is vital for a limit of 1.5 degree Celsius.

Speaking on the issue the chief guest of the session, Chairman AICTE Dr T G Sitharam said that India has the highest livestock population in the world and most of the livestock managed in and around village, we must seriously consider village planning where village people can be educated on waste management, sustainable water development and livestock feed and upkeep. It will play a crucial role in achievement of India’s Net Zero goals.

Agricultural activities such as rice cultivation and livestock farming are major sources of methane emissions in India. Methane is a far more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, and it has a pronounced effect within first two decades of its presence in the atmosphere, he added.

Dr Rakesh Kumar Officer on Special Duty at CSIR Headquarters said we believe local sources that are rich in minerals, and vitamins if mixed in cattle feed will not only control methane emission but also improve milk productivity and thereby increase the income of dairy farmers.

Ration balancing/ nutrient optimisation is one of the promising strategies for reducing enteric methane emission and improving sustainability of dairying in smallholder systems. Idea of organising workshops like this in sectors such as Oil & Gas, Transportation, Waste management, Mining, and Agriculture & Livestock, to bring scientists, experts and researchers together to develop and adopt workable solutions with localised inputs, Dr Kumar said adding.

With India’s Presidency of G20 where sustainability is one of the key subject that is relevant to al the stakeholders across the world, this congregation of experts will bring necessary expertise to address the climate goals.

Summit co-chair and Head CDMR, IIT Guwahati, Dr Sudip Mitra, said,    “With India setting tight deadlines for climate change goals, methane reduction becomes crucial. Climate smart and regenerative agriculture could be an efficient way to address the issue of methane emission from agriculture. Active research partnership with farmers to address the issue of methane emission management from agriculture sector is the need of the hour.”

Experts including Dr P K Iyer, officiating director IIT Guwahati, Dr Rajbir Singh Director ICAR-ATARI, Dr C K Varshney Advisor ICCSA and former Prof and Dean JNU, Dr Biswapati Mandal, Former Pro-Vice Chancellor at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidhalaya, Dr Anil Kumar Puniya Principal Scientist and Head Dairy Microbial Division, ICAR-NDRI, Dr Arti Bhatia Principal Scientist ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Dr Samarendra Hazarika Principal Scientist & HOD (Acting) ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, among others discussed that some of the processes can also work at concentrations of methane lower than other methods can address, even small fractions of 1 percent, which most methods cannot remove, and does so in air rather than pure oxygen, a major advantage for real-world deployment.

The event was attended by senior scientists from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, IIT Guwahati, All India Council for Technical Education, Benaras Hindu University, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, National Dairy Development Board, besides others. The experts also discussed ways and means to reduce methane emissions and also eliminate methane from the environment through collaboration.

Jiao Yahui, the head of the Bureau of Medical Administration under the National Health Commission (NHC), briefed the media stating that the number of deaths between December 8 to January 12 culminated to a total of 59,9378. Of the deceased, over 5,000 passed away due to respiratory failure, while the majority were suffering from the virus along with other diseases, with over 90% of the deceased being 65 and older. 

China had previously reported just over 5,000 deaths since the pandemic began, one of the lowest death rates in the world. Authorities were claiming five or fewer deaths a day over the past month, however, figures that did not match up to the long queues seen at funeral homes and neither did the visuals of body bags seen leaving the jam packed hospitals. 

China, which last reported it’s daily coronavirus death figures on Monday, has reportedly defended the data on the disease as credible information. 

The WHO said its Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreysus had spoken with Director of China’s National Health Commission Ma Xiaowei about the latest outbreak, which the UN agency said was similar to what had seen in other countries. 

Concerns over data transparency was a very pertinent reason for dozens of countries across the globe to demand pre-departure COVID-19 tests from Chinese traveller. 

Beijing, however, has objected to the curbs. Meanwhile, international health experts have predicted at least 1 million COVID-related death in the year.

In the letter, Mandaviya also emphasized on the compulsory usage of masks and sanitizers during the Yatra. According to the health ministry, only vaccinated persons should be involved in the march. 

In response to the letter, Congress MP Chidambaram slammed the Centre for targeting the party as no such restrictions had been imposed on any other public gatherings. primarily hinting at oppositions holding multiple rallies during the Assembly Elections. ‘If someone thinks that how can a small person question special people, what can I say about their mindset?,’ Mandaviya stated in relation to the objection put forth by Congress. 

He further said, ‘It’s my duty to ensure that COVID-19 doesn’t spread in the country. Three Rajasthan MPs have written to me expressing how a number of Yatra participants have been detected Covid positive’, while justifying his letter. 

Sources suggest that Rahul Gandhi has continued with his Bharat Jodo Yatra and has maintained silence in regards to Mansukh Mandaviya’s letter.

Titled Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the agreement emphasizes on 23 target points that encourage nations to conserve nature and protect biodiversity. The agreement particularly focuses on cutting subsidies posing harm to biodiversity by $550 Billion on a yearly basis, reducing the introduction of invasive alien species (those species that are non-native to an ecosystem) by 50 per cent and overlooking areas of high biodiversity importance. 

