Combating climate change

TKA Nair

THE historic Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the outcome of protracted dialogue and negotiations on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission-induced climatic variations and their pervasive ill effects, was a remarkable essay on global consensus-building. 

The essence of it is the consensual commitment of the participating countries, almost the entire members of the United Nations, to keep global warming below 2°C increase above the pre-industrial level through the mechanism of the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs). This consensus was based on the stark realisation underpinned by extensive scientific studies and reports of the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that unabated GHG emissions caused by human interventions have been damaging the earth's ecology, leading to climate change with its disastrous consequences. Most of the countries, including India, are woefully short of both for realising their INDCs. Regrettably, the mechanism of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for addressing the critical resource mobilisation issue has been discouraging. 

Trump’s bizarre decision

Against this backdrop, the bizarre decision of US President Donald Trump repudiating the Paris Agreement and reneging on it is not only deplorable but also irresponsible. His jingoistic assertion that he represents Pittsburgh, not Paris, does not behove the leader of the "free world". At the same time, it is heartening that the "other US establishment" has not only vowed its support to the Paris Agreement, but also moved forward with concrete positive steps as it is convinced that "green growth" is the only path for sustainable development. Powerful global leaders such as Xi Jinping, Angela Markel and Macron have come out forcefully for the agreement. Narendra Modi, too, has committed India to the agreement. 

Notwithstanding Trump's tirade against the agreement, including his savage views on India's motives in championing it, several adverse consequences of climate change are being felt. For instance, we in India now live with the vagaries of the monsoon nearly eluding the southern states while flooding Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan, causing widespread damage. Towards the fag end of the South-West Monsoon which used to bring copious rainfall, Kerala is bracing itself to meet likely power and water shortages. 

Flood-drought pattern hits India

India, with its vast expanse of landmass is fighting periodic occurrence of floods and droughts at the same time, remind us of the perils of climate change as well as the realities of our geographical diversity. Agriculture has been most adversely affected by the forces of climate change. Studies have confirmed loss of productivity on account of climatic variations. Life of those engaged in farming has become unbearable owing to several factors, mainly variations in weather patterns beyond their control. The consequences of the distress of famers have been far-reaching, often forcing populist palliatives which prove to be counterproductive. 

With its teeming millions below the poverty line, India has been making gigantic efforts to ensure availability of the very basic necessities of life to its poor through welfare schemes and infrastructure development projects. A higher level of energy production and utilisation/per capita consumption is the single most critical determinant of the success of India's development strategies. Though the average annual per capita consumption of energy in India is far below the global average, a quantum jump in power production for higher consumption through the conventional sources — hydel, coal and hydro-carbon — is fraught with adverse fallouts. 

Addressing climate change

Responding to these imperatives, India initiated strategies to address climate change well before the Paris conclave. 

• While the broad policy framework on environment and climate change was laid down by the National Environment Policy 2006, the Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change set up in 2007 was indeed a landmark in our combat against climate change. In the context of our federal polity, the states have also formulated their own strategies and action plans taking into account their distinctive factor — endowments and challenges. State and local governments can effectively mobilise public participation for awareness raising, energy conservation, water storage and tree planting, all of which would help reduce the ill effects of GHG emissions. Panchayati Raj institutions have also become active in greening their areas which inter alia contributes to carbon sequestration. 
• We have now committed to reduce emission intensity by 30 to 35% over 2005 levels by 2030. Concrete steps taken are showing positive results. The contribution of renewables, specially solar and wind power in the energy mix, has gone up several times from 2002 to 2015.
• The comprehensive energy conservation strategy is also paying rich dividends. The National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency which aims at saving 10% of the current energy consumption within the next two-three years is well on its way to achieve its target. The resolve on moving to alternative auto fuels is part of the winning strategy. Renewables are increasingly becoming competitive and cheaper than fossil-fuel energy. Falling price of solar power draws investors in solar projects leading to a virtuous circle. Major thermal power producers NTPC and Tata Power are slowing down on coal-fired projects.  The welcome worldwide shift away from fossil fuels to renewables will certainly get accelerated with innovations such as "floating solars" and "bifacial modules", though for the present, they are tantalising technological miracles for the resource poor developing world, including India. 

Coordinating mechanism needed

With the heavy backlog of development deficit to catch up with, climate change has added a huge burden on the resources of India, its infrastructure, finances, technology and human capital. We are certainly not unprepared for the challenges, but the task is herculean. Our voluntarily committed Intended Nationally Determined Contribution following up on the National Action Plan on Climate Change lays down the best possible road map for the Central and state governments to work in partnership with the private sector. The National Adaptation Fund would further boost our innovative efforts. Appropriately designed institutional arrangements, funding and technology are critical, but an effective overarching coordinating mechanism at the apex reporting directly to the Prime Minister with the mandate to oversee, review and drive the national campaign against climate change is most crucial.

The writer was Secretary, Environment & Forest and Adviser to former PM