How Is India Planning To Tackle The Growing Menace Of Climate Change?

Climate change is real. Humans should realize before it’s too late.

The climate is the weather condition prevailing in an area over a long period. The change that occurs in these long term weather conditions is what we call climate change. India is one of the rapidly developing economies of the world, what should be its stance while tackling an issue like the climate change which will possibly deteriorate the conditions of already scarce factories and industries in the country?

Change is the law of nature. These days, everyone wants a change in almost anything. Changes in food habits and living conditions are two of the many changes that a human being desires.

But why is this change in climate terrible? Why do we not want this change to happen?

Let us get back again to the basic definition of this change. Climate is called the weather averaged for an extended period of time (the standard averaging period is 30 years). As such, we, at the least, live in a particular weather condition for 30 years before a change is detected in it.

Almost every organism on this earth is ever-evolving, so are human beings. Our body adapts to such a particular type of environment in general for sustaining lives of ours. So, when a change occurs in the climate, it is not able to adjust well in the same. This gives rise to various anomalies in the proper functioning of our metabolic system, and we fall prey to diseases.

Moreover, 71% of the earth is covered with water, and around 10% of the total landmass is under glaciers. Rapid emissions in the form of nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, and other gases from factories and motorized vehicles are playing a significant role in the increase of greenhouse gases in the environment. This is causing the global temperature to rise, which, as a result, is causing those glaciers to melt. This poses a significant threat of extinction towards the low lying islands, i.e., the likes of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep archipelago.

Furthermore, changing landscapes, risk towards wildlife, increased risk of drought and floods, intensified storms due to higher ocean temperature, a decline in agricultural productivity are only a few to name.

As A Developing Country, What Role Does India Play To Curb This Menace?

India has an impressive overall contribution to global carbon emissions. Its cumulative average since the year 1850 is a meagre 2%, which is better than in most developed countries. Despite all these, India is at the frontlines of facing the impacts of climate change. Shifting rainfall patterns, recurring floods, and other disasters hamper our efforts to eradicate other menaces like poverty and hunger.

With limited resources, India is still trying its best to increase energy efficiency across sectors and make greater use of renewable energy. Following are some of the small yet essential steps taken by India:

1. India’s National Solar Mission is being scaled up five-fold from 20,000 megawatts to 100000 megawatts. This will mean additional investment of 100 billion dollars and savings of about 165 million tonnes of CO2 emissions each year. The recent Rewa Solar Power Plant, which also boasts of generating 750 MW of electricity, is one of the largest solar power plants in Asia. It is expected to decrease India’s CO­­­2 emissions by 1.5 million tonnes annually.
2. India is releasing 6 billion US dollars in intensive afforestation, which will result in more carbon sinks.
3. India has allocated about 200 million US dollars for the ‘National Adaptation Fund,’ setting-up of Ultra Mega Solar Projects, Ultra-Modern Super Critical Coal based thermal power tech, and the development of Solar Parks on canals.
4. India has put in place strict norms for the cement industry. Our Action Plan for cleaning river Ganga will bring multiple benefits. Not only will it help clean the river but also help in revival of river Dolphins found in this holy river.
5. India has started preparations to develop a National Air Quality index and has launched a National Air quality scheme.

India’s Efforts In Increasing The Use Of Renewable Energy Sources

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is an alliance of more than 121 countries initiated by India, most of them being sunshine countries. They lie between the tropic of Cancer and tropic of Capricorn, which receives most of the sunlight throughout the year. This alliance is expected to have an enormous positive impact on our conventional energy sources like coal and petroleum by replacing them with renewable energies like Solar energy.

The same was proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a speech in November 2015 in London. Ex-French President Hollande and Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the foundation stone of its headquarters in Haryana at the very beginning of 2016.

The main focus is on solar power utilization. Launching such an alliance in Paris sends out a strong message to global communities about the sincerity of the developing nations towards their concern about climate change. A target of installing 100 GW plants by 2022 and cutting emission by almost 35% is what India pledges as of yet.

With support from France, India has invited nations to facilitate infrastructure for the implementation of solar projects. The alliance will endorse India in achieving its goal of generating 1000 GW of solar energy by 2022. Moreover, this also encourages developing countries to come united and help in development for making solar power equipment within developing countries.

India is also a party to the UN convention to combat desertification, and the Ministry of External Affairs is the coordinating agency of the same in this country. A 20 years comprehensive National Action Plan to combat desertification in the country has been prepared. Some of its objectives are:

1. A community-based approach to development.
2. Drought management and mitigation.
3. Raising awareness etc.

It is highly likely that this program will help reduce and mitigate the problems of desertification in the upcoming years.

The National Action Plan On Climate Change

The government of India has launched eight missions as a part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change in specific areas. This assesses the impact of climate change and actions required to address the same.

1. National Solar Mission: It aims to promote the development and use of solar energy for power generation and other applications to make solar competitive with fossil-based energy options.
2. National Mission on sustainable habitat: This plan puts much emphasis on extending the existing Energy Conservation Building code, urban waste management, etc.
3. National water mission: Water scarcity is a significant problem in developing countries like India. This mission aims to increase water efficiency by up to 20% by adjusting prices and initiating other such measures.
4. National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem: The Himalayan ranges have played a significant role in maintaining rain tables across India and is also a house to thousands of ecosystems. Moreover, the glaciers in the region are responsible for keeping many of our Rivers flowing. The mission aims to conserve the ecosystems and forest cover in the area.
5. National Mission for Greener India: One of its goals includes the afforestation of 6 million hectares of degraded forest lands and expanding forest cover from 23% to 33% of India’s territory.
6. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture: Ever-increasing population and decreasing agricultural produce impacts adversely the fight against hunger and poverty. This mission will emphasize on developing climate-resilient crops and efficient farming practices.
7. National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change: To get a better understanding of climate science, impacts, and challenges, this plan envisions a new climate science research fund and increased international collaboration.

India’s Stand On Climate Change Negotiations

India’s stand has always been clear while tackling climate change negotiations. Clean air, energy, and power balanced with optimum growth were India’s priorities in its mission to combat climate change. India believes that the developing countries’ need for inclusive growth, sustainable development, poverty eradication, and energy access to all must be recognized as fundamental to the approach of differentiation.

Moreover, announcements of contributions towards the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and its actual deposit should be ensured by developed countries, which can then further be used for buying patents of environmentally friendly technologies. India grows into a regional power, which can only be accomplished if given sufficient development space to grow its economy and eliminate poverty.

Whatever India has done to date is hugely positive, and more of such steps should be taken in the near future to lead the world by example.

(Images used are for representational purposes only.)