Indian climatologist on Chinese civil society body

Rajendra Shende, Chairman of TERRE Policy Centre, former Director UNEP, has been appointed as Honorary Chairman of International Advisory Council of the Operation Earth, a leading civil-society organization of China dedicated to biodiversity conservation and global climate change. He also accepted the invitation to be on advisory board CBCDGF and Panda Guide.

Rajendra Shende, Chairman of TERRE Policy Centre, former Director UNEP, has been appointed as Honorary Chairman of International Advisory Council of the Operation Earth, a leading civil-society organization of China dedicated to biodiversity conservation and global climate change.

It is the first such appointment by any civil society organization in China after President Xi and Prime Minister Modi’s informal Wuhan Summit at the end of April that emphasized need for ‘people to people’ dialogue. The appointment is for five years from 2018 to 2023.

The mission of Operation Earth, a partner member of IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) is to provide a scientific basis for the response plan for global climate change and conservation of ecosystems. It aims to contribute to sustainable management plan of natural resources.

Engaging youth and building their skills in environmental field research programs, normally not taught in academics, are the unique focus domains of Operation Earth. Conservation of Amazon Rainforest Ecosystem, East Africa Black Rhinos, Arctic Ecology, Wetland Ecosystem of Mekong, Marine Ecosystem of Galapagos, Mt. Altay Ecosystem in China and Conservation of Giant Pandas are some of the initiatives by Operation Earth.

“I welcome Rajendra Shende to head the International Advisory Council of Operation Earth in China. Mr Shende is already acquainted with China’s environmental challenges since his UNEP days. Operation Earth would benefit greatly from his global expertise on the protection of Ozone Layer and address climate change,’ said Chen Liangzhong, founder CEO of Operation Earth and former consultant to the World Bank.

Shende, who was recently on lecture tour invited by China’s top universities, Nanjing University and Tsinghua University, on ‘climate change and world peace’ said, “ This is tremendous opportunity to build youth to youth contact between China and India to address common environmental challenges.”.

Shende is also inducted in the advisory board of Panda Guide, a CSR programme of China’s third largest public sector company Sinochem with its global business in energy and agriculture.

He has also accepted the invitation by Professor Jinfeng Zhou, a professor at the Institute of President Xi Jinping Thoughts on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at Beijing University, to join the Board of Advisors of China Biodiversity Conservation Green Development Foundation.END