New Delhi, Dec 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) Climate change has emerged as a formidable challenge to sustainable agriculture as an erratic monsoon this year hit India’s farm output triggering a rise in food inflation which forced the government to take mitigation measures such as clamping down on exports.

As kharif production fell due to the freak weather, the growth rate of the country’s agriculture sector declined to a meager 1.2 per cent in the July-Sept quarter. The adverse impact has spilled into the ongoing rabi season with the total sown area declining by over three per cent with a below-normal monsoon leading to moisture deficiency in the soil and decreased water storage in reservoirs.

The acreage under wheat and pulses has declined by three per cent and eight per cent respectively which has raised concern over a fall in overall food production going ahead.

There is now a great concern within policymakers and the scientific community to evolve dynamic response strategies to deal with this complex phenomenon of climate change, especially since vast areas in some states are still dependent on rain-fed agriculture.

However, despite the current decline in rabi acreage, officials in the agriculture ministry believe that the gap can potentially be narrowed in the next few weeks. They anticipate that the overall sown areas for rabi crops might reach the average levels of the last five years (648 lakh hectares).

Officials attribute the reduced acreage for pulses to late harvesting of kharif crops, like paddy, and a trend toward crop diversification.

There is some consolation in that the acreage for oilseeds, including mustard and rapeseeds, is higher this year by 1 lakh hectares compared to 2022 which would help in reducing the country’s import bill for edible oils.

Senior officials point out that the emphasis on oilseeds reflects strategic measures to enhance self-sufficiency. While challenges persist due to weather-related constraints, the agriculture ministry's positive outlook of a potential rebound is based on the resilience of the agricultural sector.

Balancing crop diversification and addressing moisture deficit will be pivotal for securing a robust foodgrain output in the upcoming season.

“Since 2014, as many as 1,888 climate resilient varieties of seeds have been developed for crops. Besides, 68 location specific climate resilient technologies have been developed and demonstrated for wider adoption among farming communities in districts and regions prone to extreme weather conditions like droughts, floods, frost and heat waves,” Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar informed the Lok Sabha earlier this year.

India is the world's second-largest producer of wheat, rice and sugar, but has been forced to restrict exports of these commodities to rein in rising domestic prices. The country is the world’s largest rice exporter and has been ensuring food security in countries across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

The ban on exports has, therefore, impacted the food availability in these countries as well. India's agricultural exports are expected to drop by $4 billion to $5 billion this year.

However, senior government officials are optimistic. Rajesh Agarwal, an additional secretary in the commerce ministry, is of the view that growth in exports of other farm commodities will offset the export deficit this year.

"If we remove agricultural commodities like wheat and rice, whose exports are controlled, other food exports are growing by over four per cent," Agarwal told journalists.

"So, despite the shortfall of about $4 billion to $5 billion that we face because of restrictions on sugar, wheat and rice, we should be able to meet last year's export levels," he said.

Data from Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) showed that exports of meat and dairy, cereal preparations, and fruits and vegetables rose between April and November this year.

On the other hand, according to a report by rating agency ICRA, the first advance estimates of kharif production suggest foodgrain production declined to a four-year low of 148.6 million tonne, a sharp 4.6 per cent lower than last year’s final estimates. Even crops that recorded an increase in their sown areas this year are expected to see a dip in output, including sugarcane (-11.4 per cent), rice (-3.8 per cent) and coarse cereals (-6.5 per cent).

“Notably, the decline in the output of most crops is larger than the fall in their area sown, reflecting a contraction in yields,” the ICRA report added.

A weaker rural economy also prompted the rating firm to add downside risks to its forecast of a 0-2 per cent growth in tractor sales for the year, after they declined 3.7 per cent in the first half and 0.5 per cent through October and November.

Climate change has also triggered unseasonal rains that have damaged crops. Around 8.68 lakh hectare crop area across states is reported to have been affected by floods or heavy rainfall this year.

The monsoon had got off to a delayed start in June after which there was excess rain in July followed by a deficit in August and then excess rains in September again in certain parts of the country, such as Punjab and Haryana, which hit the standing crop.

This had resulted in a sharp increase in the prices of vegetables, especially tomatoes and onions that triggered a spike in inflation.

Another crucial factor weighing on the farm sector going ahead is the amount of water that is currently available in the country’s reservoirs across states. About 80 per cent of India’s rainfall comes during the southwest monsoon which also fills up the country’s reservoirs that are used for irrigation during the next agricultural season. With the deficient rainfall this year, the water storage in the reservoir is reported to be around 75 per cent of last year which could impact agricultural output in the forthcoming rabi season.

Source: IANS

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Dubai, Dec 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) Climate change is already having catastrophic impacts on many migratory animals and their ability to provide vital ecosystem services to humanity, a major new report of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), a UN biodiversity treaty, said on Thursday.

Released at the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai (UNFCCC COP28), the report finds the direct effects of climate change on many migratory species are already being seen, including poleward range shifts, changes in the timing of migration, and reduced breeding success and survival.

Integral to the ecosystems they live in, migratory species support vital ecosystem services that both mitigate the impacts of climate change and increase the resilience to climatic hazards.

The study also emphasises the urgent need to “act now” to help vulnerable migratory species adapt to a changing climate. Actions such as the establishment of comprehensive and well-connected networks of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures are crucial to support species movement in response to climate change, whilst direct human interventions, such as the translocation of vulnerable populations of species, will be needed in some cases.

Some of the key findings of the report include: Strong evidence that global increases in temperature have affected most migratory species groups, and these impacts are mostly negative.

For instance, rising temperatures are causing changes in the reproduction and survival of krill and are having a negative impact on marine mammals and seabirds that rely on krill as a key food source.

In particular, temperature increases are driving poleward range shifts and earlier migration and breeding. In some species, such as wading birds, there is a risk this will cause a mismatch between the timing of breeding and the time when prey species are most abundant.

Changes in water availability are causing the loss of wetlands and reduced river flows, which are likely to particularly impact the migration of fish and water birds.

