Discussion about the UNESCO Creative Cities Network

UNESCO Creative Cities Network 

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) is a UNESCO program that promotes cooperation between cities that have recognized creativity as a key element for urban development.

1. The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (established in 2004 by UNSECO), consists of 350 cities in over a hundred countries.
2. Categories include: Crafts and folk arts 2. Media arts 3. Film 4. Design 5. Gastronomy 6. Literature and 7. Music.
3. The network aims to leverage the creative, social, and economic potential of cultural industries, aligning with UNESCO’s objectives of promoting cultural diversity and enhancing resilience to challenges like climate change, inequality, and rapid urbanization.
4. It promotes a culture of creativity in urban planning and solutions to urban issues

Kozhikode, a city in Kerala, and Gwalior, a city in Madhya Pradesh, have been included in UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network (UCCN)

• These cities were chosen to represent specific creative fields, with Kozhikode falling under the category of literature and Gwalior under music.
• Indian cities that are part of this network include Varanasi (music), Srinagar (crafts and folk arts), Hyderabad(Gastronomy), Jaipur (Crafts and Folk Arts) and Chennai (music).

Significance of Kozhikode and Gwalior

Kozhikode as City of Literature:

• Kozhikode is the first city in India to receive the prestigious title of ‘City of Literature’ by UNESCO.
• The city has a long history of hosting various literary events, such as the Kerala Literature Festival, which is one of the largest literary gatherings in Asia.
• This acknowledgement reinforces the city’s role as a hub for intellectual exchange and literary discussions.
• Kozhikode carried the distinction of being home to over 500 libraries.
• The city is also home to many renowned writers, including S. K. Pottekkatt (the most celebrated writer of the city), Thikkodiyan and P. Valsala Sanjayan, along with poets, scholars, and publishers who have contributed to the diversity and vibrancy of Malayalam literature and culture.

Gwalior as the City of Music:

• Gwalior is the second city in India to be designated as the ‘City of Music’ by UNESCO, after Varanasi in 2015.
• The city is widely regarded as the birthplace of Tansen, one of the greatest musicians and composers in Indian history, who was also one of the ‘Navratnas’ (nine jewels) in the court of Emperor Akbar.
• The city is also the origin of the Gwalior Gharana, the oldest and most influential school of Hindustani classical music.
• The city hosts one of the biggest annual music festivals in India, the Tansen Sangeet Samaroh, which attracts thousands of music lovers and artists from across the country and abroad

United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF)

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is organising a Country-Led Initiative (CLI) event as part of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) from 26-28 October, 2023 at the Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun, Uttarakhand

About the United Nations Forum on Forests:

• It promotes the management, conservation, and sustainable development of all types of forests.
• It was established in 2000 by the UN Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC).
• The Forum meets annually at the UN Headquarters in New York, bringing together representatives of all member states and forest-related agencies for high-level dialogue on technical matters in odd years and policy matters in even years.
• The forum has universal membership, and is composed of all Member States of the United Nations and specialized agencies.
• India is a founding member of UNFF

Earlier in May 2023, the eighteenth session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF18), held in New York

Major Highlights of UNFF18 session:

• Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) in Tropical Region:
  • In a recent development, experts have underscored the significance of practicing SFM in tropical regions. With the surge in bioenergy consumption since 2013, there has been a mounting strain on forests, making the need for sustainable sourcing of tropical timber even more crucial.
    • The rise in bioenergy usage, driven by the global push for renewable energy resources, has inadvertently created additional pressure on tropical forests. As bioenergy relies on biomass, such as wood pellets and chips, as fuel, the demand for timber has intensified. This has raised concerns about the potential negative impact on forest ecosystems, biodiversity, and the overall sustainability of these regions.
  • By implementing sustainable practices, such as selective logging and reforestation, the long-term health and vitality of these forests can be safeguarded.
• Forest Ecosystems and Energy:
  • Forestry director of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, highlighted the significant contribution of forest ecosystems to renewable energy requirements.
    • Over five billion people worldwide benefit from non-timber forest products, with forests providing 55% of these renewable energy needs.
• Forests and Climate Change Mitigation:
  • The Emissions Gap Report’s findings underscore the immense climate mitigation potential that forests hold. Through processes such as carbon sequestration, forests act as carbon sinks, absorbing and storing substantial amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere.
    • By preserving and sustainably managing forests, nations can leverage this natural capacity to help bridge the emissions gap and achieve climate targets.
  • Forests have the potential for reducing 5 gigatonnes of emissions

Anusandhan National Research Foundation Bill-2023

By approving the National Research Foundation Bill, the Indian Union Cabinet has taken a major step to enhance scientific research in the country. The NRF intends to address India’s persistent gap in research and development investments and foster a strong research environment within higher education institutions. The initiative is promising, but it also faces challenges such as ensuring fair allocation of funds, promoting interdisciplinary partnerships, and maintaining international standards

About Anusandhan National Research Foundation Bill-2023:

• It aims to set up the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (NRF).
• It will be an apex body to provide high-level strategic direction of scientific research in the country as per recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP).
• It seeks to set up a Rs 50,000-crore fund, with a sizeable contribution from the private sector, to “seed, grow and promote” research and development (R&D) and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout India’s universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories.
• It seeks to set up different funds:
  • Anusandhan National Research Foundation Fund: For the financing of activities under the Act.
  • Innovation Fund: For supporting outstanding creativity in the areas supported by the foundation
  • Science and Engineering Research Fund: For the continuation of the projects and programmes initiated under the Science and Engineering Research Board Act, 2008.
  • One or more special-purpose funds for any specific project or research.
• Functions of NRF:
  • NRF will forge collaborations among the industry, academia, and government departments and research institutions and create an interface mechanism for the participation and contribution of industries and state governments in addition to the scientific and line ministries.
  • It will focus on creating a policy framework and putting in place regulatory processes that can encourage collaboration and increased spending by the industry on R&D.
• Structure of NRF:
  • It will have a governing board consisting of 15 to 25 eminent researchers and professionals headed by the prime minister, who will be the ex-officio president.
  • The education minister and the science and technology Minister will be the vice presidents of the NRF.
  • The Department of Science and Technology (DST) will be the administrative department of NRF,
  • The proposed foundation will also have an executive council under the principal scientific adviser