Home > Blogs > Ayushman Bharat: A Healthcare Revolution at the Crossroads When Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya
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As the world eagerly anticipates the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, another significant event recently unfolded: the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP 16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Colombia. Although COP16 hasn’t garnered as much attention, its focus on biodiversity conservation holds critical implications for the global climate agenda. Biodiversity underpins ecosystem stability, resilience, and adaptation—all essential in the face of climate change. Protecting biodiversity helps preserve the ecosystems that regulate carbon, purify water, and sustain countless species, including humans. Without concerted efforts to halt biodiversity loss, climate solutions remain incomplete, as degraded ecosystems worsen the impacts of climate change.
The COP16 discussions in Colombia highlighted this interconnectedness, positioning biodiversity conservation and the natural commons as core pillars of community-centred climate resilience. Understanding COP16 outcomes is essential as we turn our attention to the Baku COP 29 and its ambitious climate goals.
The 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) is set for November 11-22, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. This year’s summit is expected to prioritise accelerating commitments under the Paris Agreement, advancing climate finance, and supporting the transition to sustainable energy. With heightened expectations, COP29 aims to establish a comprehensive New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on Climate Finance, targeting at least $100 billion annually for climate mitigation and adaptation in developing countries.
For India, COP29 is an opportunity to affirm its role as a climate leader among emerging economies. Key issues include advocating for predictable and accessible climate finance and developing functional carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. With recent policy advancements that allow carbon credit trading, India aims to engage in international carbon markets while advancing its domestic climate objectives.
Additionally, India is also expected to urge developed nations to meet financial commitments, support global efforts to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C, and address the pressing issues of energy equity and technology transfer.
COP16 brought a renewed focus on the role of Indigenous and local communities in biodiversity conservation. A notable outcome was the establishment of a new Program of Work under Article 8(j) of the Convention on Biological Diversity, designed to leverage Indigenous knowledge, uphold community rights, and enhance equitable benefit-sharing. This initiative strengthens Indigenous communities’ roles in conservation, emphasising that their traditional knowledge is invaluable in achieving global biodiversity goals. Additionally, COP16 recognised the contributions of people of African descent, valuing their cultural knowledge and relationship with nature. Another landmark achievement was the establishment of a permanent subsidiary body dedicated to Indigenous and local issues—a move that reflects a commitment to inclusive governance in biodiversity conservation.
To further these goals, 42 countries, including India, submitted updated National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs). These plans are instrumental for meeting the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) targets on conservation, ecosystem restoration, and equitable benefit-sharing. Although COP16’s outcomes were less conclusive overall, its emphasis on Indigenous involvement marks a transformative shift toward inclusive, community-driven biodiversity solutions.
While global platforms like COP16 and COP29 define high-level goals, meaningful change often requires action at the grassroots level. The Conference of Panchayats (CoP)—an initiative led by the Policy and Development Advisory Group (PDAG) and ASAR—exemplifies this local approach, supporting Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) as champions of community-led climate action. CoP was inspired by the global COP framework but uniquely positions local communities and Indigenous knowledge as drivers of effective climate solutions.
Through the CoP framework, Panchayats are leading locally relevant climate initiatives, integrating sustainable farming, renewable energy, and resource conservation practices into their communities. Initially launched in Jharkhand, CoP has brought together over 250 Gram Panchayats over the past two years, fostering regional consultations to strengthen climate resilience and ensure that local voices shape climate policies. The initiative is now expanding to Bihar and other states, anchoring local perspectives at the core of climate policy. This model aligns with COP16’s emphasis on Indigenous inclusion and highlights the power of community-led, grassroots climate action.
While COP29 focuses on emissions reduction and adaptation, COP16 highlights the need for biodiversity conservation within the climate agenda. Together, these conferences emphasise a unified message: sustainable climate resilience requires integrating both climate action and biodiversity conservation. The Conference of Panchayats (CoP) embodies this integration at the grassroots level, showcasing how local communities—guided by Indigenous knowledge—can create solutions that address both climate and biodiversity challenges.
As COP16 strengthens Indigenous roles in biodiversity conservation and COP29 pushes for ambitious climate commitments, CoP offers a practical path forward, demonstrating that sustainable, resilient ecosystems are achievable when local knowledge shapes policy and practice. By aligning local action with global goals, CoP reveals a model for how community-driven solutions can bridge the gap between global climate objectives and local needs. Through these inclusive, community-led approaches, CoP contributes to a future where climate and biodiversity strategies are unified and mutually reinforcing, building a foundation for resilience and sustainability.
Home > Blogs > Ayushman Bharat: A Healthcare Revolution at the Crossroads When Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya
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