Extreme climate-related events such as landslides are causing severe habitat destruction and have already been observed at some seabird breeding sites. And there is strong evidence that migratory seabirds and marine mammals will be impacted by the changes in oceanic currents which are likely to alter the nature and functioning of many marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

The study ‘Climate change and migratory species: a review of impacts, conservation actions, indicators and ecosystem services’ was commissioned by the British government and Northern Ireland through the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) as a major contribution to the work of CMS on climate change, and prepared by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).

“Nature underpins the very fabric of our lives -- the ecosystems, food and water security upon which we all depend, as well as the health of our economies. The challenges that these migratory species face as a result of climate change are a powerful demonstration of the need for coordinated global action to protect our environment, which is why the UK is taking a leading role in efforts to restore nature, halt biodiversity loss and achieve our stretching targets to protect 30 per cent of land and sea by 2030,” said Steve Barclay, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at gulatiians@gmail.com)

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday approved the first urban flood mitigation project of Rs 561.29 crore for ‘Integrated Urban Flood Management activities for Chennai Basin Project’ under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF), which also includes Central assistance of Rs. 500 crore.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah took to X and said, "Chennai is facing major floods, the third such occurring in the last eight years. We are witnessing more instances of metropolitan cities receiving excessive rainfall, leading to sudden flooding.

"Guided by a proactive approach, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the first urban flood mitigation project of Rs 561.29 crore for ‘Integrated Urban Flood Management activities for Chennai Basin Project’ under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF), which also includes Central assistance of Rs 500 crore."

"This mitigation project will help make Chennai flood-resilient. This is the first in a series of urban flood mitigation efforts and will help develop a broader framework for urban flood management," he said.

He also said that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) would release in advance the central share of the second installment of the SDRF of Rs 493.60 to Andhra Pradesh and Rs 450 crore to Tamil Nadu.

The Centre had already released the first installment of the same amount to both states, Shah said.

"Severe cyclonic storm Michaung has affected Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Though the extent of the damage is varied, many areas of these states are inundated, thus affecting standing crops.

"To help the state governments with the management of relief necessitated by the cyclonic storm, Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to release in advance the central share of the second installment of SDRF of Rs 493.60 crore to Andhra Pradesh and Rs 450 crore to Tamil Nadu," he said.

“I pray for the safety and well-being of all those affected. We stand with them in this crucial hour and will ensure the situation normalizes at the earliest," Shah added.

The Cyclone Michaung has caused severe destruction in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and many people have died. It has also led to inundation of arterial roads and subways in Chennai and other major cities of the state.

Source: IANS

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Dubai, Dec 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) The COP28 Presidency on Wednesday joined with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, and Bloomberg Philanthropies to call on housing, urban development, environment, and finance ministers to back the ‘Joint Outcome Statement on Urbanisation and Climate Change.’

The Statement, which was supported by over 40 Ministers of Environment, Urban Development and Housing, was put forward at COP28 during the second Ministerial Meeting on Urbanisation and Climate Change.

At the event, the COP28 Presidency UAE reiterated its appeal to national governments to fully integrate climate action among all levels of government and collaborate with sub-national governments on the design and implementation of new climate plans and policies, including the next round of NDCs ahead of COP30 in 2025.

The Statement sets out a 10-point plan to boost the inclusion of cities in the decision-making process on climate change, drive multilevel climate action and accelerate the deployment of urban climate finance so that cities are prepared and supported to respond to the climate crisis.

Currently, 90 per cent of cities are threatened by rising sea levels and storms, and their residents are exposed to ten degrees higher temperatures than their counterparts in rural areas.

“COP28 is a paradigm shift to action. We are empowering and supporting cities on the frontlines of climate change to seize the initiative,” said Sultan Al Jaber, the COP28 President.

“We have brought over 450 mayors and governors to COP28 and their hyper-local knowledge is crucial in informing our global solutions. When we talk about inclusivity this is what we mean, we need all voices at the table. I thank and commend those involved for their leadership,” added Al Jaber.

“Each city has individual needs and solutions but fundamentally this is a global problem, which this Statement shows. We have bought over 1,000 mayors and governors to COP28 as, when we talk about full inclusivity this is what we mean. We know we can need to learn from and support those on the frontlines. I thank and commend those involved for their leadership,” added Al Jaber.

The Statement builds on the ‘Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships’ (CHAMP), which was launched at the Local Climate Action Summit (LCAS) on December 1 at COP28 and aims to inform and empower ministers.

CHAMP aims to identify and strengthen levers to increase and accelerate the deployment of climate finance to enable cities and local governments to respond to the climate crisis.

It also aims to enable the inclusion of local and regional leaders in the formation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

To date, CHAMP has been endorsed by over 60 national governments. Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), said, “The ministerial meeting was a key moment in our work toward inclusive and climate-resilient cities and communities. A diverse range of stakeholders gathered including leaders from the national and local level, underscoring the shared priority of supporting urban environments to withstand climate challenges."

Though cities, which are home to most of the world’s population, contribute over 70 per cent of CO2 emissions, immediate action could bring down their emissions to near net-zero.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at gulatiians@gmail.com)

—IANS

vg/rad

Source: IANS

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Dubai, Dec 4 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a powerful demonstration of global solidarity, governments, businesses, investors and philanthropies have announced over $57 billion across the climate agenda in just the first four days of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28).

After an historic agreement to operationalise a fund for climate impact response on day one, announcements have poured in across the entire climate agenda, including on finance, health, food, nature, and energy.

Responding to climate pledges, Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 President, told the media here, “I really think something special is happening here. The positivity, the optimism, the hope, the momentum, the determination -- is growing. And I will stay laser-focused on delivery and maintaining this point until we land the most ambitious response to the Global Stocktake.”

“The COP28 energy package is a giant step in the right direction and it is only the beginning. I have repeatedly said that this is still not enough,” he added.

Among the pledges, the UAE has launched a $30 billion catalytic fund, ALTÉRRA, on climate finance with an emphasis on unlocking private finance across the Global South. The country has also announced $200 million for SDRs and $150 million for water security.

