Diplomacyindia.com

Progress of the CICA Environmental Dimension

Progress of the CICA Environmental Dimension
March 09
17:50 2023

Undoubtedly, Asia is on its way to becoming the fastest-developing continent in the world. Projected new trade routes, efforts to develop a sustainable system, and the significance of green transformation in the face of rising energy, food, and security demands. All of these are issues that deeplyconcern Member Statesof the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), from North Asia to the Indian Ocean and from East Asia to the Aegean Sea. However, how realistic are the ambitious carbon-neutral plans countries aim for in line with their green transformation goals? At this point, with its five dimensions, CICA offers confidencebuilding measures, dialogue, connectivity, synergy, and best practices for its Member States to achieve their goals.

At the Sixth CICA Summit, among the common issues highlighted by the distinguished Heads of State or Government and high-level representatives were combating climate change and the significance of CICA’s environmental dimension for future cooperation. Why is the environmental dimension so significant for the future of the CICA region?

The CICA environmental dimension has three priority areas: sustainable development, environment protection, and natural disaster management. Each priority area has its coordinator and co-coordinator. For instance, Thailand is the coordinator for sustainable development, Mongolia is the coordinator for environment protection, where Bangladesh and China are co-coordinators, Iran is the coordinator for natural disaster management, and Bangladesh is co-coordinator.

According to the updated CICA Catalogue of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), the Member States have specified the priorities for cooperation in environmental areas for the implementation of the CICA CBMs, such as sharing information on best practices concerning national policies on environmental protection and sustainable development, exchanginginformation on natural and industrial disasters in the countries, which, in their view, may affect their neighbors. In addition, seminars, workshops, conferences, and trainingsare held within the priority areas of theCICA environmental dimension. In general, the topics coordinating and co-coordinatingcountries cover are green transformation, sustainable development, low-carbon developments, waste management, carbon markets, natural disasters, and circular economy.

Recent history has shown that Asia is exposed to various climatic events and natural disasters. CICA Member States were affected by sweltering weather conditions, drought, floods in 2022, as well asearthquakes in early 2023. For example, Pakistan has had a challenging year because of floods. According to the World Bank, at least 7 million people were displaced and over 1,700 people died as a result of this disaster. The cost of floods in Pakistan is around 30 billion dollars.

Moreover, the World Health Organization reports that over 7.1 million Bangladeshis were displaced by climate change in 2022. China, India, Thailand, and the Middle East also had difficulties due to climate change last year. Recently, the world has experienced a devastating sequence of earthquakes in Türkiye. After the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the economic damage of the climate crisis and natural disasters has been taken into account, and the question of how fragile countries are for the future has come to the fore.

CICA coversa broad geography, therefore observingvarious environmental characteristics. Member States are taking multiple actions to ensure sustainable development and environmental protection. The major environmental problems in Asia include desertification, climate change, lack of water resources, deforestation, earthquakes, and forest fires. Indeed, there are environmentally vulnerable CICA countries.Among the mostvulnerable Member States, according to the University of Notre Dame’s Vulnerability index score of the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), are Afghanistan in the 168th and Bangladesh in the 154th place. Pakistan ranks147th, while Cambodia is in the 133rd place, and India ranks 132nd. The index evaluates a nation’s vulnerability, sensitivity, and capacity for climate change adaptation. There are 177 nations on the scale, and those with high rankings, close to zero, have great climate change resilience. Highest-ranking CICA Member States include Israel in the 14th place,Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Türkiye sharing the 28th place followed by Kazakhstan in the 33rd place, the UAE in the 40th, and Qatar in the 44th.

The negative economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has brought countries closer to producing new solutions. Although developed and developing countries have different agendas, governments are shifting their economic targets to efficient systems aligned with sustainable development goals. Green transformation is one of the most prominent examples of this. Countries that aim to decarbonize their economies are investing more in green technology,fields such as carbon capture, mitigation and adaptation, circular economy, and water management. Along with diversifying energy sources, it is one of the essential steps in energy security.

United Nations Climate Change Conferences are significant to raise awareness and act together against extreme environmental events the world has been facing in recent years. For example, Egypt, a CICA Member State, hosted COP27 in 2022. Among the results drawn here were that nations decided for the first time to set up funds to pay developing countries for“lossand damage”caused by climate-related disasters. Moreover, it was important that China and the USA, the countries with the highest carbon emissions, decided to engage in climate diplomacy at COP27. Furthermore, COP28 will take place in the United Arab Emirates, another CICA Member State. From this point of view, it is a fact that the environmental theme becomes increasingly relevantin Asia.

The initiative of Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to hold a High-level Conference in 2024 in Astana to identify environmental challenges among the CICA members was one of the major outcomes of the Sixth CICA Summit. Thanksto this meeting, the CICA region and the entire world will benefit from the potential establishment of the CICA Council for Environmental Cooperation.

