COP26: India, UK to launch infrastructure resilience project for small island nations

India and UK will toger launch initiative for Resilient Island States (IRIS) for developing infrastructure of small island nations, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Tuesday while briefing media about programs of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Conference of Parties (COP26) on third day.  initiative will be jointly announced by PM Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson at Glasgow Summit on Tuesday. IRIS is a part of Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) that would focus on building capacity, having pilot projects especially in small island developing states, Shringla explained.

During press briefing, Foreign Secretary also updated that Australia will also be a vital "partner in this effort". project is an outcome of PM Modi's concerns over loss of lives and livelihoods and entire infrastructure, housing during natural calamities, as per Shringla. "This is an effort to try and equip countries that are particularly vulnerable to effects of climate change," Shringla said during presser, as per ANI.

inauguration session of IRIS will be dressed by several leers of small island states. list of leers includes PM of Fiji, Frank Bainimarama; PM of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, PM of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth and Secretary-General of UN, Antonio Guterres. PM Modi will also meet a "number of leers" from or countries and eminent individuals associated with climate change and socio-economic development work.

PM discusses need for 'aptation' at COP26

aptation is a core part of our development policies and projects, PM Modi said as he dressed a session on  'Action and Solidarity - Critical Dece' event at COP26 Summit in Glasgow. "aptation has not gained as much importance in global climate debate as Mitigation. This is an injustice to those developing countries, which are more affected by climate change," he asserted. Noting commitments of India in apting newer measures to limit climate change, PM Modi said, projects like tap water for all, Swachh Bharat- clean India Mission and Ujjwala- clean cooking fuel for all in India have not only provided benefits of  aptation to needy citizens, ir quality of life has also improved.

Highlighting need to acknowledge tritional aptation policies, he furr stated that preservation of lifestyles according to local conditions can also be an important pillar of aptation. In his concluding statement, PM Modi called for global support for local aptation and urged all countries to join Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) to be jointly launched by UK and India.

(With inputs from ANI)

(Image: ANI/AP)