In addition, the World Bank has announced an increase of $9 billion annually to finance climate-related projects. And, in the first 48 hours of COP28, after an historic response to loss and damage was operationalised, $725 million has already been pledged.

In addition, $3.5 billion has been announced to replenish the Green Climate Fund, $2.7 billion has been pledged for health, $2.6 billion has been committed for food systems transformation, $2.6 billion has been pledged to protect nature, $467 million has been announced for urban climate action, and $1.2 billion has been committed for relief, recovery and peace.

On energy, $2.5 billion was mobilized for renewables and $1.2 billion for methane emission reduction.

In addition, $568 million was pledged to drive investments in clean energy manufacturing.

In total, over $57 billion has so far been announced in the first four days. In addition, new pledges and declarations made at COP28 have received historic support.

Eight new declarations have been announced that will help transform every major system of the global economy.

These include the first-ever declarations on food systems transformation and health, plus declarations on renewable energy and efficiency, as well as initiatives to decarbonise heavy emitting industries.

Three additional declarations will be announced in the coming days on hydrogen, cooling, and gender.

The number of countries supporting these declarations and pledges is growing and demonstrates an unprecedented level of inclusivity at this COP.

Source: IANS

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Dubai, Dec 3 (SocialNews.XYZ) The COP28 Presidency on Sunday formally unveiled endorsements of its COP28 UAE Declaration on Climate, Relief, Recovery and Peace, as part of its focus on accelerating global efforts to make fragile and conflict-affected countries and communities more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

The declaration, which has already been endorsed by 70 governments and 39 organisations, enshrines a collective commitment to increase investment and actions to drive resilience in countries and communities affected by conflict, fragility or a humanitarian crisis.

Commenting on the declaration, Ambassador Al Suwaidi, COP28 Director-General said, “Climate change impacts everybody, but we are not all being affected equally. In fragile and conflict-affected settings, extreme weather events affect three times as many people annually compared to other countries. Despite this, people living in extremely fragile states receive a fraction -- up to 80 times less -- of climate finance compared to those in non-fragile states. The COP28 Presidency is committed to driving action and consensus to change this.”

The day also saw the launch of a ‘Getting Ahead of Disasters Charter’, which sets out principles for collaborative action to manage climate-related risks and protect vulnerable populations. Both the declaration and the charter are among a series of initiatives being taken at the UN Climate Change Conference to accelerate global resilience efforts.

The COP28 Presidency UAE, IGAD, and the UN also hosted presidents of countries in the Horn of Africa to introduce their regional climate security strategy, and the COP28 Presidency partnered with the UN Secretary-General to mobilise new support for ‘Early Warnings for All’, the initiative to cover 100 per cent of the globe with early warning systems by 2027.

In keeping with this, December 3 was also dedicated to health, as part of efforts by the COP28 Presidency to focus global audiences on protecting communities from the threats of climate change.

As such, the day also featured the first-ever Climate and Health Ministerial to be held at a COP, bringing together Ministers of Health and senior health delegates from over 100 countries.

The ministerial mobilised support for the COP28 Climate and Health Agenda and the ‘COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health’ that was unveiled on December 2 at the World Climate Action Summit.

It was endorsed by over 120 countries and over $1 billion of climate health financing was galvanised by partners.

Speaking on the day Ambassador Al Suwaidi noted, “While we build the energy system of tomorrow, we cannot ignore the needs of people today. We must rapidly protect and promote their health and well-being while improving the climate-resilience of healthcare systems and reduce climate-health risks.”

‘Protecting Lives and Livelihoods’ is one of four central pillars in the COP28 Presidency’s Action Agenda which focuses on people, nature, lives and livelihoods.

Source: IANS

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Dubai, Nov 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) The year 2023 has shattered climate records, accompanied by extreme weather which has left a trail of devastation and despair, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said on Thursday.

The WMO provisional ‘State of the Global Climate’ report confirms that 2023 is set to be the warmest year on record.

Data until the end of October shows that the year was about 1.40 degrees Celsius (with a margin of uncertainty of plus/minus 0.12 degrees C) above the pre-industrial 1850-1900 baseline.

The difference between 2023 and 2016 and 2020 -- which were previously ranked as the warmest years -- is such that the final two months are very unlikely to affect the ranking. The past nine years, 2015 to 2023, were the warmest on record.

The warming El Niño event, which emerged during the Northern Hemisphere spring of 2023 and developed rapidly during summer, is likely to further fuel the heat in 2024 because El Niño typically has the greatest impact on global temperatures after it peaks.

“Greenhouse gas levels are record high. Global temperatures are record high. Sea level rise is record high. Antarctic sea ice is at a record low. It’s a deafening cacophony of broken records,” said WMO Secretary-General Prof Petteri Taalas.

“These are more than just statistics. We risk losing the race to save our glaciers and to rein-in sea level rise. We cannot return to the climate of the 20th century, but we must act now to limit the risks of an increasingly inhospitable climate in this and the coming centuries,” he said.

“Extreme weather is destroying lives and livelihoods on a daily basis -- underlining the imperative need to ensure that everyone is protected by early warning services,” said Prof Taalas.

Carbon dioxide levels are 50 per cent higher than the pre-industrial era, trapping heat in the atmosphere. The long lifetime of CO2 means that temperatures will continue to rise for many years to come. The rate of sea level rise from 2013-2022 is more than twice the rate of the first decade of the satellite record (1993-2002) because of continued ocean warming and melting of glaciers and ice sheets.

The maximum Antarctic sea-ice extent for the year was the lowest on record, a full one million km2 (more than the size of France and Germany combined) less than the previous record low, at the end of southern hemisphere winter.

Glaciers in North America and Europe once again suffered an extreme melt season. Swiss glaciers have lost about 10 per cent of their remaining volume in the past two years, according to the WMO report.

The report shows the global reach of climate change. It provides a snapshot of socio-economic impacts, including on food security and population displacement.

