The recently concluded Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Brazil has led to the inception of the Rio+20 India programme.
The Indian Astrobiology Research Centre (IARC) is spearheading the Rio+20 India programme in Mumbai. It will spread the message of the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development across India, especially to students with certification programmes and workshops.
The Rio+20 conference held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from June 20–22 resulted in a focused political document about green economy and framework for sustainable development. It highlighted seven areas which need priority attention; decent jobs, energy, sustainable cities, food security and sustainable agriculture, water, oceans and disaster readiness.
“Rio+20 India will be a landmark programme on sustainable development for India’s next generation; it will be organised as a parallel and extended event to the Rio Earth Summit, Brazil,” said Pushkar Vaidya, head scientist at the IARC. “At Rio+20 India, our vision is to bring the Indian youth in sync with the millennium and sustainable development goals and expose them to different stakeholders and perspectives ranging from political to academic and from social to technological.”
The Rio+20 certification programme offers an opportunity to Indian students from classes 5 to 12 to benefit from an international curriculum focused on sustainable development related outlook, lifestyle and careers.
The Rio+20 certification programme for schools and junior colleges will focus on millennium development goals and sustainable development goals (the outcome of Rio+20 Summit). Rio+20 Summit has a critical follow-up phase which will benefit students as they learn about the science, art and economics that influence decision making at highest levels.
“The world clearly needs a workforce that is sensitive towards sustainable development; Indians will constitute a major portion of this workforce. India is also at high risk of being impacted by the consequences of climate change. This programme will orient students towards knowledge that matters,” added Vaidya.
The Rio+20 India programme in Mumbai is divided into two categories – classes 5 to 9 and classes 11 to 12. The details can be acquired from the IARC website www.astrobiology.co.in
