G20 is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union. It was formed in view of the financial crisis in 1999 that hit many countries of the world. The main aim of the formation of G20 was to secure financial stability by involving middle-income countries. Over a period, it has expanded its agenda that includes climate change, sustainable development, health, agriculture, energy, environment, anti corruption and trade. The members of G20 represent around 85% of the global gross domestic product (GDP), over 75% of the global trade and about two thirds of the world population. The G20 summit is held annually under the leadership of a rotating presidency. It is a moment of great pride that India is hosting the presidency of the G20 Nations from 1st December 2022 to 30th November 2023. During the said period, India will host over 200 meetings in over 50 cities across 32 different work streams. The theme for the India G20 presidency is “ vasudhaiva kutumbakam” which means One Earth, One Family and One Future. The present G20 summit is very important for India as it can bring developed and developing countries together on a single platform and India can work together with all G 20 countries to address critical global challenges. It will expand India’s trade and investment relationship with all other G20 countries that will boost the economy of India and take it to new heights. It will promote the country’s diverse culture, tourism and address most pressing problems such as climate change, global warming, energy, health, migration and refugees, poverty, unemployment, inequality and corruption as well. Jammu and Kashmir being an eco-fragile zone confronted with various challenges particularly environmental, is also hosting an important G20 summit meeting in May 2023. It is providing a platform and opportunity for all the stakeholders like Civil Society Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations, Government representatives, youth, and policy planners to discuss pressing issues and find their solutions as well. For the past two decades, the Jammu and Kashmir has been witnessing weather irregularity, encroachments, dying of pristine and mesmerising water bodies, deforestation, forest fires, droughts, cloudbursts, floods, retreating glaciers, landslides, heat waves, pollutions, water crisis, man animal conflicts, ecological imbalance, unplanned urbanization have increased at an alarming rate. G20 summit meeting of India with developed and developing countries at the Srinagar city will be very fruitful for the state as they will stress upon sustainable and climate resilient blue economy, ecosystem restoration, enriching biodiversity, building disaster resilient infrastructure, low carbon emission, energy efficiency and use of renewable sources of energy for tackling climate change, global warming, biodiversity loss, ecological imbalance, pollutions etc. in the eco fragile zone of the Jammu and Kashmir. Keeping in view an important G20 Summit, The department of school education has issued important orders and instructions for all the schools for active participation of G20 sustainable activities. It has also circulated an unavoidable calendar consisting necessary guidelines for different events and sustainable activities related to all agenda and goals of G20. The department of education is feeling proud by taking part in G20 activities. The teachers of the department are at the forefront conducting daily online awareness and education among the students about G20 formation, composition, objectives and goals for the better and prosperous future. Online quiz, painting and essay competitions are being conducted in every school on a mission mode to raise awareness and sensitize the students to work as role models for the society. The active participation of teachers and students in various G20 events and activities will give them an international exposure. The teachers are continuously inculcating, educating and encouraging students to take leading roles in protecting and preserving the fragile environment.
Ideal teachers are nation builders and they have more responsibility on their shoulders. Their educational institutions are the best places where they can raise awareness, educate and disseminate sustainable information of G20 to their students for a brighter and greener future. The students are equally important assets and the future of our society. They can understand the need and importance of sustainable goals of G20 and accordingly adopt sustainable activities in a society for mitigation of pressing challenges. Due to awareness and active participation of students in G20 activities, students can promote the use of biofertilizers, bio pesticides, organic farming, vermin composting, green manuring etc. that not only increase agricultural production and the economy of the state but also will reduce air and water pollutions to more extent. Active participation of students in G20 activities can also make them real green citizens who can adopt green technologies for the betterment of the environment and the prosperous future of living organisms on the mother planet. Cleaner, greener and bluer activities like use of biofuels, biodegradable bags, alternative sources of energy, afforestation programmes etc. can definitely help in achieving the important agenda of G20 like the environment. It is pertinent to mention that the worthy Chief Education Officer Budgam Mushtaq Ahmad Qadri sahab has been continuously creating online awareness among teachers about the G20 Summit and its agenda for the welfare of the people and environment. He said, “Climate change is a threat to global peace, security and prosperity and needs to be addressed through sustainable leadership, approach, and activities”. He has directed all teachers to hold various events and competitions in their schools in order to raise awareness and education on all the 17 sustainable development goals. Students are future doctors, teachers, engineers’, innovators, politicians, bureaucrats’ policy makers and they can definitely come up with eco-friendly comprehensive policy, eco-friendly innovations, green technologies, green activities etc. for addressing critical issues and protection and preservation of the fragile ecological systems of Jammu and Kashmir. The department of education is taking significant strides towards the Sustainable Development awareness across the state. Teachers are also creating environmental ethics, awareness and education among common people so that they become very conscious about the need and importance of a sustainable environment, its protection and conservation as well. It is the responsibility of all the stakeholders in a society to contribute towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals. To safeguard the environment for a better and greener future, civil society, NGOs, religious leaders, motivational speakers’ etc. should join hands together with teachers and students to raise sustainable development awareness for achieving all the goals of Sustainable Development. Sustainable Development Goals can ensure sustainable food production, maintain ecosystems, address critical issues of environment- climate change, global warming, extreme weather, drought, flooding, pollution, disasters, glacier retreat, ecological imbalance etc. Let’s pledge and hope to work together to build a sustainable environment for a brighter and greener future.
(The author is a teacher at Govt Boys Higher Secondary School Beerwa Budgam. The views, opinions, facts, assumptions, presumptions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the authors and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
[email protected]