Indeed, it will be in the interest of the CICA Member States to hold the 2024 High-level Environmental Conference, where best practices can be shared among the CICA countries and a sustainable mutual dialogue is likely to be ensured. As a result, the CICA environmental dimension is expected to progress rapidly among other CBMs.

The 2024High-level Environmental Conference is at the forefront of priority initiatives for the CICA Kazakh Chairmanship. Kazakhstan’s goal of being carbon neutral by 2060 sets an example for othercountries in the region. As part of the preparations for the Conference, in early 2023, CICA Secretary General Ambassador KairatSarybaymet with Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan ZulfiyaSuleimenova.

The SecretaryGeneral stated that the CICA Member States were extensively introducing green technologies, pursuing the ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality. In addition, within the scope of the preparations for the Conference on environment, which is of utmostimportance for the CICA Member States, the sides agreed to arrange a series of expert meetings of the CICA Member States to develop goals and objectives for the Conference.

There is no doubt that CICA is an evolving international organization, and the CICA environmental dimension is developing its capabilities. With the dialogue and support of CICA Member States, the interest in environmental topics is increasing gradually in line with the region’s sustainable development goals.

Related Articles

0 Comments

No Comments Yet!

There are no comments at the moment, do you want to add one?

Write a comment

Write a Comment

<

On the Eve of 30th Years of Independence of Republic of Uzbekistan, H.E. Dilshod Akhatov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to India in conversation with Ameya Sathaye, Editor-in-Chief.

Denmark Ambassador to India Freddy Svane in conversation with Amb Pradeep Kapur & Ameya Sathaye, Editor-in-Chief

Italy india will work closely together for G20 : Italy Envoy to India

Do you know why FINLAND is ranked number ONE in Happiness index, watch this interview with Finland Ambassador to India

Exclusive Interview : H.E. Jasem Ibrahem Al Najem Ambassador of Kuwait to India speaks on India Kuwait bilateral relations

ड्रैगन ने हाथी को क्यों डसा, भारत- चीन रिश्तों की कहानी- रंजीत कुमार के साथ अमेय साठे की विषेष चर्चा ड्रैगन ने हाथी को क्यों डसा, भारत- चीन रिश्तों की कहानी- रंजीत कुमार के साथ अमेय साठे की विषेष चर्चा 0 comment Read Full Article

H.E. Reuben Gauci, Ambassador of Malta to India speaks on India-Malta Bilateral Relations

Portugal supports India in covid crisis : Portugal Ambassador Carlos Pereira Marques speaks with Ameya Sathaye, Editor-in-Chief

Vietnam Ambassador to India, Pham Sanh Chau speaks on Vietnam support to India in tackling covid crisis

Netherlands supports India in covid crisis : Netherlands Ambassador Marten van den Berg speaks with Ameya Sathaye

Envoy Speaks : Gopal Baglay, Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka speaks on Bilateral relations, business opportunities, Tourism & people to people to people contacts

Kuwait reciprocates, we stand with India in this hour of crisis : Kuwait Ambassador to India

Canadian High Commissioner, Nadir Patel speaking on support to India in covid crisis

Italian Ambassador to India, Vincenzo de Luca speaking on Italy support to India in covid crisis

H.E. Mr. Reuben Gauci, Malta High Commissioner to India speaks with Ameya Sathaye, Editor-in-Chief of Malta support to India in covid crisis

Danish Ambassador to India Freddy Svane speaking on Denmark aid to India

Video Interview with Vinod Daniel, CEO, India Vision Institute, Board Member, International Council of Museums & Chairman, Ausheritage

DENMARK AMBASSADOR FREDDY SAVNE VISIT TO CORONOVIRUS VACCINE FACILITY AT HYDERABAD, A TRIP ORGANISED BY MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, GOVT OF INDIA FOR FOREIGN ENVOYS BASED IN INDIA.

MALTA HIGH COMMISSIONER TO INDIA, H.E. REUBEN GAUCI SHARING HIS IMPRESSION ABOUT HIS VISIT TO HYDERABAD : TRIP ORGANISED BY MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA FOR ENVOYS BASED IN INDIA TO UPDATE ON CORONAVIRUS VACCINE

H.E. Mr. Dinesh Bhatia, Ambassador of India to Argentina in conversation with Ameya Sathaye, Editor-in-Chief

Pictures of Formal Launch of Website Diplomacyindia.com

Exclusive Interview with Prime Minister of Guyana, H.E. Mr. Moses Veerasammy Nagamootoo during his recent visit to India.Highlights of the interview were Indian Cultural Connect, Vibrant Bilateral Ties and Cultural Connect and India’s Economic Prowess.

Video Message from Shri Prakash Javadekar, MoS (IC) for Forest, Environment & Climate Change on eve of Formal Launch of Website Diplomacyindia.com

Message from Gen. V K Singh, (Retd.) Hon’ble MoS, External Affairs to Diplomacyindia.com

WP2Social Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com