In one generation , the humanity identified the catastrophic consequences of its invention that was already commercialised massively and was its products were fast growing in their production and consumption. In same generation, countries scientifically assesed the impacts of the products of the invention , took global action under the convening power of United Nations , and successfully reversed the tide of the disaster that was in waiting. The invetion and its products , as a result, were put in history books. The United Nations' global treaty of the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the Ozone Layer is now discribed by the UN General Assembly as exceptional success ever.
It is the story of Protection of the Ozone Layer that protects life on the Earth. I led and lived that success through the global programme of the United Nations Environment , called ‘ OzonAction’ by creating enabling ecosystems in 146 developing countries.
The same gereration that succeeded in completing the task of averting the calamity is now reflecting and musing why the formidable challenge of mitigating the climate change cannot be addressed. Rajendra Madhavrao Shende (born 13 July 1949), an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and former Director in United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is currently serving as the Chairman of TERRE Policy Centre which is a not-for-profit organization engaged in the evidence-based policy development and project based advocacy on the sustainable development. Before August 2011, he was the Head of the OzonAction Branch of the United Nations Environment Programme, Division of the Technology, Industry and Economics (UNEP DTIE) in Paris.
He served as Review Editor for the IPCC Special report on Technology Transfer in 2000 and was a Coordinating Lead Author for the IPCC/TEAP special report on Safeguarding the Ozone layer and Global Climate System in 2005. The work of the IPCC, including the contributions of many scientists, was recognised by the joint award of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx
8 май 2018