“This year we have seen communities around the world pounded by fires, floods and searing temperatures. Record global heat should send shivers down the spines of world leaders,” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

In a video message accompanying WMO’s climate report, Guterres urged leaders to commit to urgent action at the UN Climate Change negotiations, COP28.

There is still hope, he said. “We have the roadmap to limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees C and avoid the worst of climate chaos. But we need leaders to fire the starting gun at COP28 on a race to keep the 1.5-degree C limit alive: By setting clear expectations for the next round of climate action plans and committing to the partnerships and finance to make them possible; By committing to triple renewables and double energy efficiency; And committing to phase out fossil fuels, with a clear time frame aligned to the 1.5-degree limit,” he said.

Source: IANS

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Dubai, Nov 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) The two-week-long UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), which is expected to see a gathering of over 160 world leaders, commenced on Thursday in Dubai with Sultan Al Jaber officially assuming the role its President in a ceremony to mark the official transfer of the role from his predecessor, Egypt’s Sameh Shoukry.

“The science has spoken,” Al Jaber told delegates. “It has confirmed the moment is now to find a new road, a road wide enough for all of us, free of the obstacles and detours of the past. That new road starts with a decision on the Global Stocktake, a decision that is ambitious, corrects course and accelerates action to 2030,” he said.

Kicking off two weeks of intense climate negotiations, Al Jaber used his first official speech as COP President to issue a rallying call to delegates to unite around the agenda and restore faith in multilateralism.

“I pledge that I will run an inclusive and transparent process, one that encourages free and open discussion between all parties,” Al Jaber said.

He told delegates that the UAE reflects the spirit needed at this COP.

“We may be a young nation -- but we have big ambitions, and hold fast to principles like collaboration, optimism, true partnership, determination and commitment. These are the ingredients that make up the DNA of the UAE. And it’s these core values of trust, purpose, partnership and pragmatism that I believe must define COP28,” he said.

In his address, Al Jaber reiterated calls to bridge the global adaptation finance gap, and urged parties to deliver on the promise of a fully operational Loss and Damage fund.

“Let’s put nature, lives, and livelihoods at the core of our national plans. Let’s finally face the issues that are critical to adaptation, like water, food, agriculture, and health,” he said, adding that COP28 will be the first to host a climate health ministerial.

“This Presidency is committed to unlocking finance to ensure that the Global South does not have to choose between development and climate action,” he said.

Al Jaber also noted the importance of decarbonising the existing energy system. “Let history reflect the fact that this is the Presidency that made a bold choice to proactively engage with oil and gas companies. We had many discussions. Let me tell you, it wasn’t easy. But now, many of these companies are committing to zeroing out methane emissions by 2030 for the first time. And many national oil companies have adopted net zero 2050 targets for the first time,” he said.

Al Jaber also called for consensus around a framework for the future energy system. “I know there are strong views about the idea of including language on fossil fuels and renewables in the negotiated text. We have the power to do something unprecedented. I ask you to work together,” he urged delegates.

“Be flexible, find common ground, come forward with solutions, and achieve consensus. And never lose sight of our North Star of 1.5,” he said.

COP28 officially runs from November 30 to December 12 and the COP28 Presidency is determined to do all it can to enable world leaders to deliver a successful decision in response to the Global Stocktake, meeting the challenge of keeping 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach with the highest levels of ambition.

This year’s COP marks the conclusion of the Global Stocktake, the first assessment of global progress in implementing the 2015 Paris Agreement. The findings are stark: The world is not on track to limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of this century. It does recognise that countries are developing plans for a net-zero future, and the shift to clean energy is gathering speed, but it makes clear that the transition is nowhere near fast enough yet to limit warming within the current ambitions.

A report recently published by UN Climate Change shows that national climate action plans (known as nationally determined contributions, or ‘NDCs’) would collectively lower greenhouse gas emissions to two per cent below 2019 levels by 2030, while the science is clear that a 43 per cent reduction is needed.

The Global Stocktake must be a catalyst for greater ambition in meeting the Paris Agreement’s goals as nations prepare to submit revised national climate action plans by 2025. It lays out actions on how to accelerate emissions cuts, strengthen resilience to climate impacts, and provide the support and finance needed for the transformation.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Over the course of the next two weeks at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, parties (governments), negotiators, business leaders, civic society organisations, among others, will gather to assess global efforts to advance the key Paris Agreement aim of limiting global warming to as close as possible to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

As the climate crisis worsens around the world, COP28 that begins on Thursday must be a decisive moment to act on climate commitments and limit global warming.

The governments will take decisions on ways to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and on adapting to the impacts of climate change, on Loss and Damage, a fund for vulnerable countries hit hard by natural calamities, and on the means to help countries green their economies and build resilience to climate change through finance, technology and capacity-building.

After Glasgow in 2021, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the annual climate change conference, the second in three years.

The 28th edition of the Conference of Parties (COP28) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will run till December 12.

Today, 195 parties (194 states plus the European Union) have joined the Paris Agreement. A latest report from UN Climate Change finds national climate action plans remain insufficient to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Even with increased efforts by some countries, the global stocktake (GST) report shows much more action is needed now to bend the world’s emissions trajectory further downward and avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

The latest science from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicates that GHG emissions need to be cut 43 per cent by 2030, compared to the 2019 levels.

This is critical to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of this century and avoid the worst impacts of climate change, including more frequent and severe droughts, heatwaves and rainfall.

On the eve of COP28, President Designate, Sultan Al Jaber said, “We need to reduce the gap between ambition and action. Those who promised, must deliver. Those who pledged, must act. I will hold every country and every stakeholder accountable to keep the 1.5 degrees C target within reach. I aim to achieve the highest ambition in the Global Stocktake decision.

“Despite all of the noise you hear, in fact that noise is helpful, because it helps you to focus on the task at hand. We feel that the prospects of an extraordinary outcome are at hand…and we will step up to deliver it.”

UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said, “On the eve of the COP28, the problem is clear: Business-as-usual is breaking our planet. At COP28, leaders must get to work fixing it. We are ready to help them deliver.”

