The World Economic Forum's (WEF) trillion trees movement, which aims to combat climate change and preserve biodiversity by growing, restoring, and conserving one trillion trees worldwide, is gaining momentum. India is playing a leading role in this initiative. Nicole Schwab, Co-Head of Nature-Based Solutions and Member of the Executive Committee of the WEF, spoke exclusively to NDTV about the trillion trees movement and India's involvement.
According to Schwab, trees are crucial in the fight against climate change. The conservation platform called 1t.org has been instrumental in mobilizing the private sector to participate in efforts to conserve the planet. This platform allows companies to commit to restoring, conserving, and expanding tree cover over the next decade. Presently, 82 companies, including notable Indian firms such as the Adani Group, Mahindra, Vedanta, ReNew Power, and the CSC Group, have made pledges.
As part of their commitments, these companies are required to provide regular updates on their progress. Indian companies have pledged to grow a total of 113.58 million trees. The Adani Group, in particular, has set an ambitious target of growing 100 million trees by 2030. India has set a vision to increase its forest cover by three million hectares, aiming to make it nearly one-fourth of the country's total area. The country also aims to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030, creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. Restoration efforts are critical in addressing challenges such as water scarcity, climate change, and topsoil loss.
In order to address land degradation scientifically, India has established a Centre of Excellence. This initiative highlights the country's commitment to finding sustainable solutions for restoring degraded land and mitigating the impacts of climate change. In summary, the World Economic Forum's trillion trees movement is gaining momentum globally, with India at the forefront of the initiative. Trees play a vital role in slowing climate change, and the private sector is actively involved through the 1t.org platform. Indian companies have made significant pledges to grow millions of trees, contributing to the overall goal of conserving the environment. India itself has set ambitious targets to increase forest cover, restore degraded land, and create a substantial carbon sink. The establishment of a Centre of Excellence further emphasizes the country's commitment to tackling land degradation and addressing climate-related challenges.
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