CESDI
About CESDI
- Genesis: Center for Environment and Sustainable Development India (CESDI) was established in April 1993 by a group of environment and development activists, inspired by the response to the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and becoming more aware about the gravity of the environmental degradation and the need to work for protecting the ‘mother earth’ on a war footing.
- Legal Status: CESDI is registered under the ‘12th Travancore-Cochin Scientific, Literary and Charitable Societies Registration Act of 1955’ on July 21, 1993 with a Reg No. P 201/93 and having its registered office in Tiruvalla, Kerala.
- Vision: An alternative model of development, which is economically, socially, politically, environmentally, and culturally sustainable, which provides basis needs for all upholding the values such as equality, justice and integrity of creation.
- Mission: Action, study and research on environment and sustainable development and deeper analysis of present model of development for initiation of an alternative model of development, which is in harmony with nature.
- Present Status: A resource center on environment and sustainable development, which is a one-stop solution to anything and everything related to the sustainability of environment and development.
- International Affiliations:
o Member of United Nations Roster of Consultants on Sustainable Development from November 1995
o Enlisted with the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) from 1995
o One of the Major Group Members (NGO Category) as per the Agenda 21 from Nov. 1995
o Special Consultative Status with United Nations Economic and Social Council, New York from July 1999
o Enlisted with the General Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Nairobi, Kenya from July 2002.
o Accredited with UN ESCAP, since 1995
o Earth Charter (process & campaign) Nodal Point in India from 1999-2009
o CESDI is also enlisted with Central Pollution Control Board, Government of India (No. CPCB/11-04/E-1/80)
- Administrative set up & Operations: CESDI is having its administrative office in Tiruvalla, Kerala and run by a group of dedicated members belongs to various walks of life and mainly running on individual contributions and membership fee.
- Activities: Along with conducting various study and research on environment and sustainable development, CESDI also organized several awareness events on days of international importance. Since 2006, CESDI is a partner organisation (PO) of National Environment Awareness Campaign (NEAC) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India and implemented various awareness activities in Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts of Kerala.
- CESDI was actively involved in assessing the progress of MDGs and providing feedback at various levels and actively involved with UN at multiple levels. CESDI focused mainly on Goal 7 of MDGs which is ‘Ensure environmental sustainability’. CESDI contributed towards achieving the targets, 7a & 7b.