Context: Recently, the "Takachar", a social enterprise enabling farmers to prevent open burning of their waste farm residues is among the seven winners of the prestigious "Young Champions of the Earth" 2020 prize.
“Young Champions of the Earth” 2020 award

• It is given by UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
• In 2020, seven Young Champions of the Earth will be selected from each global region: Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, West Asia and two from Asia and the Pacific.
• Aim: to nurture the next generation of environmental leaders.

Takachar

• It buys rice husks, straw and coconut shells from farmers and turns them into charcoal, saving the debris from the fires, which are also a driver of climate change.
• It enables rural farmers to earn 40 per cent more by converting their crop residues into fuels, fertilisers and value-added chemicals like activated carbon (AC) on-site.
• Takachar enterprise of Indian entrepreneur enables farmers to earn extra income from farm waste by converting them into value added chemicals like activated carbon.
• Potential: By 2030, Takachar will impact 300 million farmers affected by this problem, create USD 4 billion/year equivalent in additional rural income and jobs, and mitigate one gigaton/year of CO2 equivalent.

United Nation Environment Program

• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), was established in 1972 to guide and coordinate environmental activities within the United Nations (UN) system.
• UNEP promotes international cooperation on environmental issues, provides guidance to UN organizations.
• Through its scientific advisory groups, UNEP encourages the international scientific community to participate in formulating policy for many of the UN’s environmental projects.
• UNEP is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.
• The organization also encourages participation by the private sector to promote the sustainable use of the world’s natural resources.
• Major Reports: Emission Gap Report, Global Environment Outlook, Frontiers, Invest into Healthy Planet.
• Major Campaigns: Beat Pollution, UN75, World Environment Day, Wild for Life.