8th Edition

CATEGORY I : COMMUNITY

Community-Based Mitigation and Adaptation in Water Resources, Agriculture, Forestry and other land use.

The Earth Care Awards applauds the efforts of 128 INF BN (Territorial Army) Eco Rajputana Rifles for its extensive and well-managed plantations, and efforts to combat desertification in India. The initiative of stabilisation of sand dunes along the Indira Gandhi Canal with a 90% survival rate of the plantations, eco-restoration and contribution towards protection of threatened species, is recognised through this Award.

The project contributes to the Sustainable Development Goal 15 life on land with a target to achieve “By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world”.

The Earth Care Awards recognises the positive impacts of the Sustainable Agriculture, Food security and Linkages (SaFaL) project of Solidaridad in 15 upzilas of south-west Bangladesh. The landscape approach project has helped improve resilience and food security of local communities. The partnerships initiated to set up the National Action Plan for Pest-free and Safe Mango Production for Export are helping vulnerable farmers.

The project contributes to the Sustainable Development Goal 2 relating to Zero Hunger, with a target to achieve “Increase investment, including through enhanced international cooperation, in rural infrastructure, agricultural research and extension services, technology development and plant and livestock gene banks in order to enhance agricultural productive capacity in developing countries, in particular least developed countries”.

The Earth Care Awards commends the Rukmavati River Basin Management Initiative by the Vivekanand Research & Training Institute, Kutch, Gujarat. The project has successfully demonstrated aquifer mapping-based watersheds, and integrated rural development interventions in the river basin area of 600 km2 of the River Rukmavati.

The project contributes to the Sustainable Development Goal 2 Zero Hunger, with a target to achieve “By 2030 to ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality”.

CATEGORY II : INDUSTRY

GHG Mitigation by large enterprises

The Earth Care Awards recognises the significant reduction in the green-house gas emissions, improvement in energy efficiency, and exceeding the environmental compliance achieved by IFFCO, Kalol unit, Gujarat.

The project contributes to the Sustainable Development Goal 7 affordable and clean energy target “By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix” and “By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency”, Goal 12 responsible consumption and production with a target “By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources”.

CATEGORY III : INNOVATION FOR CLIMATE PROTECTION

The Earth Care Awards recognises the Ladakh Integrated Agriculture Development for the process innovation of community agriculture with the financial support of the farmers of Rambirpur village in Ladakh, and the agreement with the Ladakh Hill Development Council, which will help promote sustainable land use in the area in a manner that may effectively counter the ill-effects of unplanned growth of tourism.

The project contributes to the Sustainable Development Goal 1 No poverty with the target “By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, natural resources, appropriate new technology and financial services,including microfinance”.

The Earth Care Awards recognises the Barefoot College and Prayatna Sansthan for their innovative approach of training at the Barefoot College combined with creation of a supporting ecosystem in the village to be electrified, in partnership with Prayatna Sansthan.

This is not only driving significant adoption of renewable sources of energy but also improving access to clean energy, and is the first recognition for Barefoot College after the recent momentum gained by solar energy. The project contributes to the Sustainable Development Goal 1 No poverty “By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services”; Goal 5 Gender equality, Goal 7 Affordable and clean energy target “By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services”; Goal 10 Reduced inequalities target “By 2030, progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40 % of the population at a rate higher than the national average”, as well as Goal 17 on Partnerships.

Category IV : Leadership in Urban Climate Action

The Earth Care Awards recognises Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Pvt. Ltd. for protecting and conserving the mangrove ecosystem at Pirojshanagar Industrial Garden Township of Godrej at Vikhroli, Mumbai, through a three-pronged strategy of conservation, research and awareness raising.

The Awards appreciate the long and sustained efforts for conservation of the second largest forested area in Mumbai, contributing to coastal protection, biodiversity conservation, livelihoods and public understanding. The project contributes to the Sustainable Development Goal 15 Life on land with a target “By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally”.

The Earth Care Awards recognises the joint efforts of Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar (IIPHG), Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC, USA) for the development and implementation of the First Heat Action Plan in the country for the city of Ahmedabad.

The model is noteworthy for succeeding in demonstrating heat waves as an emerging concern for Indian cities, and developing a climate change adaptation to safeguard the most vulnerable groups from ill-effects of heat waves. The project contributes to the Sustainable Development Goal 13 Climate Action with a target to “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries” and “Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning”, as well as Goal 17 on Partnerships.

The Earth Care Awards commends the Sarthak Samudayik Vikas Evam Jan Kalyan Sanstha for development of the Bhopal Model for final disposal of plastic waste and social uplift of rag-pickers in the cities of Bhopal, Indore and Devas. The Awards appreciate the involvement of the rag pickers as Sarthak Karmi in a sustainable business model.

The project contributes to the Sustainable Development Goal 11 sustainable cities and communities target “By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management” and Goal 12 responsible consumption and production with target “By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse”.