India to raise target of restoring degraded land: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has today announced that India will raise its target of restoring the degraded land from twenty one million hectares to twenty six million hectares between now and 2030. Addressing the 14th Conference of Parties (COP 14) of UN Convention to combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Greater Noida today, Prime Minister said that Desertification affects over two thirds of the countries of the world. 

He said, along with addressing the degraded lands, we also need to address water scarcity. He called upon the leadership of UNCCD to create a global water action agenda.

Reiterating his clarion call to ban single use plastic, Prime Minister said that time has come for the world to say goodbye to single use plastic. He



added, apart from having adverse health implications, plastic renders lands unfit for agriculture. He affirmed India's commitment towards development of environment friendly substitutes of plastic.

Mr. Modi said Climate and Environment impact both biodiversity and land. It is widely accepted that the world is facing negative impact of climate change. This is seen in loss of animals and plants species, he added. Climate change is also leading to land degradation of various kinds.

India is hosting global gathering for COP 14 in Greater Noida which started on 2nd of this month. Prime Minister said this reflects our commitments to addressing the concerns of Rio convention of 1992.