Vijay Samnotra
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Vijay Samnotra
|image = VIjay Samnotra UN.jpg
|imagesize = 190px
|smallimage =
|alt =
|caption =
|order =
|office = Head of United Nations Environment Programme India
|term_start = 2016
|term_end = 2019
|deputy =
|taoiseach =
|succeeding =
|predecessor =
|successor =
|birth_date = 6 September 1955(65)
|nationality = Indian
|alma_mater = St. Stephens' College, University of Delhi - Master of Arts (English Literature), Bachelor of Arts (Honors in English Literature), (May 1975 -
Apr 1977) and (Apr 1972 -May 1975)
|Spouse =
|Children =
}}
Vijay Samnotra is an Indian civil servant and former international career diplomat who served in the United Nations. He formerly served as head of the United Nations Environment Programme in India{{cite news|title=UN to tie up with Versova beach champs for cleaner seas in India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/un-to-tie-up-with-versova-beach-champs-for-cleaner-seas-in-india/articleshow/58797258.cms|work=The Times of India|date=23 May 2017 |accessdate=15 August 2020}} and as senior adviser to the United Nations resident coordinator on climate change and urbanization.{{cite web|title=Ahead of the Curve - Sustainable Consumption and Production and the Circular Economy in India|url=https://www.un-page.org/files/public/un_ahead_of_the_curve_22_jan_2019_final_web.pdf|work=United Nations|accessdate=15 August 2020}}{{cite web|title=What To Watch For At Katowice - Climate Summit 2019|url=https://in.one.un.org/blogs/what-to-watch-for-at-katowice/|work=United Nations|accessdate=15 August 2020}}
Early life
Samnotra's parents and grandparents were Partition-era refugees to India from former West Pakistan, what is today the modern-day nation of Pakistan.{{Cite web |url=https://www.internationalnewsandviews.com/will-future-generations-be-able-to-understand-the-unbearable-pain-and-sacrifice-of-the-victims-of-india%E2%80%99s-partition-dr-dp-sharma-and-shri-vijay-samnotra/ |title=Will future generations be able to understand the unbearable pain and sacrifice of the victims of India's Partition : Dr. DP Sharma and Shri Vijay Samnotra |access-date=15 October 2021 |archive-date=15 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015194204/https://www.internationalnewsandviews.com/will-future-generations-be-able-to-understand-the-unbearable-pain-and-sacrifice-of-the-victims-of-india%E2%80%99s-partition-dr-dp-sharma-and-shri-vijay-samnotra/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web| url=https://epaper.patrika.com/nationaledition/rajasthan/2021-8-15/198/page-1.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019103250/https://epaper.patrika.com/nationaledition/rajasthan/2021-8-15/198/page-1.html | archive-date=2021-10-19 | title=Unknown}}
Career
Samnotra joined the Central Secretariat Service after qualifying through the Civil Services Examination. He served as under secretary to Government of India and then served as private secretary to then Minister of State Maneka Gandhi. He later resigned from the civil service and joined the United Nations.
He served in the United Nations for 25 years and worked in the United Nations Office at Nairobi and United Nations Environment Programme. He also worked as speechwriter to two under-secretaries-general of the United Nations, assisting in conceptualizing the themes and information campaigns for World Environment Day and annual "Clean Up the World" campaigns.{{cite web|title=Advisory Board - Global Inspirations|url=http://globalinspirationsindia.com/vijay-samnotra.html|work=Global Inspirations India|accessdate=15 August 2020}}
In 2016, Samnotra established the India Country Office of the United Nations Environment Programme in New Delhi. As a senior advisor to the United Nations Resident Coordinator on Climate Change and Urbanization, he also contributed to collaborative projects and programmes for other autonomous associate agencies of the UN, including the Bali Strategic Plan on Capacity Building and Technology Transfer for quality assurance of UNEP's projects and programmes.{{cite web | url=http://globalinspirationsindia.com/vijay-samnotra.html | title=Mr. Vijay Samnotra }}
As a senior adviser to the United Nations Resident Coordinator in India on Climate Change and Urbanization, Samnotra coordinated the project on Circular Economy in India, leading to the publication of "Ahead of the Curve"; drafted the plan to make the United Nations in India carbon neutral; advised the UN resident coordinator on all issues relating to climate change and urbanization in his interactions with the United Nations Secretary-General's Office; and drafted the UN-India partnership proposal on climate change, innovation and urbanization.{{cite web| url=https://unfccc.int/files/parties_observers/submissions_from_observers/application/pdf/787.pdf | title=Climate Change and Cities | access-date=2023-12-26}}
Awards
- INVC International Award for environmental diplomacy{{cite web | url=https://mpbreakingnews.in/featured/mp-news-senior-ips-pawan-jain-to-get-invc-international-award-2020-on-23-09-2021-mkt/ | title=MP News: Senior IPS Pawan Jain to get INVC International Award 2020 on 23-09-2021 MP News: वरिष्ट IPS पवन जैन को आज मिलेगा INVC इंटरनेशनल अवॉर्ड 2020 | date=23 September 2021 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.internationalnewsandviews.com/invc-civil-services-and-environment-protection-international-award-for-the-year-2020-to-vijay-samnotra/ | title=INVC Public Services and Environment Protection International Award for the year 2020 to Vijay Samnotra | date=9 September 2021 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.samagrabharat.com/2021/09/26/senior-ips-officer-pawan-jain-honored-with-invc-international-awards-2020/ | title=आईएनवीसी इंटरनेशनल अवॉर्ड्स 2020 से सम्मानित किए गए वरिष्ठ आइपीएस अधिकारी पवन जैन | date=26 September 2021 }}
References
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External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20200815040731/http://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/26728/UN%20ENVIRONMENT%20DIRECTORY.%20as%20of%2020%20November%20AM.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Directory of UN Environment Programme Executive Office] (Archived) UNEP
- [https://www.who.int/india/news/detail/12-07-2017-multisectoral-workshop-on-air-pollution Multisectoral Workshop on Air Pollution] WHO, UN
- [http://archive.unu.edu/hq/ginfo/wip/wip17-1-spr03.pdf Works in Progress 2003] United Nations University
- [https://www.googlehindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/mumbaiites-gear-up-for-100th-week-of-versova-beach-cleanup-7-2-million-kg-trash-removed-so-far/story-IUw1UKXV240PHgxB5iRXQM_amp.html Mumbaiites gear up for 100th week of Versova beach cleanup, 7.2 million kg trash removed so far] Hindustan Times
- [https://www.newscentral24x7.com/reducing-carbon-footprint-and-waste-generation-is-the-need-of-the-hour-says-indian-environmentalist/ Reducing Carbon Footprint and Waste Generation is the Need of the Hour, Says Indian Environmentalist] News Central 24x7
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Category:Indian civil servants
Category:Indian government officials
Category:Central Secretariat Service officers
Category:Indian officials of the United Nations
Category:St. Stephen's College, Delhi alumni
Category:Delhi University alumni