The first part of the high-level segment for delivery of national statements by heads of state and government will take place from December 1 to 2 during the World Climate Action Summit.

The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) report is a stark warning ahead of COP28: If governments want to keep the 1.5 degrees goal alive, doubling efficiency progress this decade is crucial.

Its Energy Efficiency 2023 market report, published on Wednesday, showed that to achieve ‘net zero’ emissions from the energy sector by 2050, which is essential to limit global warming, annual improvements in energy efficiency need to double -- rising from a level of two per cent in 2022 to more than four per cent per year on average between now and 2030.

In 2023, global energy intensity improved by 1.3 per cent, well below what is needed to achieve this target.

“The world’s climate ambitions hinge on our ability to make the global energy system much more efficient. If governments want to keep the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal within reach while supporting energy security, doubling energy efficiency progress this decade is critical,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.

“The findings of this report are a stark warning to the leaders gathering shortly at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai that they all need to commit to stronger action on efficiency and to deliver on it.”

Regarding India’s position at COP28, the country is not mincing words on its energy security needs and reliance on coal to meet its peak power demand which crossed 240 GW this year.

India’s coal production has seen a considerable increase in the last 10 years. From about 565.7 MT in 2013-14, it has reached 893.08 MT in 2022-23. It is expected to touch 1,012 MT by 2023-24 and 1.5 billion tonnes by 2030.

It has been acknowledged by both private and public sector experts that the environmental impacts associated with underground coal mines are lesser when compared to opencast mines. In India, the increase in coal production has largely come from opencast mines. It is held that opencast coal mines often result in deforestation, displacement and pollution issues. In the past 10 years, the share of underground coal mines in India’s total coal production has come down from close to nine per cent in 2013-14 to about four per cent in 2022-23.

According to India’s targets, the coal from underground mines will rise to 99-100 MT in FY28, which will be less than 10 per cent of the overall coal production of the country.

India has supported the ambition for global tripling of renewable energy targets by 2030 at the G20 Leaders Summit.

With more than 60 nations rallying behind this, along with support from the US, the EU and the UAE, this can be a COP28 victory if all 195 nations agree to it.

India is committed to ramping up its renewable energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030 as per its updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). While India is transitioning to a larger share of clean energy sources, it needs to source finance to support development of green energy corridors and an improved grid infrastructure to support the growth. The G20 New Delhi Leaders Declaration has underlined the need for $5.8-5.9 trillion in the pre-2030 period for developing countries to meet net-zero targets. Should we expect anything earth-shaking from COP28, public policy research think tank Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW) CEO Arunabha Ghosh told IANS, “To be successful and not be talk shops, climate negotiations need to fulfil three purposes: Set the agenda and targets, put in a process for their implementation, and monitor enforcement and progress. “The year 2023 has underlined clearly why the UN’s Conference of Parties can no longer kick the can of climate justice, climate action and climate finance down the road. It has been the hottest year on record, with floods, droughts and wildfires, as well as a geopolitically turbulent one.”

“The GST will be a report card to our collective pledges so far,” he said. The first-ever GST is set to conclude at the end of this year. The GST is a process for countries and stakeholders to see where they’re collectively making progress towards meeting the goals of the Paris Climate Change Agreement and where they’re not. The nations will take a decision on the global stocktake at COP28, which can be leveraged to accelerate ambition in their next round of climate action plans due in 2025.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at gulatiians@gmail.com)

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) With the two-week COP28 Climate Summit negotiations in Dubai starting this week, Power Shift Africa has published a report that issues a call for decisive and unprecedented action to combat the escalating climate crisis.

With 2023 poised to be the hottest year ever recorded, the UN Secretary-General declared that this year marks the end of global warming and the onset of global boiling.

This urgency is magnified in Africa where there has been drought in the Horn of Africa, causing unprecedented death and suffering, in a continent least responsible for the climate crisis.

Even the most polluting nations are not immune to the climate crisis, with recent floods in New York and Dubai serving as a stark reminder that mere words and pledges won’t thwart the destructive power of the climate crisis.

As COP28 is beginning on November 30, the big question is; Will this summit step up and provide an unprecedented response to the global climate crisis?

The report, Africa's Agenda for COP28, urges a strong response at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference or COP28 to address the unique challenges of the current climate emergency, by focusing on six key areas:

Loss and Damage Fund: The report places urgent emphasis on the finalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund, advocating for robust financial and technical institutional arrangements.

This fund, it says, is not merely a financial instrument but a lifeline for vulnerable communities disproportionately impacted by climate-induced disasters.

It calls for the swift establishment of the fund as this is critical for providing timely and effective support for recovery and adaptation.

Just Transition Work Programme: Central to the report is the call for a well-defined mandate for the Just Transition Work Programme.

The report calls for a program that echoes the principles of justice and inclusivity and aims to support Africa and other developing nations in transitioning to low-carbon economies while addressing the economic and social dimensions of climate action, ensuring no one is left behind.

Global Goal on Adaptation: A core demand from the report is the unambiguous definition of the Global Goal on Adaptation, coupled with a call for doubling adaptation finance.

The report underscores the necessity for prioritising low-risk concessional loans and grants over high-risk ones that risk countries falling into greater debt. This approach, it argues, would ensure that adaptation projects are not only effective but also financially accessible, with a special focus on the most vulnerable communities.

Climate Finance Commitments: The report insists on clear commitments and tangible progress in climate finance negotiations.

It staunchly advocates for the fulfillment of the long-overdue $100 billion pledge by developed countries. Furthermore, the report stresses the paramount importance of grants over loans, aligning financial support with justice and fairness principles to meet the urgent needs of developing nations.

Global Stocktake Process: A critical aspect of the Africa's Agenda for COP28 report is a thorough review of pre-2020 commitments, climate finance, and technology transfer within the framework of the Global Stocktake (GST) process.

