This year’s World Environment Day theme ‘Ecosystem restoration’ echoes of how it is high time that human beings take effective steps towards reviving their environment. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), through its supported projects, intends to continue to contribute to positive change by curbing greenhouse gas emissions, actively investing in clean energy, transportation and infrastructure and societies adapting to climate change are a few measures that can contribute towards Ecosystem Restoration.
JICA has invested 1.3 trillion Japanese Yen (approximately Rs 87,000-crore) towards metro development projects in Indian cities that are supposed to contribute to curtail approximately 1.6 million tons of greenhouse gas per year. Japan’s competence in building renewable energy systems has been aiding India’s development in a sustainable and energy-efficient manner, reducing pollution from non-renewable energy sources. The conservation of forest, flora and fauna are crucial for fixing the environment and JICA has been supporting India’s forest sector since 1991. The overall area of afforestation efforts funded by JICA projects is close to 3 million hectares. A recent JICA supported ‘Project for Community Based Forest Management and Livelihood Improvement in the State of Meghalaya’ contributes in achieving the objective of “Green India Mission”.
The underlying objective of all JICA initiatives and projects in India is to facilitate and empower its environment and grow the country’s resilience to effectively tackle all catastrophes. JICA has been continuously advocating and giving appropriate value-added assistance to the agencies concerned to attain protection of water resources by selecting technologies with smaller foot print.