The effective conservation and management of terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine areas of particular importance to biodiversity by at least 30 per cent, has also been given ample weightage in the agreement.

India has been making contributions to meet its environmental and sustainable goals with the launch of LiFE Mission, earlier this year, which aims to boost healthy lifestyle choices that are sustainable in nature, in the efforts to reduce the global footprint of consumption and inculcate systematic waste management.

The 2022 Montreal Biodiversity Conference began on 7th December and concluded on 19th December, Monday.

Dr. Arora did issue a warning that India should not let its guard down. India had a one-day increase of 152 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, although there were no fatalities for the third day in a row.

While talking to ANI, Dr. N K Arora, “India still needs to be vigilant.”

He said, “I would say, we need to maintain a complete vigil on the quality of genetic surveillance as part of INSACOG.”

“We have been discussing this for three years in India but during the last three months, the cases have gradually come down and it is less than around 500-600 cases every day. Although 2,00,000 tests are being done every day and deaths are between five to 10 every day and sometimes even no deaths are reported. Most of these deaths are in your region with comorbidity and an incidental finding of COVID infection,” he said.

Dr. Arora further said, “India isn’t getting affected even after South Asian countries reporting several cases because of the hybrid immunization.”

“There is an outbreak of an increase in the number of cases in several South Asian countries as well as China, Japan, and Australia. Fortunately, 97 percent of our adult population has got two doses. Most of us have got natural infections. So there is a hybrid immunization and we are not seeing any serious outcome,” he added.

Globally , at least half of all people do not receive health services they need. Over 996 million people spend at least 10% of their household income on health care. In 2017, around 299 million people in the Region faced catastrophic health spending, and an estimated 117 million people in the Region were pushed or further pushed below the purchasing power parity poverty line of US$ 1.90 a day.

Since 2014, the South-East Asia Region has sought to achieve UHC as a Flagship Priority, recognizing that UHC is central to improve population health and well-being and enhance human capital for sustainable social and economic growth. Between 2010 and 2019, the Region increased its UHC service coverage index from 47 to 61. Between 2000 and 2018, the Region reduced out-of-pocket (OOP) spending on health from 50% to 40%, and between 2000 and 2017, reduced the number of households impoverished or further impoverished from OOP spending from 30% to 6%. Since 2014, the density of doctors, nurses and midwives in the Region has improved by over 30%, with nine countries now above the first WHO threshold of 22.8 health workers per 10 000 population, compared with six in 2014.

Five countries of the Region have already achieved the Sustainable Development Goal targets for under-five and neonatal mortality. Between 2000 and 2020, the Region achieved a 34% decline in TB incidence rates, and by the end of 2020, had met each of the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria milestones for mortality and morbidity. Since 2016, six countries of the Region have eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease, and all countries continue to strengthen PHC services to prevent, detect, control and treat noncommunicable diseases. This is in accordance with Region-wide efforts to reorient health systems towards quality, accessible, affordable and comprehensive PHC, as per the Region’s Strategy for PHC, launched on 12 December 2021, as well as its newly adopted Roadmap on Health Security and Health System Resilience for Emergencies 2023–2027.

Gaps and challenges nevertheless persist and have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis and other global events. Today, tens of millions more people in the Region have been pushed into extreme poverty, aggravating the social and economic determinants of health, and increasing the risk of catastrophic health spending and foregone care. In some programme areas, health service disruptions have halted and even reversed progress.

Intense macro-fiscal pressures mean that in the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, there is no guarantee that health will be prioritized. Now more than ever, whole-of-government, whole-of-society action is needed to protect, promote and support health and well-being, recognizing that Health for All will only be achieved if together we are All for Health.

For that, WHO is calling for action in several key areas.
First, multisectoral action to protect, promote and support health and well-being must be strengthened, and WHO’s health-in-all-policies approach adopted. Across all sectors, and in all settings, decision-makers must be sensitized and empowered to promote health and well-being and help mitigate its social and economic determinants.

Second, social participation must be mainstreamed within health system governance and decision-making. It is imperative that policy makers and health service providers directly engage with the people they serve, including through spaces and mechanisms that are participatory and inclusive, that minimize power asymmetries, and are oriented towards those who are at-risk of or already being left behind.

Third, legal frameworks must be developed and implemented to assist populations to enjoy the Right to Health through UHC. Evidence shows that well-designed legislation that protects and promotes population health increases social participation, and with it, accountability. It can also help ensure that whatever the fiscal outlook, health and well-being is allocated adequate, sustained and reliable public funds.

Fourth, amid the COVID-19 response and recovery, financing for health and well-being generally, and PHC specifically, must be maintained and increased. For this, among other evidence-based strategies, WHO is calling for increased taxation of unhealthy products such as tobacco, alcohol, highly processed food and sugar-sweetened beverages.

We have a once-in-a-century opportunity to build the Region and world we want – a Region and world that is healthier, more equitable, resilient, sustainable and health-secure. Towards that goal, WHO will continue to provide Member States its ongoing and unmitigated support, for a South-East Asia Region in which all people can access quality health services, when and where they need them, without financial hardship.