Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

Since the Stockholm conference where we began to understand and above all, acknowledge that the very planet that sustain our lives, is finding its own sustenance in shatters.

We began with finding UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) and UNCBD (United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity), Rio’s Earth summit in 1992 was a bigger success and we did not stop there.

We knew what humanity has so far done and what it may endure next.

Therefore, these environmental policy driven Conferences were held: The Kyoto Protocol wherein we changed our carbon emissions into a commodity, the Lima Conference, the COP21 (Conference of Parties) at Paris which led to most of the climate momentum and action we witness today.

Though the dangers were grave, we continued to embolden our efforts to save the ailing planet.

But did we slow down somewhere in the middle? Did we become over-confident in dealing with this impending Climate crisis as one?

IPCC’s recent report has highlighted how every threat we have seen, are seeing and will see in future will all be linked to Climate change and how our actions now, can save our future next.

The report’s message was clear, with no sheer possibilities: Sea-level rise is fastest in 3000 years, Arctic ice has been melting most in 1000 years and Carbon-di-oxide has registered highest concentration in 2 million years.

There is ever-increasing danger to our food systems: “The South and Southeast Asian monsoon has weakened in the second half of the 20th century. In the long term, South and Southeast Asian monsoon and East Asian summer monsoon precipitation will increase”.

Hence, the time is right for another: COP 26 to be held at Glasgow.

UN has termed this year as the one to ‘make or break’. The world consensus and outcome of the Conference will decide farther approach to be followed.

The climate action has always faced extremities; some supporting while others negating the cause. Similarly, there had been a gamut of countries promoting the planet’s cause while the others, due to their own vested motives, negated any need.

Finally, the others are also joining Climate action and defining their own targets to save the world.

India’s stand in the whole “saving the World” campaign:

This COP will probably see more emphasis on  countries to work towards a “net zero” deadline preferably by 2050s.

Net zero: Something which demands a country’s emissions to be balanced out by creating additional sinks or things/places to absorb an equivalent amount of carbon such as forests, soil sequestration methods, carbon injected into rock profiles etc., simply the carbon capture and storage technologies.

Although pressure has been unto India to join the celebrated bandwagon of countries declaring to be Carbon neutral in a few upcoming decades, experts suggested otherwise for this country. Why?

India is at special place where it has to foster Carbon-free development while dodging and surviving the impacts of Climate change (the country’s vulnerability to Climate change is as high as adrenaline rush).

Plus, while India caters to 17.7% of World’s population, it accounts for only 3.5% of Global collective emissions. This does not serve Climate justice well enough.

What does India expect to achieve out of this COP?

There are “huge expectations” as India expects this upcoming Conference to be “the COP of action and implementation”.

India absolutely supports the five objectives put forward by the UK (enjoying Presidency in COP26) on sustainable land use, energy transition, low emission vehicle transition, climate finance and adaptation.

With its leadership and diplomacy, the country will demand implementation of long-term issues stuck since a few last COPs like those related to climate finance, $100 billion capital from developed to developing countries to be given annually, market-based mechanisms of Carbon exchange etc.

India vouches for “Clean Development mechanism” that calls for a developed country to earn carbon units or offset excess carbon it releases, by setting up emission-negating infrastructure in developing countries.

The long-term climate finance has served as a point of contention between developed and developing nations, darkening the very future action against Climate change.

Why is it necessary?

Every country has received its due time for development. There was enough gap for every developed country like US, UK, China etc. between the time it was undertaking development and when it began shedding its emissions or at least aiming for it.

For India and other developing countries, alas, it’s not the case.

The moment India was done with other perils in its garb like hunger, poverty, illiteracy, maternal and child mortality and social evils like dowry, domestic violence, caste and religion bias etc. and could begin growing.

The world could realize the failing planet and hence the need to shift to renewables, making lesser emissions, embracing sustainability in every sphere.

For India, its not easy for the world is still practicing or testing carbon capture and the renewables are not yet prepared for this transition.

This award of $100 billion is a way to help developing countries stand up on their own to fight for Climate and aspire to develop.

How will India’s narrative be heard worldwide from the COP’s platform?

India has proven its mettle in green energy, inclusive development and its aim to achieve resilience.

In this direction, India has spearheaded UDAY scheme for the world’s largest energy efficient lighting connecting millions of lightless households to the grid at record speed or allowing Renewable Energy RPOs, giving its due place to ‘Hydrogen Energy Mission’ in Budget, created a Green Growth Equity Fund etc.

India has launched organizations like Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and ISA (International Solar Alliance).

But India can do more: it will need to upscale its pre-decided goals.

Though Cabinet is likely to discuss India’s ambitions at the upcoming COP, for further success, India can widen its focus from mere Climate funding to the priority sectors requiring such investments like mobility, power etc.

Though there are several amendments being undertaken to gather new assets, its India’s responsibility to continue to preserve its existing assets which are more or less being diverted without question.

An assessment by Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) indicates how India may likely experience a 4.4° C rise by the end of this century. India does not have the freedom to let go of its forests sustaining the balance any more.

It can rather focus on the technology and subsequent research in clean energy, carbon dealings etc. to provide greater flexibility in times of crisis.

It can even look to strengthen its mitigation and adaptation techniques. For this, it needs an illuminating technology that will serve in all contexts: economical, ecological and even social.

“If India is pushed to shut down a coal capacity there is a cost to it. Financial and social costs to it which cannot be solved not just with finance but price of carbon has to be linked with it.”

For money alone does not help in alleviating distress, it’s a mere block in the chain of indispensables.

COP26 cannot be just limited or derailed on mere question of funding. It’s a platform that may require better questions to be raised; of all the previous deaths potent of getting wasted or the ones those may occur due to policy inadequacies.

By Alaina Ali Beg

I am a lover of all arts and therefore can dream myself in all places where the World takes me. I am an avid animal lover and firmly believes that Nature is the true sorcerer.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *