NCAS

I NTERFACE

June 2017

FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION

IN THIS ISSUE

Sustainable Development Goals & The Environment

UPDATES

1. NCAS Foundation Course on Public Policy and Advocacy- Lectures

2. Field visit to Paani Panchayat and Shashwat

3. Valedictory Function of

Foundation Course students

FROM NCAS DESK

First, we express our deep sorrow on the passing of Justice P.N. Bhagwati, former Chief

Justice of India on the 15th of June, 2017. He was also the first president of NCAS. With

his death, we have lost a mentor and guide. His presence and valued guidance will be

missed.

World Environment Day, globally celebrated on the 5th of June since 1974, is a reminder

that there is only one earth. The past few decades have been the worst for the

environment in human history; global warming, depletion of the ozone layer, rising sea

levels, and higher levels of pollution and emissions. ‘Save the Planet’ is a common

refrain that urges every individual to make environment friendly choices and thereby,

save the planet.

While we do need to make environment friendly choices, let’s not fool ourselves into

believing that we are doing it for the sake of the planet. Strip away all the slogans, and

the glaring truth is that it is humans who need saving. Earth was formed 4.56 million

years ago. The Earth has witnessed ice ages and extinction of several species long

before human beings were part of the picture. The recent US withdrawal from the Paris

accord in the name of growth is short-sighted. Attempting to gather wealth at the cost

of the environment could only lead to a very damning end. It is in the interest of our

own survival that we monitor our choices and respect what nature has to offer. The

sustainable goals are aimed at ensuring growth as well as sustainability.

We briefly look at Sustainable Development Goals and state of the environment at the

global and national level in this issue of Interface. Let’s keep in mind that there is,

indeed, Only One Earth. Do write to us with your feedback and suggestions at interface@ncasindia.org In solidarity

Team NCAS

Sustainable Development Goals & The Environment

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) came into force on in January, 2016. The Global Goals were

adopted by world leaders in September 2015. Following the largely successful Millennium Development Goals

set till 2015, a need for a new development agenda was recognised in 2012. The SDGs were compiled through

participation and negotiations with 193 member states of the United Nations as well as other stakeholders and

civil society. This new sustainable agenda includes 17 goals aimed at ending extreme poverty, addressing

climate change and fighting inequality and injustice.

The 17 Global goals cover poverty, hunger, health, gender, energy and environment to name a few. Each of

these goals has specific targets that are to be achieved by 2030. Goals 13, 14 and 15 of the summit relate to the

environment covering climate change, oceans, biodiversity, forests and desertification. In this write-up, we

focus on climate change.

Through a UN resolution adopted on the 15th of December, 1972, 5th of June was designated as World

Environment Day (WED) coinciding with the first day of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment

held from 5th to 16th June, 1972. The day was first celebrated in 1974 with the slogan ‘Only One Earth.1

In 2011, India was the global host of WED with the theme being ‘Forests: Nature at Your Service’.2 On this WED,

here’s looking at the status of environment at the global and local level with respect to emission levels,

temperatures, and sea level.

Emissions: After the Kyoto protocol that set internationally binding emission levels, the Paris Climate

Conference in 2015 set Nationally Determined Contributions. At this conference, India has pledged to reduce its

GHG emissions by 20% to 25% by 2020 as compared to 20053. This will only be possible through a sincere

commitment that translates into effective policies and interventions. Additionally, research into climate change

and efficient systems of monitoring and evaluations would play a key role. Below is a graphic representation of

the same.

1 http://www.un.org/en/events/environmentday/background.shtml

2 http://www.unric.org/en/world-environment-day/26969-india-hosts-environment-day

3 State of Environment Report Draft- India 2015

NCAS I NTERFACE | June 17 | 2

Temperature Rise: With respect to rising

temperatures, the Intergovernmental Panel on

Climate Change (IPCC) found that between

1880 and 2012, average global temperature

increased by 0.85oC. 4 According to the State

of Environment report of India, 2015, the last

decade (2006-2016) was the warmest on

record. There appears to be no relief in sight

with projections of further increase in

temperatures and cyclonic disturbances.

4 http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals/goal-13-climate-

action/targets/

NCAS I NTERFACE | June 17 | 3

Country-wise total GHG and GHG per capita emissions Cited by SoER India, 2015 from World Resources Institute, 2014

Observed temperature trend over India (1901-2015)

Cited by SoER India, 2015 from India Meteorological Department, Annual Climate Summary, 2015

Global Mean Temperature; January to June

Credits: NASA/Goddard Institute for Space Studies

The graph shows rise in sea level since 1993 to Feb, 2017.

Source: https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/sea-level/

Rise in Sea levels: Related to an increase in global

warming, sea levels have been rising across the

globe. High levels of heat trapping gases leads to

accelerated melting of glaciers and ice caps,

leading to higher sea levels. Increase in floods,

more rapid coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion

into aquifers and surface water and rising water

tables are just a few consequences of this trend.5

Marine life and aquatic habitats would also be

damaged.