This scrutiny, it insists, must be guided by principles of equity, and is pivotal to fortify collective efforts in achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

Mitigation towards 1.5 Celsius: The report underscores the need for resolute global efforts to limit temperature rise, emphasizing equity, responsibility, and concrete actions.

Post-COP26, where a 1.5 degrees Celsius limit was endorsed, the report calls for an acceleration of mitigation efforts. It cautions against undue reliance on carbon removal technologies, condemns recent reversals in climate commitments, and outlines expectations for COP28, emphasising increased reliance on renewable energy and actions grounded in equity principles.

"It has never been more vital for African nations to work together and unite our collective voice at the COP28 climate summit," Mohamed Adow, Founder and Executive Director, Power Shift Africa, said.

"Africa is on the frontline of the climate crisis and many of the impacts afflict us all, whilst the solutions are common across the continent. We need to see our leaders working to ensure rich countries deliver on their promise of climate finance to help Africans adapt to climate change and compensate the most vulnerable who have suffered losses and damages.

"The agreement of a Loss and Damage Fund at last year’s meeting in Egypt was a great example of what can be achieved when global south cooperation is robust. We need to see that momentum continue in Dubai," he added.

Source: IANS

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United Nations, Nov 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) While nations discuss global warming in the world body’s conference complex at its headquarters, the Gandhi Solar Park on the roof powers their meetings.

A symbol of India’s commitment to fighting global warming, the 50 kilowatt set up was a gift from the nation in 2019, the 193 solar panels in the park represent each of the UN members.

Taking its dedication to clean energy globally, India has taken initiatives to help spread the use of solar energy, a key source of alternate energy to polluting power generated with fossil fuels, from the UN headquarters to the tiny Pacific island nation of Tuvalu.

India launched the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in cooperation with France in 2018 with the ambitious 'Towards 1000' plan to generate $1,000 billion of investments by 2030, while delivering clean energy access to 1,000 million people and installing 1,000 gigawatts of solar energy capacity by 2030.

From the US to Fiji and Botswana to Norway, 116 countries have signed on to the Alliance with 95 of them ratifying the agreement to become full members.

The ISA works with international development banks and the private and public sectors to attain its goals.

One of its goals is 'One World, One Sun, One Grid' -- transmitting electricity produced by countries with lots of sunshine to other countries.

It provides assistance to several Global South countries, especially in Africa, in training, planning and helping find finance and implementing projects.

ISA holds consultations with member countries to ascertain their needs and to find ways to meet them.

One of the outcomes of consultations was finding there was a need for 2.7 million solar-powered water pumps, which it is helping fulfill.

ISA’s activities range from setting up solar parks and rooftop generators to finding finance and managing waste from batteries.

Another initiative though the India-UN Development Fund has projects with an outlay of $3 million covering four clean energy projects and three climate action projects with a $3.2 million budget.

The projects under the Fund go beyond clean energy generation to meeting the challenges of climate change.

One project with seven tiny Pacific island nations vulnerable to weather-related disasters -- recurring cyclones, droughts and floods -- helps them deal with these crises by training people and providing material assistance like automatic weather stations.

An unusual project of the Fund was to install solar panels on the official residences of heads of state of 11 Pacific island nations as a way to highlight the importance of solar power and demonstrate its use.

In Cameroon, the Fund participated in a 'Solar Mamas' project, bringing women to India to be trained in setting up and maintaining solar power equipment that were installed in villages as part of clean energy programmes.

The clean energy projects in that country also included providing efficient stoves for cooking made with local materials and biodigesters for producing biogas briquettes.

In Mali, the Fund set up borewells with solar pumps and a water distribution system.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis)

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) The picturesque UNESCO World Heritage Site, the 1,600 km-long Western Ghats Region (WGR) -- one of the 35 Biodiversity Hotspots on the planet -- is plagued by heavy and rapid soil erosion owing to multiple factors, warns a new study by IIT-Bombay.

The study by the Centre for Technology for Rural Areas (CTARA), led by Prof Pennan Chinnasamy along with Vaishavi Honap of the College of Engineering, Pune, has shown a net average increase of 94 percent in soil degradation in the WGR between 1990-2020, detrimental to the region’s globally important biodiversity.

“Using the available data from the 1990s and later, we have quantified the soil loss from 1990 to 2020. It shows the average soil loss for WGR was 32.3 tonnes per hectare per annum (1990), shooting to 46.2 tphpa (2000), climbing to 50.2 tphpa (2010), and again jumping to 62.7 tphpa (2020).

Given the scale of the WGR spread over 140,000 sq.km. across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the researchers had to process large datasets with advanced technology and break down the task into multiple parallel jobs, he added.

The analyses revealed that Tamil Nadu recorded the highest soil loss rate of 121 per cent in the three decades, followed by Gujarat with 119 per cent.

Below them are Maharashtra with a soil erosion surge of 97 per cent, Kerala at 90 per cent, Goa with 80 percent and Karnataka the lowest at 56 per cent during the same period.

“These drastic and unsustainable rates of soil erosion pose a significant threat to the ecosystem, biological diversity, and the communities that depend on the WGR for survival,” said Chinnasamy.

The first-of-its-kind study covering the entire WGR deployed remote sensing data from satellites to quantify the long-term soil degradation across the huge area spanning half-a-dozen states, and not only confirmed the progressive increase in soil erosion rates, but also an alarming state-wise spike owing to various factors.

“The WGR is a biodiversity hotspot that harnesses multiple lifeforms, and is a very unique spot in the world. However, the management of this ecosystem needs more focus. Water and soil form the core for life here, and since soil erosion is not monitored, we have quantified the soil losses,” said Chinnasamy.

This was achieved using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) method which provides a convenient framework for assessing erosion and its factors like rainfall, topography, soil credibility, land cover and prevailing conservation practices.

“In the present study, the use of USLE for the WGR was novel and perhaps the first time such an assessment has been carried out at this scale (temporal and spatial),” said Chinnasamy.

Among the multiple factors leading to the large-scale soil erosion, the study points out that the escalating impact of climate change, coupled with land management, are the main culprits, besides the pressures of unsustainable and unplanned activities, heavy tourism, and other local challenges in all states.

