Ajit Karn
Thursday, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti stated that he will prioritize working with India to develop green energy solutions and support India-US efforts to assure a successful transition to green energy.
“As Ambassador, I will prioritize working with India to build green energy solutions and will support our growing bilateral effort to ensure a successful green energy transition,” Garcetti said at the “Conversations on U.S. & India: Actions for Clean Air and Better Health” event on Thursday at the India International Centre.
“To preserve global peace and prosperity, we need a bold plan to combat global climate change,” stated the US Ambassador. According to a press release issued by the U.S. Embassy in India, “there is no issue more fundamental to the welfare of all our peoples than access to clean air.”
Garcetti stated that he is delighted to see business leaders, community leaders, parents, family members, and young advocates because nothing will change if we do not advocate for our own health, the health of our community, our city, and the health of the world.
The United States and the Delhi-based Lung Care Foundation sponsored “Conversations on U.S. & India: Actions for Clean Air and Better Health” on Thursday.
During the occasion, the US Ambassador launched a half-day workshop attended by more than seventy-five civil society leaders, policymakers, educators, healthcare professionals, journalists, and private sector professionals.
The event signified the conclusion of Saaf Hawa Aur Nagrik – SHAN (Clean Air and the Citizen), a four-year public education campaign in the Delhi-National Capital Region regarding air quality.
Also read this:EAM Jaishankar meets Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
According to a release from the US Embassy, the campaign was implemented by the Lung Care Foundation (LCF) with a USD 200,000 grant from the US Embassy. It provided individuals and communities with information and tools to protect themselves from the harmful effects of air pollution and raised awareness of how air pollution contributes to the climate crisis.
During the event, the US Ambassador stated that the beauty of the environment is that it disregards human borders, whether it be climate change or air pollution.
“Air pollution does not cease in Haryana’s fields before reaching New Delhi. You must collaborate across state lines to solve these issues. Occasionally, when we have wildfires in the western United States, the smoke drifts all the way to East Asia and vice versa, polluting the air over the Pacific Ocean. “When we speak of the Indo-Pacific region, we are literally breathing the same air,” the US Ambassador explained.
Garcetti stated that the United States is in India to learn “how to scale up community engagement, to see the campaigns that you have here, and to be able to say that India can teach us lessons that we can take back to the United States and help share with the world.”
Regarding the success of the SHAN initiative, LCF Founder Rajiv Khurana stated, “The program implemented a multifaceted communication strategy and a variety of community outreach activities.”
This included the creation of engaging wall art, discussions and learning seminars with underserved communities, the formation of a community volunteer task force, and the placement of billboards. Additionally, the initiative utilized inventive media and collaborated with women’s groups and resident welfare organizations. According to the official release, these diverse methods effectively reached the target groups and increased their participation in discussions and actions regarding clean air.
Shweta Narayan, a global climate and health advocate for Health Care Without Harm, asserts, “Clean air is the essence of good health and a fundamental right for all humanity.”
“Clean air requires a collaborative endeavor from governments, industries, civil society, and individuals alike. It requires bridging gaps, breaking down silos, and fostering dialogue in order to develop holistic strategies that address the fundamental causes of pollution, she said.