The consequences of a warmer planet are far reaching and severely damaging. Climate change is a fact that can

no longer be ignored, and the SDG on climate change is a step in the right direction. While the governments

should take necessary steps and execute meaningful interventions, individuals can affect positive change

through everyday choices. This World Environment Day, let each one of us pledge to make a difference in your

own small way.

5 https://www.serdp-estcp.org/Featured-Initiatives/Climate-Change-and-Impacts-of-Sea-Level-Rise

NCAS I NTERFACE | May 17 | 4

UPDATES

A glimpse at the lectures during the Foundation Course on Public Policy and Advocacy

NCAS | INTERFACE | May 17 | 5

Images from top left to right:

1. Gayatri Nair, Assistant Professor at Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts, conducting a session on ‘Indian Society’.

2. Kiran Moghe, AIDWA, conducting a session on ‘Indian Economy’.

3. Nagmani Rao, Karve Institute of Social Service, Pune, conducting session on ‘History of Social Movements in India’.

Field Visits to Paani Panchayat (left) and Shashwat (right) on 3rd & 9th of June, 2017

NCAS | INTERFACE | June 17 | 6

5. Justice P.B. Sawant, former Chief Justice of SC, interacting with participants on ‘Human Rights and Constitution of India’.

6. Dr. Chaitra Redkar, Assistant professor of Political Science at SNDT, Pune, conducting session on ‘Exclusion and Discrimination’.

7. Dr. Anjali Kanitkar, Director of Social Audit under Gov. of Maharashtra, conducting a session on ‘Transparency and Accountability’.

8. Ajit Abhyankar, Jana Vitta Abhiyan, conducting a session on ‘Demonitisation and Black Money’.

9. Dr. Shailendra Kharat, Associate professor at Department of Politics & Public Administration, Savitribai Phule Pune University, conducting a session on ‘Public Policy Analysis’.

10. Seema Kakade, activist and expert on transparency and accountability, conducting a session on ‘Social Audit in MGNREGA’.

11. Dr. Nitin jadhav, SATHI, conducting a session on ‘Community Based Monitoring of Health Services’.

12. Amit Narkar, executive director of NCAS, interacting on ‘Right to Information’.

13. Ananya Parikh and Nikhil Narkar, Assistant Professors at Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts, Pune, conducting a session on ‘Film and Social Change’.

14. Sehjo Singh, Director of Programmes and Policy at Action Aid India, conducting a session on ‘Media Advocacy’.

15. Josantony Joseph conducted a day long workshop on ‘Advocacy’, focusing on Sustainable Development Goals.

16. Amit Narkar conducting a session on ‘Advocacy with Institutions’.

Valedictory Ceremony

NCAS | INTERFACE | June 17 | 7

Testimonies:

“Paani Panchayat actively seeks to bind the community together in the face of adversity, through not only

increased awareness but an equitable and people-centred approach to water conservation and environmental

sustainability. This approach has proved to be very successful, due to largely its participatory nature.”- Enid Still

“Vilasrao Salunke exemplified all he preached. He lent amazing clarity to the seemingly simple concept of

equitable distribution of water…He believed that struggle, as much as proactive work, was essential for those

seeking to serve the society and the nation.”- Ravishankar Bhande

“Shashwat, a grassroots NGO, came into existence to deal with the issues of displacement arising from the

construction of Dimbhe Dam…They dealt with it in an efficient way to address livelihood challenges with gender

equality, ecological concerns, educations, health and appropriate use of technologies.” – Shubham Bhardwaj

“They are working with tribal populations in the catchment area of the Dimbhe dam. They help the local

community develop small-scale fishing activities in the dam reservoir, and their work on cage models of fishing is

very interesting”. – Asmita Newse

The Valedictory Ceremony was held on the 15th of June, 2017 at MCCIA, Pune. Fifteen students received

their certificates on completion of the Foundation Course on Public Policy and Advocacy.

Mr. Amitabh Behar presided over the function and spoke about ‘People, Civil Society and The State’ in his

key note address. He noted that spaces for dialogue between the people and government were shrinking.

He asserted that it was essential for civil society to hold the government accountable.

National Centre for Advocacy Studies

Serenity Complex, Ramnagar Colony,

Pashan, Pune – 411 021 Tel. Fax : +91­20­2295 2003/04

Email : interfaace@ncasindia.org

Web : www.ncasindia.org

@ncasindia fb.me/ncasindia

NCAS | INTERFACE | June 17 | 8

UPCOMING

National Conference on the Issues of PVTGs – August 2017

NCAS is organising a National Conference on the issues of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups in India in

August, 2017. The objective of the conference is to review the situation of the PVTGs with regards

various development indicators and governance. We would be making important announcements in this

respect soon. Watch our website and facebook page for updates.

Mind the Gap - Report Cards on SDGs and the marginalised in India

Sustainable Development Goals are important for all. They hold special significance for poorest of the

poor, the underprivileged, excluded and marginalised people. For any honest efforts to achieve the SDGs,

it would be absolutely essential to wear the lens of the marginalised. In this series of report cards, we

plan to assess the situation of the marginalised sections of Indian society with regards to SDGs and

development indicators – to remind ourselves of the distance we need to travel, the gap we need to

bridge – to make SDGs a reality, “Leaving No One Behind”.