The impact of this has been seen in the form of heavy floods witnessed in the past few years in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and to a lesser extent even in Goa and Karnataka.

The floods have drastically hit agricultural productivity, reduced water quality, affected fresh water sources, posed major ecological and socio-economic challenges and affected the unique biodiversity of the WGR, raising some tough questions for the policy-makers to address.

Chinnasamy feels that state agencies could work on the region of influence or administration and conserve soil by taking measures to prevent its erosion, through local or regional zones and IIT-B experts can assist them in the endeavour, and strategic focus on reducing human disturbance in the WGR.

There is also a need for physical monitoring of soil loss and erosion at multiple locations across WGR to scientifically validate the remote sensing data used in the study, increase soil conservation efforts and reduce anthropogenic disturbances.

These, in turn, can not only help mitigate climate change impacts but also avert the imminent erosion-induced damage to the fragile ecosystem of the WGR here, he urged.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at q.najmi@ians.in)

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) India showcases that “you can go green and provide fast economic growth at the same time”, feels former UN Environment Programme executive director Erik Solheim.

In a telephonic interview with IANS as countries gear up to take stock of the progress on decarbonization, loss and damage finance, and more at the upcoming UN COP28 climate summit in Dubai, Solheim said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharat has moved to the forefront of the struggle against climate change and environment protection.

“Modiji has launched numerous green missions for India -- focusing on green hydrogen, green batteries, electric cars and more. The number of tigers in India has doubled over the last two decades. India showcases that you can go green and provide fast economic growth at the same time.”

Solheim, an experienced peace negotiator having acted as the main facilitator of the peace process in Sri Lanka from 1998 to 2005, emphasises the critical role that nature and biodiversity play in aiding mitigation and adaptation to the global crises.

“Restoring nature is absolutely central to our climate efforts. Green landscapes protect us against climate disasters and absorb emissions. China is the world’s biggest tree planting nation. But there is huge progress in India also.”

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is planting one tree every day to inspire the people in his state. Telangana has increased its tree cover by seven per cent. Tamil Nadu is progressing fast, creating new protected areas.

Solheim believes the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss have led to a rapidly growing focus on forest conservation and restoration.

“We need to mobilize both governments and business. Indonesia last year saw zero deforestation, a fantastic result in the world’s second biggest rainforest nation.”

This is thanks to good laws by the government as well as strong action from the big private sector companies in paper and palm oil, businesses like RGE, one of the world’s largest producers of wood pulp.

The former Norwegian diplomat and politician who played a crucial role in convincing India to phase out single-use plastics said smallholdings farmers are on the frontlines of climate change.

“Carbon finance and the carbon market need to reach small-scale farmers. This can only happen if the farmers form associations to jointly approach the big institutions. Andhra Pradesh is a great example of a state which has prioritized small-scale, green and eco-friendly farming.”

Solheim, who was Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme between May 2016 and November 2018, believes the current representation of nature in the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference or COP28 agenda is sufficient.

“We need to bring the agendas of protecting mother earth and fighting pollution and emissions closer together. That will also create more engagement and inspiration.”

In the previous COPs there was inadequate climate and nature finance for developing countries, especially those whose ecosystems are most critical for climate.

“The developed world needs to step up and provide the finance they have promised. The US emission per capita up to now is 25 times higher than India’s. It’s obvious that the responsibility for causing the climate crisis rests with North America and Europe and other developed nations. At the same time, the developing nations who act like China and India are those most likely to be successful.

“They see climate as an opportunity to capture markets and create prosperity, bringing people out of poverty by going green. Indian company Ola has a slogan, "I love Tesla for the West, Ola for the Rest”.

According to Solheim, indigenous and local communities are the best protectors of nature and must be at the centre of any conservation model.

“I think Brazil is a good example in this regard. After President Lula came to power less than a year ago, deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has been reduced by 60 per cent. This is because Lula empowers indigenous people to protect their land. When indigenous tribes can work with the state, it creates a very powerful combination.”

The COP28, under the UAE presidency, will be a milestone moment when the world will take stock of its progress on the Paris Agreement.

The first Global Stocktake will provide a comprehensive assessment of progress since adopting the Paris Agreement.

This will help align the efforts on climate action, including measures that need to be put in place to bridge the gaps in progress.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at gulatiians@gmail.com)

Source: IANS

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Panaji, Nov 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) Goa which is facing coastline erosion, change in rainfall and fruiting patterns and flower blossoming seasons, has forced environmentalists, professionals and individuals to work towards combating the impact of climate change and bringing solutions to protect the environment.

Dr Dattaram Desai, a general practitioner, had started his journey of conserving water by rejuvenating lakes, springs, wells and ponds in 1991, which kindled hope and potable water for many families of the rural areas.

Speaking to IANS, Dattaram Desai, from the village Savoi-Verem in South Goa, said that his initial work was a success story, which fostered to create a group of like minded people and work towards achieving the goal of water conservation.

“Climate change is inevitable as pollution is ever on rise as we are using cars which emit carbon dioxide and other global-warming gases. It is going to change. But this is impacting seasonal patterns and hence, we can witness unseasonal rain and other things, even cloudburst. All around the year there is rain and due to pollution, earth's temperature is rising,” he said, adding that cities are getting flooded due to climate change.

“Human kind has to face it. But to combat it we have to plant trees, conserve water and avoid using plastic,” Dr. Desai added.

“Basically, being from a remote area as I used to move and visit patients at their homes, I found there was water scarcity problem in some areas where there used to be plenty of water,” Desai said.

He said that after liberation of Goa, village people discontinued engaging in community work for conserving water, and hence the problems arose.

“The locals had a notion that the government should do it. They neglected it and hence, the issues. There are many lakes, wells and springs around and the water from which cannot be used for drinking purpose as the sources are contaminated,” he said.

