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Climate and Mission LiFE |
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UPSC Syllabus: Prelims: Current Events of National and International Importance Mains: GS-III: Environment, Climate Change |
Introduction
- India’s recent statements on climate change highlight a nuanced approach that balances economic growth with climate commitments.
- V. Anantha Nageswaran and Aparajita Tripathi elucidate the complexities and challenges faced by India as it seeks to maintain its developmental trajectory while adhering to global climate goals.
Climate Adaptation
- Climate adaptation refers to the process of adjusting to actual or expected climate change and its impacts.
- It involves making changes to social, economic, and environmental practices to minimize the harm caused by climate change and to take advantage of any potential opportunities.
Objectives:
- To reduce the vulnerability of communities and ecosystems to the impacts of climate change.
- Strengthen the capacity of systems to recover from climate-related maladaptations.
- Ensure that communities can sustain their livelihoods despite changes in climate conditions.
Examples:
- Building sea walls and embankments for protection against rising sea levels.
- Implementing early warning systems for extreme weather events.
- Developing urban green spaces to reduce heat island effects.
Climate mitigation
- Climate mitigation involves efforts to reduce or prevent emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to limit the magnitude of future climate change.
- It aims to address the root causes of climate change by reducing GHG emissions and enhancing carbon sinks.
Objectives:
- Reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.
- Increase the capacity of natural systems to absorb and store carbon dioxide.
- Move from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources to reduce carbon footprint.
Examples:
- Installing solar panels and wind turbines to generate clean energy.
- Implementing carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.
- Promoting energy-efficient appliances and lighting.
India’s economic growth and energy needs:
Growing economy
- As the fifth largest economy, India is expected to become the third largest economy by 2030.
- India’s energy needs are projected to grow about 1.5 times faster than the global average over the next 30 years.
Theory of Historical Emissions:
- India emphasizes the theory of historical emissions, which highlights that developed countries have historically destructively used global resources to achieve their current economic status.
- Developed nations often do not accept responsibility for their past actions about environmental degradation.
Per Capita Emissions
- India’s per capita carbon emissions are significantly lower (2.5 tonnes) than the global average (6.3 tonnes).
- India needs to re-evaluate its options to avoid adopting the unsustainable energy consumption patterns of developed countries.
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
- Commitments made by countries under the Paris Agreement to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Paris Agreement:
- An international treaty adopted in 2015, aims to limit the global temperature increase to well below 2°C, preferably 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels.
Key Features of NDCs
- Each country sets its targets considering its national circumstances, capabilities, and levels of development.
- Countries must report regularly on their progress towards meeting their NDCs.
Five-year cycle
- NDCs are submitted every five years, with each new NDC being more ambitious than the previous.
Mitigation and Adaptation
- NDCs include measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation) and increase resilience to climate change impacts (adaptation).
India’s NDC targets:
- Reduce the emission intensity of its GDP by 33-35% from 2005 levels by 2030.
- Achieve about 40% of cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.
- Create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030.
Strategies:
- Renewable energy: Expand solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources.
- Energy efficiency: Enhancing energy efficiency in industries and transport.
- Sustainable practices: Promote sustainable agriculture, water conservation, and waste management.
What is Mission LiFE
- Mission LIFE (Lifestyle for Environment) is an initiative by the Government of India to promote sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyles among citizens.
- It encourages individual and collective actions to protect and preserve the environment.
- Mission LIFE was launched by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, on World Environment Day, June 5, 2022.
Objectives
- To reduce the adverse effects of human activities on the environment.
- To support efforts to combat climate change by promoting sustainable living practices.
- To encourage efficient use of resources and reduce waste.
- To promote a culture of environmental responsibility and sustainable living among citizens.
- Focus areas: Awareness, community participation, policy support, technology integration, and monitoring.
Achievements
- Successful campaigns have raised awareness about sustainable practices across the country.
- Many communities have actively participated in environmental conservation activities.
- Several policies are aligned with Mission Life objectives to support sustainable development.
- Adoption of green technologies and renewable energy sources is promoted.
- Reduction in carbon footprint and improvement in waste management practices have been observed in participating communities.
Significance of Mission Life
- Helps reduce carbon footprint by promoting eco-friendly habits.
- Supports efforts to protect and conserve biodiversity through community participation.
- Encourages efficient use of natural resources, reduces waste, and promotes recycling.
Problems of One-Size-Fits-All Approach:-
- A one-size-fits-all approach means applying a uniform solution to diverse and complex problems without considering local contexts and specific needs.
