A key highlight of the event was the mutual recognition of the importance of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2023 in advancing sustainable education. This year’s discussions emphasized ‘green education’ and ‘green jobs,’ marking them as pivotal to the future of sustainability efforts in India and across the globe.

Since its inception in 2019, ICSE has established itself as a global platform for addressing sustainability challenges through education. The 2024 conference furthered this legacy, continuing to foster meaningful dialogues and collaborative actions aimed at driving innovation and solutions for pressing environmental issues.

The event featured a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Dr. Pradip Burman, Chairman of Mobius Foundation; Dr. Ram Boojh, Advisor at Mobius Foundation; Dr. Tim Curtis, UNESCO Director; Dr. Rajendra Singh, Waterman of India; environmentalist Jadav Payeng, and Mr. Kartikeya Sarabhai, Founder Director, CEE. Among other dignitaries were Dr. T Ramasami, Former Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Govt of India; Dr. Kiran Karnik, Former President, NASSCOM, New Delhi; Dr. Harsh Gupta, Former Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, GOI, and Mr. Hem Pandey, IAS (Retd.), Former Secretary, GOI. These thought leaders delivered powerful keynote speeches, roundtable discussions, and interactive sessions that addressed sustainability from various angles.

In his opening address, Dr. Pradip Burman emphasized the importance of education in driving sustainability. “Over the past six years, we have made consistent progress toward our larger sustainability goals, including initiatives like Gyan Kanya Shakti, which empowers girls, particularly in rural areas. However, population growth remains a critical challenge, contributing to resource depletion and hindering sustainable development efforts.”

The conference kicked off with a session on “Greening Education for a Sustainable Future,” featuring a Vice Chancellors’ and Educators’ Roundtable. Participants discussed the lack of environmental education at higher levels and stressed the need to instill an ‘environmental temper’ akin to a scientific one. Community partnerships and traditional knowledge were highlighted as key enablers for a more holistic approach to sustainability education.

The afternoon sessions focused on practical solutions, including “Mobilizing Green Chemistry to Beat Plastic Pollution” and “Advancing Circular Economy Education for a Resource-Efficient Future,” chaired by Dr. Benno Boer of UNESCO and Mr. Rajan Mehta, Fellow, Harvard University and Author of ‘Backstage Climate’, respectively. Experts discussed the role of circular economy practices in extending the lifecycle of products and minimizing environmental waste.

In a thought-provoking session, Mr. Ashok Lavasa (IAS Retd.) urged the audience to shift from “climate change” to “climate action,” stressing the need for expertise and integration of sustainability into all subjects. Meanwhile, Dr. Sonal Mansingh, a celebrated Indian classical dancer, linked sustainability with India’s rich cultural heritage through storytelling and dance, highlighting the timeless values of environmental stewardship.

Day 2 began with a special plenary featuring Prof. Mirian Vilela, Executive Director of Earth Charter, Costa Rica, followed by the Youth for Earth Award Ceremony. The event showcased winning projects by junior and senior youth teams, recognizing their contributions to sustainability efforts. Among the highlights was a session ‘Educating for informed family planning choices for a sustainable population and planet’ that saw a panel discussion and ground stories narrated by health officials.

Keynote speaker Ms. Tanya Singhal from Minzo Carbon highlighted the urgency of climate action. “We are emitting more greenhouse gases than ever, pushing the Earth’s temperature beyond its ‘Goldilocks’ balance. We need to act now—through awareness, innovation, and by using our voices to influence change. By 2047, India could see 35 million green jobs across industries, not just in nonprofits.”

The event concluded with a series of panel discussions on topics such as “Greening Education: Challenges and Opportunities,” focusing on youth engagement in climate action. The final address by Dr. Rajendra Singh, a Magsaysay Awardee and environmental advocate, underscored the need for community-driven efforts to tackle water and climate issues.

The ICSE 2024 was closely aligned with Mission LiFE, an initiative introduced by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at COP26, which emphasizes adopting climate-friendly practices in daily life. The conference aimed to further embed these principles into sustainability education, fostering a global culture of environmental responsibility. By integrating these ideas into education and policy, ICSE 2024 reinforced its commitment to driving the world toward a more sustainable and eco-conscious future.

The post Education as a Driving Force for Sustainability: Mobius Foundation’s 6th ICSE concludes with a Strong Message on ‘Greening’ Curriculums appeared first on newsmantra.in l Latest news on Politics, World, Bollywood, Sports, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Trending news | News Mantra.

A key highlight of the event was the mutual recognition of the importance of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2023 in advancing sustainable education. This year’s discussions emphasized ‘green education’ and ‘green jobs,’ marking them as pivotal to the future of sustainability efforts in India and across the globe.

