The climate crisis and the urgent need for global cooperation

Context: There is significant turmoil in global scenario as after a devastating pandemic, the world is now grappling with a global energy crisis, triggered by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the weaponizing of energy supplies.

• Against this background, the climate crisis is getting worse by the day, as we face catastrophic extreme weather events. Global warming is fast approaching the 1.5 degrees level we have pledged to avoid. This is a tipping point that threatens lives and livelihoods across our entire planet.

Major Areas of Concern:

Environment degradation and climate change are major areas of concern:

• The disruptive and increasingly lethal effects of unsustainable production and consumption patterns are from degraded ecosystems, disappearing forests, collapsing glaciers to receding shorelines, heatwaves and floods.
• If we want our children to inherit a habitable world, we have to change the paradigm of our economic models.
• The changes we face are inescapable. No individual can stop climate change. Try as you may, you cannot negotiate a settlement with planet Earth.
• Yet, rather than fuelling despair, apathy or resignation, we must create hope and show determination to act for the climate.
  • The solutions and technologies are well within reach but we must plan, invest decisively, and most importantly, act now, leaving no one behind. Time is not on our side.

Global Efforts to combat climate change in a sustainable manner:

• At the COP27 climate conference in November 2022, the international community and each country individually must set out what it has done and intends to do to limit the increase of global temperature to 1.5 degrees.
• In the EU, our commitments are fixed by law: We will cut emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030 and reach climate neutrality by 2050.
• India has also set very ambitious targets, including massive investments in renewables.
• The governments of different nations have a responsibility to ensure reliable and affordable energy services for their populations and economies
• The fastest way to deliver this while creating jobs and lowering the long-term cost of energy is to massively increase investment in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and in the resilience and flexibility of our energy systems.

Major Challenges related to green sustainable economy:

• The European nations are acting on Green Deal. At the same time, there is need to take exceptional measures to cope with the energy crisis provoked because of Russia-Ukraine war.
• The EU had to postpone some of the decommissioning of coal-fired power plants as a temporary emergency measure for the coming winter. However, commitments for 2030 and 2050 are not endangered.
• National coal phase out dates remain unchanged; EU nations are implementing much stricter energy efficiency targets and we will move much more swiftly to adopt renewable energy, using less gas than initially expected.

Impact of climate change:

• It is clear that the climate crisis disproportionately impacts those who have the least, in the Global South but also in Europe.
• As climate change progresses, millions are at risk of losing their homes, water supply, livelihoods and even their lives, as witnessed also this year with extreme weather events in South Asia, Europe and elsewhere
• In order to counter it, there is need to put our forces together, accelerate mitigation measures to tackle the problem at the source while ensuring a just transition for all.
  • In parallel, we need to do more to support adaptation to climate change, and to avert and address loss and damage. Mitigation and adaptation must progress hand in hand.
• There is need for climate fund , EU continues to be the world’s biggest donor of climate finance — providing almost $28 billion in 2020 and of humanitarian support
• European countries will intensify their efforts, but this crisis can be addressed only through a cohesive and consistent response of the international community as a whole, in a spirit of cooperation and solidarity.

EU-India collaboration in countering climate change:

• India is a key partner in the fight against climate change. As ambitious targets were announced by Indian Prime minister in Glasgow summit,  helped to keep the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement within reach.
• The EU is keen to step up its collaboration with India on the implementation of the Paris Agreement and on ensuring a more resilient and diversified supply chain for the energy sector
• The EU and its Member States already work together with India on energy efficiency, renewable energy, smart grids and storage, green hydrogen, e-mobility, just energy transition and decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors.
• The EU has also strengthened its engagement with the India-based International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. Climate action has become a central feature of the strategic partnership between the EU and India, for a green and a resilient future.

Way Forward:

• It is time to join hands and to show even more ambition. There is need to demonstrate success through actual and effective implementation, influencing our peers, and persuading actors at all levels from the UN to the individual level.
• Future generations will judge us on what we do. So, let us do it right and let us do it now, together.

Source: Indian Express

Previous Year Question

Q.1) With reference to the ‘’New York Declaration on Forests’’, which of the following statements are correct?       (2021)

1. It was first endorsed at the United Nations Climate Summit in 2014
2. It endorses a global timeline to end the loss of forests
3. It is a legally binding international declaration
4. It is endorsed by governments, big companies and indigenous communities.
5. India was one of the signatories at its inception

Select the correct answer using the code given below

1. 1, 2 and 4
2. 1, 3 and 5
3. 3 and 4
4. 2 and 5

Q.2) With reference to the ‘Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture’ (GACSA) which of the following statements is/are correct?  (2018)

1. GACSA is an outcome of the climate summit held in Paris in 2015
2. Membership of GACSA does not create any binding obligations
3. India was instrumental in the creation of GACSA

Select the correct answer using the code given below

1. 1 and 3 only
2. 2 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3