Climate change is taking its toll on India (A people's movement needed to fight climate change)

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 Climate change is taking its toll on India (A people's movement needed to fight climate change)

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Read more on - Polity | Economy | Schemes | S&T | Environment

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• From hoax to reality: Many big names worldwide are slowly coming round to believing in the reality that is global warming. Some turned around when they found huge rivers reduced to mere puddles! In addition, climate change and pollution are directly related, in the Indian context.
• The Indian case: The signals of climate change are all around.

1. Winters are delayed in Delhi now, from September to late Novembers. Summers are running longer, winters are much-delayed.
2. Air pollution is causing untold misery over Delhi and NCR, and now we know exactly how Beijing residents must have lived! The Indian Supreme Court made serious observations too.

• Economic impact: A study shows how global warming is not allowing Indian economy to reach its full potential (it is 31% smaller than what it would be).

1. Cool countries like Norway are less affected than India is.
2. World Bank says by 2050, half of Indians will face poorer living standards, and overall GDP growth will suffer by upto 3%.
3. UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction shows India has suffered $79.5 b losses in 19 years.

• Not just Delhi: The dirty haze has spread over many cities, and even gone southwards as stubble-burning continued. 22 of 30 most polluted cities are Indian. (Greenpeace list)
• Impact on farming: Southern and Western India faced inadequate rains in June-July 2019, leading to postponement of crop sowing. Then came heavy rains that destroyed much of what was sowed. Year 2019 seems particularly bad.
• Lack of political will: Sadly, politicians are not ready to bring innovative solutions quickly. Delhi's 2019 odd-even scheme wasn't too useful because two-wheelers were kept out. And odd-even needs to be imposed throughout NCR (satellite cities too) if we are serious. They do not have effective public transportation, making it tough.
• Pakistan's response: PM Imran Khan launched the "Clean Green Pakistan Index" for 19 cities, with awards built in, and covering drinking water, solid-waste disposal, etc. Imran Khan spoke of the 'billion trees tsunami' also.
• A quick solution: India can look at massive fresh planting of trees, to suck up pollution. China, US and India are the top 3 emitters of CO2. For India, moving away from coal to renewables will mitigate pollution also. The pollution-sucking smog towers will only be a temporary solution.
• By 2100: There's clarity that capping global warming at 2 degree C by 2100 is tough, but it may go upto 3 C. From 2014, CO2 levels in upper atmosphere are up dangerously.
• Impact of change: Huge loss of productive work and jobs will happen due to climate change by 2100 AD. Agriculture and construction to be worst-hit.
• Summary : Climate change is upon us, intricately linked with pollution, and a 2 degree C cap by 2100 is nearly impossible.

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