logo
Vijai Sharma, Kyoto Protocol architect & India's ex-chief climate negotiator, dies

Vijai Sharma, Kyoto Protocol architect & India's ex-chief climate negotiator, dies

For over a decade and a half, Vijai Sharma fought for the rights of India and other developing countries at the international climate negotiations. He was one of the architects of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which strongly safeguarded the interests of the developing countries, and ensured that the primary responsibility of reducing the impacts of climate change was taken by the rich and the developed world.
A 1974-batch IAS officer, who served as the Environment Secretary and then as Chief Information Commissioner, Sharma died in the United States, where he was visiting his son on July 23, after suffering a stroke, family sources said. He was 75. Sharma lived in Lucknow.
Sharma had two productive stints in the Environment Ministry. During his first stint as joint secretary, between 1995 and 2001, he became India's chief negotiator at international climate talks, which had just been initiated, and strongly influenced the finalisation of the Kyoto Protocol. He was also instrumental in ensuring that Delhi hosted these talks COP8 in 2002.
After stints in the Cabinet Secretariat, and other places, Sharma returned to the Environment Ministry as its Secretary in 2008. By this time, the developed countries had already begun the process of dismantling the Kyoto Protocol, and replacing it with something they were more comfortable with. This was also the time when India's environmental governance came under great scrutiny, with an increasing number of industrial and infrastructure projects testing the environmental norms. Sharma presided over a period of strengthening of India's environmental regulatory structure to bring in greater transparency.
'Vijay Sharma was the quintessential civil servant — fearless in giving advice but faithful in execution even when his advice was not taken. I have many fond memories of my close association with him for a decade and a half. He had wide interests and possessed an irreverent sense of humour. He loved it when he himself became the subject of humour, laughing at the description I once gave him — Sir Humphrey Sharma (Humphrey Appleby was a character from the British TV series Yes Minister),' said Jairam Ramesh, then Environment Minister under whom Sharma served as Secretary.
After retiring, Sharma became an expert member at the National Green Tribunal, a new institution created during his time, before being appointed the Chief Information Commissioner. Sharma, who had a postgraduate law degree from Harvard University, had a passion for history, and authored, along with his wife and IAS officer Rita Sharma, a few books on the forts of India.
But he continued to be sought out for his expertise on environment and climate law and policy.
'As an administrator he had a keen eye for details. He used to recall with great pride how he had to burn midnight oil, as G77 and China coordinator in the climate negotiations, to shape the rules of the carbon market under the Kyoto Protocol. He was also quite proud of his contribution to the introduction of CNG buses in Delhi under the Supreme Court orders and recounted in detail how the decision was implemented. His departure leaves a void in the world of climate negotiators of the Kyoto era. He will be deeply missed by those who worked with him when India's climate policy was still shaping up in the early years of this century,' said R R Rashmi, former IAS officer and chief negotiator on climate talks himself.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Colonial education system not suited for India: Bhagwat
Colonial education system not suited for India: Bhagwat

New Indian Express

timean hour ago

  • New Indian Express

Colonial education system not suited for India: Bhagwat

KOCHI: The colonial education model introduced by Thomas Macaulay is not suitable for present-day India, said Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat. He stressed the need for an indigenous education system rooted in 'satya' (truth) and 'karuna' (compassion), which he said could awaken Bharat's collective strength and steer the nation towards 'vishwa mangalam' (universal welfare). Bhagwat was delivering the valedictory address at the Gyan Sabha, the four-day national education conclave organised by Shiksha Samskriti Utthan Nyas, which concluded in Kochi on Monday. The final session was held at Amritayanam Hall of Amrita Hospital, Edapally. 'Our spirituality defines us. India is a land that upholds both vidya (true knowledge) and avidya (worldly knowledge). Our nationalism is pure,' Bhagwat said. He added that the current education system imposed during British rule no longer aligns with India's needs. 'A scholar only thinks. But a real seeker lives and acts upon their thoughts. Each person must take up their duties to bring about holistic social transformation,' he said.

BJP committed to BCs' welfare, says NR Rao; flays Cong policies
BJP committed to BCs' welfare, says NR Rao; flays Cong policies

