Sunita narain biography definition

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Now we must make sure these water bodies are not just holes in the ground, but will capture the next rain and recharge the aquifer. 2001-2003: Member, Executive Board, Stockholm Environment Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.

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Global environmental governance needs cooperation and justice: Sunita Narain has worked consistently to articulate the need for justice, equity and democracy in the arena of global environmental negotiations.

As a member of the 2 statutory body, set up under the Environment Protection Act and under mandate from the Supreme Court, the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority for the National Capital Region, she continues to monitor and implement strategies for reducing pollution in Delhi and in other cities across the country.

Making water everybody’s business

Water is clearly most important asset for the country.

Ms Narain through her research and advocacy has been influential in building public opinion on the challenges and solutions for environment, particularly in countries of the South. She was twice on the list of the world’s top 100 public intellectuals put out by Foreign Policy/Prospect, and in 2016, Time Magazine featured her as one of the 100 most influential people in the world for her advocacy on poor and the environment and climate change.In 2020, she was conferred the Edinburg medal for her leadership in championing climate justice for the poor and disenfranchised.

Narain has continued to advocate for the need to connect biodiversity, nutrition and livelihood in our food systems. 2004-2008: Member, committee on environment, Indian Planning Commission.

 17. Her activism is research based but also driven by the need to find solutions that are workable and yet transformative in the lives of the poor.

She has also received the World Water Prize for work on rainwater harvesting and for its policy influence in building paradigms for community based water management. 2007-present: Member, Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change

24. 2000-present: Member UNDP CSO Committee to provide strategic, policy and substantive guidance to the Administrator of UNDP. 

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2009-present: Member, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board.

28. In 2008-09, she served as a member of the Swedish government’s high level commission on the need for adaptation and its links with development. 

Positions Held

1. One of her sisters, Urvashi Narain, is a Lead Economist at the World Bank in Washington, D.C.

Husband & Children

Sunita Narain is unmarried.

Career

Sunita Narain began her career at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in New Delhi in 1982, shortly after completing her studies at the University of Delhi.

She is a member of the Prime Minister’s Council for Climate Change. As a result of this work that she directed, there are today policies that mandate improved fuel quality, emission norms, vehicular technologies and inspection and maintenance systems for vehicles in the city. Her policy advocacy for clean air in the city of New Delhiwas instrumental in making the city move away from diesel-run public transport system to one based on clean natural gas.

Since then she has continued to work in building awareness and consensus about the need for an effective and equitable climate change agreement. She has continued to research and write about how environment must become the basis of livelihood security of people in the country. She has also been vocal in her criticism of policies and projects, leading to public debate and scrutiny of environmental regulations in India.

Awards, Honours, Achievements

Sunita Narain has received numerous awards and honors for her significant contributions to environmentalism, including the Padma Shri (2005), the Stockholm Water Prize (2005), and the Edinburgh Medal (2020).

Her mother then took over the family business, providing for her and her four younger sisters.

CSE is an institution, which believes in the need to use knowledge to bring about change. Her work to build an awareness on this issue continues.

Food and water safety  

In 2001, CSE set up a state of art laboratory to analyse contaminants in water and food so that it could undertake science for ecological security.