Climate change started in the mid-eighteenth century, with the Industrial Revolution and has increased the average overall temperature of the earth by more than 1.2 degrees Celsius since.
Today, the world is grappling with rising temperatures, high-intensity heat waves, droughts, storms, unprecedented natural disasters and dwindling biodiversity.
The surge in global economic growth has caused a parallel increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into the atmosphere, creating an imbalance that impedes proper transmission of heat into the cosmos.
Here is a detailed analysis of India’s take on climate change, the challenges it is facing and what is being done about them.
What Is India Doing Towards Climate Change?
India has committed to the UNFCCC, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and its call to reduce GHG emissions. India is also a part of COP, Conference of the Parties, an annual international meeting focusing on climate.
The Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change released a National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) on June 20, 2008. The key element of this was to achieve sustainable environmental objectives and ensure the high growth rates required to raise the living standards of the people.
The demand for resources and consecutively, its environmental footprint has increased manifold in India, which has surpassed China as the most populated country. Currently, India emits 7% of the world’s greenhouse gases annually, being the third largest, after China and USA.
Thus, India has set and is working towards achieving ambitious climate targets. India’s commitment to COP21 and the need for nations to communicate actions to meet the Paris Agreement’s (an international treaty on climate change that was adopted in 2015) stated goals which is keeping “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels” and making efforts “to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.”
India adopted three targets for the period until 2030. These include a reduction in the emissions intensity of GDP, an increase in non-fossil electricity generation capacity, and the creation of new carbon sinks.
Moreover, India’s national statement at COP26 indicated an acceleration of the Paris commitments by introducing five targets labelled Panchamrit, the five “nectars for immortality.”
These targets are increasing non-fuel capacity to 500 GW, fulfilling half of the nation’s energy demands from renewables, bringing down carbon emissions relative to an unspecified baseline, minimising the intensity of emissions to GDP relative to the Paris commitment and aiming for net zero by 2070.
Read More: This Is Why Climate Change Affects Women More Than Men
What Are The Challenges India Is Facing In This Direction?
According to the Economic Survey 2020-21, to achieve India’s Nationally Determined Contribution goals, a financial resource of INR 11 lakh crores at 2014-15 prices is needed.
India has taken up a countercyclical line of action to tax goods related to petroleum, deduct taxes when global prices rise, and increase them when prices fall. However, the main issue is that electricity in our country is quite subsidised, with many household units and farmers reaping benefits from the low cost or paying only a tiny part of the actual cost.
Since 34% of India’s GHG emissions are because of electricity, it is extremely important to bring in electricity-pricing reforms to meet our emissions-reduction target. Doubtless, subsidisation has expanded energy access and benefited people, it has also created pressure on the finances of the state government, thus impeding investments in clean energy.
Subsidisation has also caused the depletion of other resources. For instance, free electricity for agricultural purposes has led to the degradation and depletion of water resources. Moreover, depending on coal for generating power causes serious health issues due to increased carbon emissions and pollution levels.
“Addressing climate change will need systemic changes to the economy. This will also mean changing aspirations and tastes. For many Indians, owning a car is an aspiration—how do we change that? For many Indians, rice is the preferred staple—can we change this preference to a less water-intensive, but less tasty crop?” says Karthik Ganesan, a research fellow at the Delhi-based Council on Energy, Environment, and Water.
What Needs To Be Done?
Climate is a global common public resource and climate change needs to be addressed by all countries unanimously. If for example, one country is addressing it vigorously while its neighbours aren’t, the resulting consequences will still be faced by both of them.
The developed countries, such as the US or some of the European Union nations, can achieve the targets more easily than the developing or underdeveloped ones. The subtle reason is the difference in the quantity and allocation of resources.
Consider this very interesting fact. The maximum production of Nike, which is an American company, takes place in developing countries such as Indonesia and Vietnam.
Did you know that most countries still have very lenient laws and policies when it comes to setting production processes?
That is why some firms take advantage of that, along with the cheap labour that these underdeveloped nations offer, and establish their manufacturing units in such places.
However, with the intensifying repercussions of climate change, all companies, countries, and citizens are taking action. The matter is very complex because we want to bring about a very fair and just change. Say for example, if all countries are forced to stop using coal immediately. Do you think that will solve the problem?
While it might be soothing to the environment, it won’t be to the residents of an underdeveloped nation. The incomes of these people depend heavily on coal-related activities. The GDP of that country depends on these natural resources. Thus, we need sustainable policies that will allow a just transition to renewables.
Although a lot of strategies and policies have been adopted, India is still far from reaching its goals within the said time frame due to a vast implementation gap.
For instance, India’s energy sector heavily depends on coal. Thus, to convert completely into renewable energy, its use needs to be regulated and a transition towards green energy must be pursued.
The state and local governments need to come forward and take up leadership to achieve the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) which adds to NAPCC on a broader level.
For instance, Chhattisgarh has started many cross-sectoral initiatives like Narva (rivers and streams), Ghurva (compost pit), Garva (livestock) and Bari (backyard farming). This demonstrates state-level climate leadership because, under such initiatives, primary areas like the forest, livelihood, and agriculture that are sustainable and climate resilient, and decarbonisation of sectors such as transport and industry are covered.
Therefore, to meet the target of a climate-resilient planet and attain long-term sustainable growth and development, involvement at all levels, be it global, national, state, or local, has proven to be effective and successful.
Image Credits: Google Images
Feature image designed by Saudamini Seth
Sources: UNDP, Indian School of Public Policy, Centre on Global Energy Policy
This post is tagged under: women, UN, India, policies, climate change, reports, infrastructure, agriculture, slum, rural, displacement, internal, environment, rainfall, heat, heat waves, laws
Disclaimer: We do not hold any right, or copyright over any of the images used, these have been taken from Google. In case of credits or removal, the owner may kindly mail us.
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