Overview of JSDP 2023:
The Joint Staff Development Programme (JSDP) and the India Office of Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung e.V (KAS) have been having the annual ‘Learning and Knowledge Sharing’ events since the early 80s. In 2022, the event was held in Varanasi; and this year (2023), it will be hosted in Mysuru. The overarching objective of these events is to share knowledge on the relationship between different socioeconomic resources. In 2022 and 2023, the focus was on SDGs such as water and energy, and to advance policy and on-field change. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes the central role played by improved access to both water and energy in advancing climate action and sustainable development.
Climate change is thus a complex problem that has increased the need for an integrated, multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary response. The Paris Agreement on Climate Change offers an opportunity to advance sustainable development through scaled-up action on water and energy. Energy production is responsible for 1.77 metric tons per person of India’s greenhouse gas emissions, while energy use in transport and industry accounts for another 35 per cent. So, achieving SDG7 will be an essential element of meeting the climate objectives agreed upon in Paris. Integrated waterresource management is also key for climate change mitigation, as many efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions depend on reliable access to water resources.
In addressing challenges triggered by climate change, the role of civil society is critical. In India, there are approximately 22,000 (registered) civil society organizations (CSOs) working on various socio-economic development issues. Although their work may not directly fall within the ambit of climate action and SDGs, they could apply a ‘climate change and SDG’ lens to their existing programs, particularly in climate-adjacent sectors such as agriculture, water, land, forestry, and energy. Therefore, it is essential for CSOs to understand the interlinkages between their work and climate and SDGs. For example, land provides food, water, and biodiversity as well as space for solar panels and wind generators.