Since its inception in 2019, ICSE has established itself as a global platform for addressing sustainability challenges through education. The 2024 conference furthered this legacy, continuing to foster meaningful dialogues and collaborative actions aimed at driving innovation and solutions for pressing environmental issues.

The event featured a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Mr Pradip Burman, Chairman of Mobius Foundation; Dr. Ram Boojh, Advisor at Mobius Foundation; Dr. Tim Curtis, UNESCO Director; Dr. Rajendra Singh, Waterman of India; environmentalist Jadav Payeng, and Mr. Kartikeya Sarabhai, Founder Director, CEE. Among other dignitaries were Dr. T Ramasami, Former Secretary, the Department of Science and Technology, Govt of India; Dr. Kiran Karnik, Former President, NASSCOM, New Delhi; Dr. Harsh Gupta, Former Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, GOI, and Mr. Hem Pandey, IAS (Retd.), Former Secretary, GOI. These thought leaders delivered powerful keynote speeches, roundtable discussions, and interactive sessions that addressed sustainability from various angles.

In his opening address, Mr. Pradip Burman emphasized the importance of education in driving sustainability. “Over the past six years, we have made consistent progress toward our larger sustainability goals, including initiatives like Gyan Kanya Shakti, which empowers girls, particularly in rural areas. However, population growth remains a critical challenge, contributing to resource depletion and hindering sustainable development efforts.”

The conference kicked off with a session on “Greening Education for a Sustainable Future,” featuring a Vice Chancellors’ and Educators’ Roundtable. Participants discussed the lack of environmental education at higher levels and stressed the need to instil an ‘environmental temper’ akin to a scientific one. Community partnerships and traditional knowledge were highlighted as key enablers for a more holistic approach to sustainability education.

The afternoon sessions focused on practical solutions, including “Mobilizing Green Chemistry to Beat Plastic Pollution” and “Advancing Circular Economy Education for a Resource-Efficient Future,” chaired by Dr. Benno Boer of UNESCO and Mr. Rajan Mehta, Fellow, Harvard University and Author of ‘Backstage Climate’, respectively. Experts discussed the role of circular economy practices in extending the lifecycle of products and minimizing environmental waste.

In a thought-provoking session, Mr. Ashok Lavasa (IAS Retd.) urged the audience to shift from “climate change” to “climate action,” stressing the need for expertise and integration of sustainability into all subjects. Meanwhile, Dr. Sonal Mansingh, a celebrated Indian classical dancer, linked sustainability with India’s rich cultural heritage through storytelling and dance, highlighting the timeless values of environmental stewardship.

Day 2 began with a special plenary featuring Prof. Mirian Vilela, Executive Director of Earth Charter, Costa Rica, followed by the Youth for Earth Award Ceremony. The event showcased winning projects by junior and senior youth teams, recognizing their contributions to sustainability efforts. Among the highlights was a session ‘Educating for informed family planning choices for a sustainable population and planet’ that saw a panel discussion and ground stories narrated by health officials.

Keynote speaker Ms. Tanya Singhal from Minzo Carbon highlighted the urgency of climate action. “We are emitting more greenhouse gases than ever, pushing the Earth’s temperature beyond its ‘Goldilocks’ balance. We need to act now—through awareness, innovation, and by using our voices to influence change. By 2047, India could see 35 million green jobs across industries, not just in nonprofits.”

The event concluded with a series of panel discussions on topics such as “Greening Education: Challenges and Opportunities,” focusing on youth engagement in climate action. The final address by Dr. Rajendra Singh, a Magsaysay Awardee and environmental advocate, underscored the need for community-driven efforts to tackle water and climate issues.

The ICSE 2024 was closely aligned with Mission LiFE, an initiative introduced by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at COP26, which emphasizes adopting climate-friendly practices in daily life. The conference aimed to further embed these principles into sustainability education, fostering a global culture of environmental responsibility. By integrating these ideas into education and policy, ICSE 2024 reinforced its commitment to driving the world toward a more sustainable and eco-conscious future.

The post 6th ICSE by Mobius Foundation Puts Focus on ‘Greening Mindset’ and Green Skilling’ by Integrating Sustainability in Education appeared first on newsmantra.in l Latest news on Politics, World, Bollywood, Sports, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Trending news | News Mantra.

To bring concerns pertaining to wetlands conservation to the attention of the world community, World Wetlands Day is associated with a particular subject every year. The subject for 2024 is “Wetlands and Human Wellbeing,” which emphasizes the important relationship between wetlands and various aspects of human prosperity, including as environmental, mental, and physical welfare.

