The Indian IT industry’s endeavor to hire more female employees is welcome, but more needs to be done to increase women’s participation in the workforce for their empowerment and strengthening the national economy.
SDGs
While the just concluded Tokyo 2020 Olympics claim of being the greenest ever games aided by the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions is yet to be validated, the Paris 2024 Games are taking further their sustainability agenda and committed to become the first ever climate positive Olympics.
India has been able to reduce the loss of life due to disasters significantly over the years, but there is always scope to do more, including through construction of climate-resilient buildings, as can be made out of UNEP’s new guide.
While it is difficult to assess the impact of the recently announced UN Global Compact’s 2021 SDG Pioneers in achieving the SDGs, the initiatives can serve as examples for others to integrate the goals in their businesses.
For the first time since adoption in 2015 for a better world, the worldwide progress on United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) has shown reversal due to increased poverty and unemployment caused by Covid-19.
The diaspora can consider to volunteer to support some of the SDGs, or may be some targets related to only one goal like the SDG 3 on Good Health and Well-Being.
While India has outperformed itself over the last year on the national index on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the country’s performance globally leaves much to be desired.
If there is a less privileged section of the society that needs the least support to convert the Covid-19 pandemic challenge into an opportunity, it is that of craftspersons or artisans.
A small reduction in planet warming carbon-dioxide emissions on account of lockdowns due to Covid-19 last year is likely to be more than reversed sooner than later unless the world pursues a green recovery path.
Rajya Sabha MP Santosh Kumar’s Green India Challenge ropes in celebrities, leading to plantation of about 10 crore saplings