The TARAgram Yatra 2010

New Delhi, 17 September 2010: TARAgram Yatra 2010, organised by Development Alternatives (DA), a not-for-profit organisation and its partners from September 17-21 was inaugurated today at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, Teen Murti House, New Delhi.

From 18-20 September, the dialogue moves to Bundelkhand at the DA Group Sustainability Resource Centre at TARAgram Orchha where a mix of dialogue and field visits, will bring together top-level practitioners and policy makers from across the world on a common platform for exchanging ideas on how to realise a sustainable future. An annual event, the Yatra deliberates upon relevant issues of sustainability and will provide leads for follow-up on policies and action at the local, national and global levels.

Dr Kirit S. Parekh, Chairman, Expert Group (LCSIG), Planning Commission of India and a special speaker at the inaugural session highlighted the Low Carbon Strategies for Inclusive Growth in the regional and global context.

Honorable Minister of Environment and Forests (MoEF) Shri Jairam Ramesh in his message said “It gives me immense pleasure to congratulate the organizers and participants of TARAgram YATRA 2010 for initiating an annual event and establishing a think tank for undertaking deliberation on highly pertinent issue. As a new green economy order emerging it is essential that the rural areas are integrated within this system for achieving impacts at a large scale. Environment ministry has been keenly associated with issues related to climate change and the environment. MoEF is currently developing the second National Communication to the UN framework convention on climate change. I specially want to congratulate Development Alternative and its partners (International Institute for environment and development, Ring Alliance and Green Economy Coalition, UN environment programme - GRID) and the Yatris for having set out on the first TARAgram YATRA”

Sir Richard Stagg, High Commissioner for Great Britain said “India has many advantages and opportunities to make a choice and unlike China, economic success is based on resources available. It is incorrect to believe that economic growth and environment conventions are contradictory as both are possible and we can collectively address it, but we have to be careful about challenges of climate change. Not everyone will be able to enjoy the benefits of economic growth as the rural poor are three times more dependent on eco system than their urban counterparts. UK has its carbon footprints and we appreciate the efforts of India to deal with this challenge as well. The YATRA is an opportunity to take forward range of questions that we have to address in the same regard. Time is not on our side but we have to take care of sustainable and inclusive growth”

Giving the overview presentation on Green Jobs to End Poverty and Regenerate the Resource Base, Dr Ashok Khosla, Chairman Development Alternatives, said that the time has come for the Third World to pursue a path of development that employs the highest possible resource productivity in sectors such as agriculture, industry and habitat, particularly in job creation. He also added that production, mobility and agricultural systems need to be reworked to make our world more sustainable.

Prominent speakers included Shri Deepak Gupta, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, High Commissioner of Great Britain and Prof. Amitabh Kundu, Jawahar Lal Nehru University.

With its primary focus on Green Investment and Policy Imperatives, the TARAgram Yatra 2010 promises to be a milestone in a series of global multi-stakeholder consultation process leading up to Rio 2020. The Yatra aims to build consensus amongst key stakeholders on priorities in the transition to sustainability. It will communicate strategies and solutions that address sustainability challenges for green economies to policy audiences on a global platform.

The other partners of Development Alternatives are the Green Economy Coalition (GEC), the Ring Alliance of Policy Research Organisations, the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and Ministries of Environment and Forests, New and Renewable Energy, External Affairs and the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.

Those present included members of national, state and local governments, businesses and financial institutions, academic and research organisations, civil society and international agencies. The broad mix of interests and expertise is designed to encourage generation of new ideas, innovative and scaleable solutions and to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience.

A Declaration of key messages emerging from the event on critical green economy issues and practical solutions on green jobs, green investments, and adaptation for livelihood security relevant to practitioners and policy makers will be presented at the conclusion of the five-day conference.