Maharashtra has won the Inspiring Regional Leadership award at the inaugural Leadership Awards of the Under2 Coalition, the largest global network of states and regions committed to climate action, held to coincide with the COP26 summit in Glasgow.
The award was collected by Aaditya Thackeray on behalf of team Maharashtra, the youngest environment minister in the world to win this honour, at an event organised by the Under2 (U2) Coalition at the Stirling Castle, Scotland.
Maharashtra’s commitment to climate leadership saw it launch the first state-wide programme on climate change mitigation and adaptation in India. It is the only Indian state to win one of the three awards by U2.
Thackeray, Minister for Environment, Tourism and Protocol, Government of Maharashtra said, “We strongly believe that it is high time we put in collective efforts and meaningful actions to work on this global issue that sees no borders of geography, race, nationality or gender. We are truly delighted to have been recognized by the Under2 Coalition for our heartfelt ongoing contribution towards climate action”.
Last evening, Maharashtra received the award for Inspiring Regional Leadership. We also received high commendations for Climate Partnerships & Creative Climate Solutions. We dedicate this award to the citizens of Maharashtra & climate action ambitions of our great nation, India. pic.twitter.com/KR9jzFbHZ4
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) November 7, 2021
Team Maharashtra, had sent in entries for all three categories of U2 – Inspiring Regional Leadership, Creative Climate Solutions and Climate Partnerships.
As India’s most industrialised state with a 720 km long vulnerable coastline, Maharashtra in its nominations highlighted how within a short period, it had found it essential to include climate resilience into policymaking and had embarked upon novel projects, policies and campaigns that reflect a monumental shift in prioritising sustainable development.
Additionally, Thackeray highlighted how the state government had succeeded in creating a culture of climate action in the state, which has borne expenses worth $2 billion due to climate-related disasters during the past year.
Local and regional partnerships had been successfully achieved through Majhi Vasundhara or the My Earth - the only holistic state-wide program in the world to focus on climate change mitigation and adaptation. In its second year, the campaign is being taken to all local bodies to cover the entire population of the state.
Similarly, global partnerships to further climate work in Maharashtra have been gaining pace with the State partnering with the UN Race to Zero Initiative and joining the C40 Cities initiative to address climate change on a global level.
Among all 260 state governments in the Under2 Coalition, which includes four other Indian states, Maharashtra was the only one to receive a “high recommendation” for the Creative Climate Solutions and Climate Partnerships award it didn’t attain.
Also Read: Tips If You’re Moving To Mumbai
Share
Tweet
