Current Affairs - Environment

COP16, the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), was held in Rome, where global leaders committed to securing $200 billion annually to protect biodiversity and implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The agreement also included the establishment of the Cali Fund to ensure fair benefit-sharing from genetic resource data. Additionally, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) allocated over $3 billion, leveraging a total of $22 billion for biodiversity conservation efforts worldwide.

The Cali Fund was launched at COP16 in Rome on February 25, 2025, to gather contributions from businesses using Digital Sequence Information (DSI) like genetic data. The fund is dedicated to supporting biodiversity conservation, with a focus on directing at least 50% of its resources to indigenous peoples and local communities. Managed by the UNDP and UNEP, the Cali Fund aims to support various conservation projects to safeguard biodiversity globally.

Denmark launched the Green Transition Alliance India (GTAI) to strengthen its collaboration with India in the field of sustainable energy solutions. The initiative aims to fast-track both nations' efforts toward global carbon neutrality through cooperation in renewable energy, green fuels, and energy efficiency. The initiative is a part of the Green Strategic Partnership (GSP) between Denmark and India, focusing on accelerating the transition to net zero emissions, with Denmark aiming for net zero by 2045 and India by 2070. Various Danish companies and strategic partners will play crucial roles in the initiative.

Bisleri International has partnered with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under the ‘Adopt a Heritage 2.0 Programme’ to restore and protect historic water bodies at heritage sites across India. This collaboration is part of Bisleri’s CSR initiative, ‘Nayi Umeed,’ which focuses on water conservation and environmental sustainability. The project will start by revitalizing four significant water bodies in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, contributing to ecological restoration and improving tourism experiences while preserving India’s heritage.

The proposed Aravali Safari Park, which is planned to be the world’s largest safari park, is located in Haryana. The project is designed to support eco-tourism and compensatory afforestation while addressing the loss of tropical forests in Great Nicobar. The Aravalis, which stretch across Haryana, play a vital role in groundwater recharge and preventing desertification. The park aims to mitigate ecological impacts, but it has sparked debates about its potential effects on the region's ecology, wildlife, and groundwater resources. The park will be developed in areas with less than 40% forest density.