Hans India

timean hour ago

  • Hans India

BJP committed to BCs' welfare, says NR Rao; flays Cong policies

Hyderabad: BJP State president N Ramachander Rao, while addressing the community leaders and representatives from Backward Class (BC) communities, reiterated the BJP's commitment to the upliftment of BCs while sharply criticizing the Congress government's approach. On Monday, he highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to inclusive governance. He noted that 27% of the ministers in the central cabinet belong to the Backward Classes (BC) and mentioned the establishment of the BC Commission during Modi's tenure. Rao emphasized that Modi, who himself comes from the BC community, has demonstrated exceptional dedication to ensuring that BCs receive their rightful place in governance. He condemned remarks made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of insulting BCs by referring to them as 'converted BCs.' Rao stressed that BC representation and classification vary by state, citing Lambadas as Scheduled Tribes in Telangana but categorized as BCs in Maharashtra. Rao criticized former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) for merely granting official status to the BC Commission without allocating necessary funds, rendering the body ineffective. He expressed concern about the caste census initiated by the state Congress government, calling it unconstitutional and lacking transparency. He alleged that the census was conducted without oversight from constitutional institutions, and data collection was incomplete, particularly at the mandal level. Reaffirming the BJP's stance, Rao declared, 'We are not against caste census, but it must be carried out scientifically and constitutionally.' He announced that the central government is set to include caste data in the upcoming national census — the first since the British-era caste count in 1931 — which will be conducted by the Registrar General of India, a legally constituted body. Citing schemes like Vishwakarma Yojana, Mudra loans, and Startup India, Rao argued that the majority of their beneficiaries are BCs, proving the central government's focused approach towards BC development. He cautioned that Congress is trying to mislead BC voters with conspiratorial narratives and reaffirmed Home Minister Amit Shah's assurance that reservations for SCs, STs, and BCs will remain intact. The BJP, Rao stated, opposes religion-based reservations, such as the current 4% quota for Muslims, alleging they do not conform to Articles 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution. He accused the previous government of diverting BC-reserved seats to Muslim candidates during the GHMC elections, disadvantaging communities like Gouds, Yadavas, and Gangaputras. Rao also defended the Modi government's introduction of an additional 10% EWS reservation, emphasizing that it did not compromise existing quotas for SCs, STs, or BCs. 'Only the BJP stands firmly with the BCs,' he declared, asserting that Congress is attempting to divide OBCs from the BJP through misleading campaigns. Highlighting the BJP's actions, he cited Dattatreya's appointment as Governor and Dr. K. Laxman's role as Rajya Sabha member and National OBC Morcha President as examples of true representation. In contrast, Rao accused Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Congress leadership of insincerity, calling their gestures toward BC welfare a political 'drama.' Rounding off his speech, Rao urged all BC community representatives to participate actively in the upcoming elections and in the scheduled BC meeting in Hyderabad. 'BJP is the only genuine ally of the BCs,' he concluded, appealing for collective support to ensure victory in Telangana.

Donald Trump reveals MOST personal details yet on Jeffrey Epstein ‘fallout', says ‘threw him out, and that was it'
Donald Trump reveals MOST personal details yet on Jeffrey Epstein ‘fallout', says ‘threw him out, and that was it'

Mint

timean hour ago

  • Mint

Donald Trump reveals MOST personal details yet on Jeffrey Epstein ‘fallout', says ‘threw him out, and that was it'

While speaking to reporters in Scotland on Monday, 28 July, US President Donald Trump claimed a dispute over employees led to his fallout with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, and asserted he never visited the convicted sex offender's private club at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. Pressed on the Epstein scandal even while abroad, Donald Trump offered one of his most detailed personal explanations yet — seeking to sever public perception of a close association with the disgraced financier. Sitting beside a visibly reserved British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, US President Trump insisted he never visited Epstein's infamous island 'Little Saint James' in Virgin Islands or sent a graphic 50th birthday letter — as Wall Street Journal alleged. Donald Trump blamed their falling-out on Epstein hiring away Trump Organisation staff. 'For years, I wouldn't talk to Jeffrey Epstein. I wouldn't talk — because he did something that was inappropriate. He hired help, and I said, 'Don't ever do that again.' He stole people that work for me. I said, 'Don't ever do that again.' He did it again, and I threw him out of the place, persona non grata. I threw him out, and that was it. I'm glad I did,' Donald Trump said during his Scotland visit. Donald Trump, who has previously brushed off the Epstein saga as media-driven distraction, adopted a more serious tone during the joint press event in Scotland — offering his clearest timeline yet of the severed ties with Epstein, which he claims occurred before any criminal cases surfaced. Though Donald Trump opened with his usual deflections, the US President's detailed account marked a notable change in how he publicly addresses his links to Epstein — indicating growing concern inside the White House. Multiple Trump administration officials say the president is increasingly irritated by renewed media attention on the Epstein case, believing it's part of a coordinated narrative from Democrats and the press meant to imply misconduct. This pressure has been mounting since Trump's own Justice Department issued an unsigned memo three weeks ago stating that Epstein died by suicide and there is no 'client list' of criminal associates — a conclusion that has drawn backlash even from Trump's MAGA supporters. Despite Donald Trump's distancing, questions persist. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung has attempted to shut down Epstein-related stories by branding them 'fake news.' A senior official clarified that the White House isn't denying Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein once had a relationship — but strongly rejects any implication of wrongdoing. 'What [Cheung] means by a fake story is the entire fake narrative that Trump somehow did something wrong or there is something incriminating about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein,' the official said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store