The Mobius Foundation held a panel discussion on February 23rd, Friday, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Travancore House, 10A, KG Marg, New Delhi to commemorate World Water Day and raise awareness of the various benefits of wetlands and their significance for human welfare. The event was attended by many dignitaries from central government agencies, international organizations, academia, civil society, media and experts.

Mr. Pradip Burman, Chairman of the Mobius Foundation, delivered the introductory remarks to the distinguished guests and said “The value of wetlands lies not just in their beauty but in their ability to sustain life and promote well-being and the beauty of nature is a gift that should never be taken for granted. Let’s cherish it and ensure its survival”

The World Wetlands Day 2024 theme was introduced by Dr. Suneesh Buxy IFS, Member Secretary, Wetland Authority of Delhi. He discussed the conservation of water and wetlands, the relationship between wetlands and communities, and urban wetlands. He also shed light on wetlands by portraying them as our kidneys, forests as our lungs, and rivers as our blood. He also emphasised that we are not doing justice to our kidneys, lungs, and blood. He also discussed that our small water bodies are still more significant while we have completed 80 sites under the Ramsar Convention. As the Delhi Wetland Authority, they have designated 1045 water bodies and are actively working to protect these sites.

Mr. Ramveer Tanwar one of the most well-known of the numerous people fighting for water conservation; in fact, he is frequently referred to as “India’s Pond Man” commenced his keynote address by emphasising the wetlands’ immense ecological significance. He has been trying to revitalize and restore these key water reservoirs around the nation for the past few years. He emphasised on his organization’s contribution to energizing wetlands conservation through the promotion of a society-wide strategy. He said “The rate at which water bodies across India are depleting is alarming, as several forms of life depend on lakes and wetlands. The water bodies help recharge the water table, support livelihood and fulfil living beings’ requirements. In the coming times, it’s only expected to get worse.”

A panel discussion on ‘Wetlands for Wellbeing’ was organised in the second session. The session was moderated by Ms. Neha Sinha, Head of Policy and Communications, WWF India, Conservation Biologist and Author. Mr. Soumitra Dasgupta, IFS (Retd.), Ex Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, West Bengal, Dr. Ritesh Kumar, Director, Wetlands International South Asia, Dr. Aditya Joshi, ex PCCF, HOFF, CWLW – Manipur, Advisor- Think Tank, Mobius Foundation and Mr. Suresh Babu SV, Senior Director – Ecological Footprints, WWF India, participated in the panel discussion.

Mr. Suresh Babu, discussed the crucial role of wetlands and said, “Wetlands can play an important role in recharging the aquifers, which can fuel the rivers. Groundwater is a source of many of our rivers. If we lose our wetlands, groundwater recharge will reduce, and therefore, we can lose the flow in our rivers.”

He explained another issue, “Wetlands served as our buffer against flooding, but because we have damaged and encroached on most of our urban wetlands, we now experience flooding and water logging when the monsoon arrives.”

Dr. Aditya Joshi provided insights into Loktak Lake in Manipur, the largest natural freshwater lake in the north-eastern region of India. During his discussion, he delved into the significant challenges confronting this Ramsar site. Additionally, he underscored the distinctive ecosystem of Loktak and emphasized the reliance of indigenous communities on its diverse ecological services.

Reconnecting wetlands with urban design and water security solutions is what Dr. Ritesh Kumar called for. He also drew attention to the fact that rivers and wetlands were being used as wastelands due to an increase in sewage generation and a lack of investment in efficient sewage treatment technologies.

The session included vibrant engagement with the attendees who called for localization of international guidelines and increased local action for wetlands conservation. Mr. Soumitra Dasgupta discussed the conservation strategies implemented for the Sundarban Wetland, situated in the world’s largest mangrove forest. He provided details on the effective approaches employed to actively involve local communities in conservation initiatives while simultaneously safeguarding the region’s tiger population.

In Mr. Praveen Garg’s closing remarks he said going beyond their ecological significance, wetlands function as natural capital, making substantial contributions to local and national economies through a myriad of ecosystem services. By recognizing true value of these unique ecosystems, we can pave the way for a future where sustainable development flourishes in harmony with nature’s silent riches.

The event acted as a forum for collaboration and the exploration of potential collaborations among conservation organisations, financial institutions, and governmental entities.

The post MOBIUS FOUNDATION’S EFFORTS TOWARDS WETLAND CONSERVATION appeared first on newsmantra.in l Latest news on Politics, World, Bollywood, Sports, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Trending news | News Mantra.