Climate change - a disruption multiplier in a disrupted world

(MainsGS3 : Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.)

Context:

• For the first time since it began over 30 years ago, the United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Report has warned that global human development measures have declined across most countries in the past two years.
• This comes against the backdrop of the greatest existential threat of all — the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.

Window for action is closing fast:

• Nine of the warmest years on record have come in the past decade alone with this year’s record-breaking heat waves, floods, droughts, and other extreme forms of weather have forced us to face these increasingly devastating impacts.
• The Paris Agreement and the COP26 summit in Glasgow represent urgent, collective steps countries are taking to limit emissions. 
• Yet, the window for action is closing fast as the commitments we have now will not keep warming below the 1.5°C target that gives us the best chance of averting catastrophe.

Lifestyle for Environment:

• LIFE, or Lifestyle for Environment, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at COP26 in November 2021, brings a fresh and much-needed perspective. 
• LIFE recognises that small individual actions can tip the balance in the planet’s favour with guiding frameworks, information sharing and the scale of a global movement.
• LIFE animates the spirit of actions such as saving energy at home; cycling and using public transport instead of driving; eating more plant-based foods and wasting less; and leveraging our position as customers and employees to demand climate-friendly choices.

Encourage positive behavior:

• Many of the goals of LIFE can be achieved by deploying ‘nudges’, gentle persuasion techniques to encourage positive behaviour. 
• The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) employs proven nudging techniques such as discouraging food waste by offering smaller plates in cafeterias; encouraging recycling by making bin lids eye-catching; and encouraging cycling by creating cycle paths.
• According to the UNEP, more than two-thirds of greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to household consumption and lifestyles — the urgent cuts to global emissions we need can only be achieved through widespread adoption of greener consumption habits.

Pro Planet People:

• The Prime Minister and Secretary-General António Guterres are calling on all consumers across the world to become “Pro Planet People” by 2027, adopting simple lifestyle changes that can collectively lead to transformational change.
• India has a proven track record translating the aspirations of national missions into whole-of-society efforts. 
• The success of the Swachh Bharat Mission, which mobilised individuals and communities across socio-economic strata to become drivers of collective good health and sanitation is an example.

Global climate justice:

• LIFE resonates with global climate justice highlighting enhanced obligations those in developed countries bear, to support climate adaptation and mitigation for those most affected, yet least responsible. 
• The average carbon footprint of a person in a high income country is more than 80 times higher than that of a person in a least developed country. 
• It is common sense and only fair to call on the developed world to shoulder a proportionate share of this transition. 
• In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “the world has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed.”

Conclusion:

• From the Panchamrit targets announced by Mr. Modi at COP26, to support for the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and South-South cooperation platforms, from the world’s fifth largest economy with vibrant businesses making enormous investments in renewables and electric mobility, to a world class public digital tech stack, India brings scale, expertise and legitimacy; a well-positioned founding UN Member State bridging the G20 and G77.