United Nations: India backs the UN resolution to recognise a clean and healthy environment as a basic human right. However, India voiced its legitimate concerns over the substance and mechanism as well as procedure of the resolution. India also dissociated itself with an operative paragraph of the text concerning the resolution.
This resolution was adopted by the 193 members of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday. Around 161 member countries casted their votes in favour of the resolution. Moreover, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Syria, China, Russia, Belarus, Ethiopia, Cambodia among others were absent on the day the resolution was passed.
Comments on the adopted UN Resolution by UN Secretary General:
The United Nations secretary General Antonio Gutteres hailed the resolution and praised all the member countries. He believes that this move further demonstrates that all the member nations from every nook and corner of the world can come together to fight three major problems.
Antonio Gutteres belongs to Portugal and has been in office since 2017. He has a term of nine years.
The three major problems concerning humanity from Antarctica in the south to Atlantic in the North and from the United States in the west to Japan in the East are biodiversity loss, pollution and climate change.
He further added that “the international community had given universal recognition” to this historic move. This has further “brought us closer to making it a reality for all.”
However, he cautioned that the passage of the resolution was only the beginning. A steep climb lies ahead of the international community. He has also urged member states to take an active role and participation to make a healthy, clean and sustainable environment a reality to all.
He welcomed the “historic resolution” that will reduce environmental injustices and empower people especially the vulnerable like youth, indeginous people, women and social activists. It will definitely help the states to meet their environmental commitments and human rights obligations.
More on India Backs the UN Resolution:
Ashish Sharma, counsellor to India’s permanent UN Mission remarked, “India stands ready to support any effort for a better environment and to further international cooperation for environmental protection.” That is why India had backed the resolution.
He also commented that certain words used in the text were vague. “Clean”, “healthy” and “Sustainable” were relative. They were open to personal interpretation which would dilute the very essence of the resolution. He holds the opinion that the text of the resolution failed to have a “clear reference” in its objectives.
He stated that India left no stones unturned to express its objections clearly and even went on to propose constructive proposals.
Although the member states voted strongly to include the preambular paragraph 8 of the Human rights resolution 48/13, the core group voted against it.
While India appreciated the inputs of the core group- Maldives, Costa Rica, Morocco, Slovenia and Switzerland, India thinks that more time for discussion was needed. This would have helped to solve the differences and arise at a more comprehensive and inclusive plan of action.
India has always valued protection of the environment since prehistoric times. Traditions of India have always accentured to live in harmony with nature for the greater good of humanity at large.
India is known to put its best foot forward when it comes to environmental protection. India has partnered with different countries in various programs like ‘One Sun, One World, One Grid’, the ‘International Solar Alliance’, ‘Leadership Group for Industry Transition’ and ‘Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.’