Lack of contextual relevance
- Different regions and communities have unique environmental, social, and economic contexts that require tailored solutions.
- Cultural practices and traditions significantly influence the effectiveness of environmental policies and programs.
Inefficiency and ineffectiveness
- Uniform policies can lead to inefficient use of resources, where some areas may receive inadequate or excessive assistance.
- Rigid policies do not adapt to changing conditions or emerging challenges, leading to underwhelming results.
Social and economic inequalities:
- The one-size-fits-all policy can increase social and economic inequalities by failing to address the specific needs of marginalized or vulnerable groups.
- Policies that do not resonate with local communities may face resistance and lack of compliance, hindering overall progress.
Environmental impacts:
- Environmental challenges such as pollution, deforestation, and the effects of climate change vary widely, and the same solutions may not effectively address local issues.
Problems faced by developing countries in climate mitigation:-
1. Financial constraints:
- Developing countries often struggle with insufficient financial resources to invest in climate mitigation technologies and infrastructure.
- High levels of debt limit the ability of these countries to allocate funds to climate action.
- According to the United Nations Environment Programme, annual adaptation costs in developing countries are estimated to be between $140 billion and $300 billion by 2030 and could reach $500 billion by 2050.
Examples:
- In sub-Saharan Africa, many countries face high debt levels, limiting their ability to invest in renewable energy projects.
- Mozambique, despite having significant renewable energy potential, struggles to obtain financing due to its high external debt.
Technical challenges:
- Lack of access to advanced and affordable clean technologies hinders efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Developing countries often lag in research and development, limiting their ability to innovate and implement effective climate solutions.
- According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), developing countries need an estimated $2.4 trillion annually to meet their energy transition goals by 2030.
Examples:
- India, despite being a major player in the global renewable energy market, faces challenges in accessing cutting-edge technologies.
Institutional and governance issues
- Ineffective governance and weak institutional frameworks can hinder the implementation and enforcement of climate policies.
- Corruption and mismanagement of funds can divert resources from critical climate mitigation projects.
Examples:
- In Nigeria, corruption and bureaucratic inefficiencies have hindered the implementation of environmental policies and projects.
- This has slowed efforts to address deforestation and promote renewable energy.
- According to the World Bank, in 2021 around 689 million people, or 9.2% of the global population, lived in extreme poverty, a significant portion of whom lived in developing countries.
- High levels of poverty limit the ability of communities to prioritize climate action over immediate economic needs.
International support and cooperation:
- Inadequate international financial and technical assistance limits the ability of developing countries to implement climate mitigation strategies.
- Climate finance flows in 2019-2020 were only $632 billion per year, far below the $4.13 trillion per year needed to meet global climate goals, according to the Climate Policy Initiative.
Adaptation and mitigation strategies:
Urgent emissions reduction:
- To mitigate these grim projections, the study calls for massive and immediate reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
- Anders Levermann, another co-author of the study, emphasizes the urgency of adopting structural changes towards renewable energy systems, which he argues is essential for security and economic stability.
- The researchers warn that continuing on the current path will have disastrous consequences, resulting in temperatures rising by about three degrees Celsius by the end of the century.
Adaptation efforts:
- In addition to reducing emissions, there is a growing need for adaptation efforts to buffer economies, especially in vulnerable regions, against the immediate impacts of climate change.
- This includes developing infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather, implementing advanced agricultural technologies to cope with changing climate conditions and investing in water conservation measures.
Long-term perspective:
- The long-term economic impacts of climate change are already severe.
- If the increase in global temperatures exceeds the targets set by international agreements, the situation is likely to get worse.
- According to the World Meteorological Organization’s “State of the Global Climate 2023” report, the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and the resulting increase in global temperatures have already set new records, further exacerbating the impact on climate.
- To tackle these trends, the global community needs to reduce CO2 emissions by 43% by 2030 to stay within a 1.5°C rise, after which the effects of climate change will become increasingly devastating.
Climate Change
Definition:-
- Climate change refers to long-term changes in temperature, precipitation, and other atmospheric conditions on Earth.
Effects:-
- It causes sea level rise, extreme weather events, loss of biodiversity, disruption of ecosystems, and threats to food and water security.
Causes:-
- Mainly driven by human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes.
- One of the main factors of climate change is GHGs.
Gas included in GHGs:-
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Methane (CH4)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O)
- Fluorocarbons (HFCs)
Global response:-
- The Paris Agreement is a landmark international effort to combat climate change, to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius.