The climate crisis: An opportunity for India

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The climate crisis: An opportunity for India

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• The story: The IPCC has reported (in first part of Sixth Assessment Report 2021) has confirmed the direction humanity is taking, if urgent action isn't taken now. The fact that AR6 said "it is clear that human actions are warming the atmosphere, ocean and land. Changes are widespread, in atmosphere, cryosphere and bioshphere".
• Now, not tomorrow: The IPCC is now telling us about the changes that have already happened, and are irreversible. Adapting to those, is mankind's challenge. And then comes avoid cataclysmic changes from here on, in fragile life-sustaining systems, that enable human existence.
• Subcontinental drift: The AR6 has clearly warned that the Indian sub-continent will be hit the hardest. It's in the higher temperature tropical zone, and also because population density is high so feedback loops exist. In addition, production and consumption is following unsustainable patterns. So global climate change mitigation won't succeed unless India's efforts succeed. (and vice versa)
• Global negotiations: India's stance at multilateral negotiations will make sense provided the domestic growth strategy is transformed. That will ensure credibility of positions taken.
• Transformed economic development strategy: India adopted the NAPCC in 2008 (National Action Plan on Climate Change), with a full strategy for sustainable development. 

1. Key idea was that climate change action and energy security were inter-linked
2. Fossil fuel imports did not aid energy security at all (in addition to crude oil, imports of natural gas and coal are up too)
3. Renewable sources of energy (solar) and cleaner sources (nuclear) were needed, both from energy security as well as climate change perspectives
4. India is set on the RE path already, and can accelerate it further

• NAPCC and trasportation: It is a significantly energy-intensive sector, that contributes to urban pollution. Govt. accepted that for India, providing mobility ought to the priority, not encouraging private vehicle ownership. Tax private ownership heavily, and do not fall into the trap of North American per capita private vehicle ownership statistics (700 per 1000). But that would mean only a small fraction would enjoy private vehicle privilege, something abhorrent given the inequality of income and wealth.
• NAPCC and sustainable agriculture: The policy spoke of a shift away from water-intensive agriculture with minimum chemicals and toxic pesticides. 

1. Goal was an agriculture that'd be water-frugal, micronutrient based and non-pesticide
2. It would reverse the water scarcity being faced, reverse the declining natural soil fertility, prevent the entry of carcinogenic elements in foodchains, etc. 
3. This will immediately reduce GHG emissions, while raising agricultural productivity

• NAPCC's broad goal: It showed that by such methods, sustainability promotion could address climate change too. But NAPCC's implementation has been patchy, other than solar energy mission and enhancing energy efficiency. In its 13 years journey, the NAPCC now needs updation.
• Summary: India can chart a new development path, that is climate friendly. The mass consumption and energy-intensive model of West is not applicable here (China adopted that too). The world cannot have another China at all now, that time is gone. Let India show the way.

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