Minister gives insight into long-term low emission strategy
The Government is working on Circular Economy with interventions aimed at lifecycle management of chemicals and wastes, Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, has told a local summit.
“The primary objective is to implement the principle of reduce, reuse and recycle to achieve environmental sustainability,” he told delegates at the 3rd edition of the summit on ‘Global Chemicals & Petrochemicals Manufacturing Hubs in India’ organized by FICCI.
“We are actively taking up the regulation of waste management to align them with the sustainability principle of extended producer responsibility, circular economy, and resource efficiency.”
He elaborated that the government’s long-term low emission development strategy to reach out net zero is multifaceted and includes:
timebound policies and program for promotion of clean and renewable energy;
enhancement of energy efficiency; development of less carbon-intensive and resilient urban centres, promotion of waste to wealth initiative;
adoption of safe, smart and sustainable green transportation network;
abetment of pollution and increasing the carbon sink by intensifying efforts of forest and tree cover increase.
“Despite our national interest and requirements of rapid economic development, we are committed to low carbon strategies wherein the role of chemical and petrochemical industry would be significant,” said the Minister.
Emphasizing on chemicals being an integral part of the modern society and the failure of managed chemicals, Yadav said, “Over a period of time, India has come a long way in regulating the domestic issues of chemical management.
“An action is underway in coordination with the UN environment to develop the national implementation plan which would bring in place a strategy for their management.
“Similarly, a robust institutional management has been put in place to regulate the international trade of hazardous chemicals under the Rotterdam and Minamata Conventions.”
The Minister further asserted, “As our country moves into the future, we must remember that our work extends beyond manufacturing, and we must focus to create a sustainable tomorrow.”
Dr Prashant Gargava, Member Secretary, Central Pollution Control Board, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, said, “CPCB works closely with industry to try to establish a system to minimize waste; we work with industry on the circular economy.”
The summit was held 27-28 July 2023. Fiinews.com
