Events
& Issues
New Delhi, 3 October 2019
Climate Change Summit
FOUR-TIER ACTION NEEDED
By Dr S. Saraswathi
(Former Director, ICSSR, New Delhi)
The US witnessed a few days ago, the biggest
protest by students and young people drawn from all States of the nation to
demand action against climate change that is threatening the whole world. It is
reported that many schools in New York permitted their students to skip classes
to join the protests that took place two days before the UN Climate Change
Summit convened in the city.
The Summit was action-oriented and was to
collect action plans from various countries and not end up with speeches and
resolutions. Heads of governments were urged to “demonstrate a leap in
collective national political ambitions and massive low-emission movements in
the real economy”. Climate change has
crossed the stage of awareness, arguments, and assessment, and has reached the
stage of actions to mitigate disasters and make adaptations to changes.
The Summit has come three years after the
Paris Agreement on Climate Change in 2016. In March 2019, the number of
signatories of Paris Agreement dealing with green-house emissions, mitigation,
and finance stood at 195. They are bound to determine, plan, and regularly send
reports on their individual contributions to mitigate global warming.
Climate and ecological crisis is a mix of
political, economic, and cultural crisis in the world today. It is one real crisis that meets convincing
speeches` and impressive demonstrations, but very little effective action. The threat is perceived to be for a distant
future generations, but ecological studies point to worsening of the crisis day
by day and nearness of the impending calamity threatening the whole world.
Youth protest was followed by a vast youth
gathering at the United Nations at the Climate Summit to urge world leaders to
take action for a sustainable future. The UNO had invited around 500 young
activists to take part in the meeting – the first of its kind, but some press
reports inform that many were unable to attend as they could not get US visa. A
contingent from India also joined the gathering.
The Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) has recently reported about a serious threat to the safety of the
entire world as a result of climate change. In India, coastal cities of
Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Surat are mentioned as likely victims to be severely
affected by rise of sea level while several others in northern India to be
affected by acute water shortage due to melting of Himalayan glaciers causing
declining level of water in many
perennial rivers. Sea levels are
estimated to be rising faster than predicted earlier to reach 30 to 60 cm rise
by the end of this century even if
carbon emissions are drastically reduced and global warming is brought down to
2degrees C.
A special report of the panel warns the world
that outside Greenland and Antarctica, about 220 billion metric tonnes of ice
are being lost in a year. Indeed, a grave situation for those who can visualise
the consequences. Naturally, melting is
bound to grow faster giving world less and less time to wake up. Action to
reverse the danger should be taken immediately and in drastic dose.
Symbolically, the disappearance of an Alpine
glacier at an altitude of 8,850 ft. was observed as a sad event like death
deserving funeral. Located on the borders of France, Italy, and Switzerland, it
is on the highest peak in Western Europe. It came after the first glacier loss
a month ago in Iceland.
Average temperature between 2015 and 2019 is
set to be hottest on record, according to a UN report. It is presently
estimated to be 1.1 degree C above pre-industrial times (1850-1900), and 0.2
degree C warmer than 2011-2015. Another report says that the extent of Arctic
summer sea ice has declined at a rate of 12% per decade over the past four
decades with the four lowest values between 2015 and 2019.
Global warming has already affected
agricultural production. Forest fires on a scale unknown in the past break out
in all continents. Studies show that if emissions continue to rise at their
current pace, natural disasters will increase 100% which is already experienced
in some countries. Earthquakes have become daily occurrences; tempests,
hurricanes, and tsunami are more severe and more widespread; floods and storms
threaten any place; and rains don’t follow their seasons. Such natural calamities could drain the
economy of even the richest countries.
In this context, US President Donald Trump
wants to pull out of the Paris Climate Accord and reversed many climate
mitigating policies. He did not address the Climate Summit. Another leader is
Brazil President who is inclined to downplay environmental concerns despite the
huge Amazon fire.
Periodic reports and outbursts on the dangers
of climate change awaiting the world have become routine and consumed by common
people with practically no reaction. They read the reports with more curiosity
than concern just as they read wild life stories or forest fire or tsunami in a
far off land. Their reaction cannot achieve any substantial result. Governments
have to take policy decisions and strict follow up actions including penalty
for violations of its directives by organisations and people. Volumes of
information are pouring in, but little substantive action is reported.
Four countries -- UK, France, Canada, and
Ireland -- have declared climate emergencies, but continue to pour billions of
dollars to promote fossil-fuel industries. They extend tax breaks, financial
incentives, and export promotions that are not consistent with climate crisis
action. Over 800 cities all over the
world have declared climate emergency under which powers have been adopted by
public authorities to take action to curb effects of climate change, a drive
for carbon neutrality, and a mandate for political action. Cities have an
important role as big consumers of energy and producers of waste.
However, the emergency mostly remains on
paper, and few people are even aware of it and its consequences. It seems that
there are people including some leading policy makers who do not believe in
climate studies and warnings. Melting of Arctic glaciers may be seen by them as
nature’s gift to open new navigation routes and opening up of unexplored
under-water resources. Indeed, it is
almost impossible to achieve worldwide understanding and coordinated action to
contain climate change within limits to ensure sustainable future.
Despite, worldwide dissemination of
information on the imminent dangers in global warming and climate change, few
fresh plans were put forth in the recent Climate Summit. Most countries could
only promise incremental action on their existing plans. Prime Minister Modi
agreed to increase the country’s share of renewable energy. But, dependence on
coal cannot be stopped. China made no
new promises.
The courage and conviction of Greta Thunbug,
the 15-year old Swedish environmentalist, who led demonstrations outside the
Swedish Parliament for “stronger climate action” and organised student strikes
under the label “Fridays for the future” must inspire the young and old. To
fight the crisis and produce results, four- tier action -- global policies,
national commitments, local plan, and individual cooperation -- must come.
---INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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