“In 1991, on the hill at Pali area of Savoi Verem, I saw a pond which was destroyed and people were walking through it as there was no water. Later along with my team, out of sheer curiosity, I started working on it and we desilted it. This offered a new lease of life to springs and the so-called pond was rejuvenated once again. Later, we could provide water to families living in the vicinity using pipes,” he said.

“It was a success story then. This encouraged me and I started to find more avenues and created a group called ‘Jalyatra’, where many professionals joined voluntarily. We started visiting other villages to learn about traditional water sources and started working on it,” he said, adding during Corona period they had to stop this work.

He said that in 2015 there was less rain and hence shortage of water was witnessed. “This forced us to work for water conservation on hills and other places,” he said.

According to noted environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar, the impact of climate change can easily be seen in the Western Ghats, from where the rivers Zuari and Mandovi originate.

“The flow of rivers has become less and it is not as vigorous as it was earlier. These things are occuring due to the destruction of forests. In the last two years, there has been rampant cutting of trees and forest fires have been taking place frequently due to extreme weather conditions,” Kerkar said.

“The blossoming of Karvi has been impacted due to climate change,” he rued, adding that there was no mass flowering of Karvi in recent times in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary in the Western Ghat areas of Sattari.

Karvi, also known as Strobilanthes Callosus are green shrubs that bloom once in eight years and the flowers vary in colour from purplish-blue to pink.

Rich in pollen and nectar, Karvi flowers attract a wide range of species of butterflies, birds and insects including honey bees.

Kerkar said that the Karvi honey is relished by sloth bears and other wild animals that are now missing out on this vital source of nutrition for them.

Kerkar said that climate change has impacted Western Ghats, coastal areas and biodiversity in the state.

Noted researcher Dr Nitin Borkar, while working towards combating climate change, started to eradicate menace of plastic waste and with help of fellow villager Sanjay Bhat Borkar started a programme to collect plastic waste from people.

“We started it in 2009 and we got support from people, who used to keep this plastic waste at designated places and then our workforces used to collect it and send it for recycling,” he said.

“Then Governor of Goa Dr Mridula Sinha donated Rs 50,000 to our Borim Development Trust, in appreciation of the good work. Later, the Panchayat took over that work and started collecting plastic waste,” he said.

National Fish Workers Forum (NFF) General Secretary Olencio Simoes, said that there is a need to protect coastal area from eroding and hence, government should start taking measures. “Wherever possible we started growing mangroves and screwpines to protect coast,” he said.

Source: IANS

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Lucknow, Nov 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) At a time when others of his age are either busy playing cricket or spending time on social media, this teenager from Bhadohi District is busy understanding climate change.

The boy, Kartik Verma, has grown into a global voice on the issue. Founder of the ‘Knowledge for Nature’ movement, Kartik took up the cause of child rights vis-à-vis environmental issues.

So far, his impactful work has reached over 4,000 children and youths across 130 plus schools of India.

Kartik was in Lucknow last week to interact with students at Lucknow University with the help of UNICEF.

Kartik said that he started with a simple understanding of the role of an individual in community health, hygiene and cleanliness. Very soon, he realised that visible impact and sustainable change would remain a far cry until motivated individuals embraced the cause.

“I formed a group to hold a dialogue with elders and children,” said Kartik, who canvassed his cause in roadways buses.

The campaign dipped during the pandemic period and re-started under the banner which he currently represents.

Appointed as a member of the steering committee for the Children and Youth Major Group to the UN Environment Programme, he currently serves as a child advisor to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child for General Comment.

He has also voiced the cause on many international platforms including the 94th Session Committee on the Rights of Child in UN Geneva.

Source: IANS

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Ahmedabad, Nov 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) In the arid expanse of the Little Rann of Kutch (LRK) in Gujarat, a quiet revolution is taking place among the Agariyas, the traditional salt farmers contributing 30 per cent to India’s inland salt production.

This region, renowned for its underground brine reserves vital for salt production, is witnessing a transformative shift from traditional fuel-based methods to sustainable solar energy.

A decade ago, the Agariyas relied heavily on diesel pumps, operating day and night, to extract the brine from beneath the earth. This not only resulted in high fuel costs, consuming 70% of their input expenses, but also meant living amidst the relentless noise and toxic fumes of the pumps.

Despite their hard work, the farmers received a mere fraction of the retail price for their salt, leading to a cycle of meager profits and heavy debts.

The intervention of non-profits in the region marked a turning point. In 2008, trials with solar pumps tailored to the unique needs of the LRK began. These solar pumps have been a game-changer.

Today, an estimated 80% of the 7,000 Agariya families in LRK have adopted solar technology, reducing their reliance on costly and environmentally harmful diesel.

The impact of this switch to solar energy is palpable in the stories of the Agariyas. Sixty-year-old Bhanuben, who has witnessed the evolution of brine extraction methods over her lifetime, shares how the switch to solar pumps drastically reduced her family's fuel consumption and costs, thereby increasing their savings.

The benefits extend beyond economics. Families have been able to alter their migratory patterns, with the men travelling to the salt pans daily, allowing their children to continue their education in a stable environment.

The solar pumps have also alleviated some of the harsh living conditions in the Rann, a wildlife sanctuary known for its extreme temperatures.

The lack of potable water and basic facilities, particularly challenging for women, is now partially mitigated as families like Kanuben's can afford more frequent visits to their villages.

The transition to solar energy is not just about economic gains; it's about altering the social dynamics within the community. The Agariyas, once resigned to the dictates of the local traders, are now empowered to negotiate better prices for their salt.

This newfound confidence stems from reduced operational costs and increased savings, enabling them to look beyond mere survival.

The Agariyas' journey towards solar energy adoption is a beacon of hope. It exemplifies how embracing sustainable practices can lead to profound socio-economic changes, fostering a sense of empowerment and community cohesion.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) The science is clear: Emissions must fall by 45 per cent by the end of this decade compared to the 2010 levels to meet the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Contrary to this, the UN Global Stocktake synthesis report -- a Paris Agreement-mandated evaluation of the global response to the climate crisis every five years -- finds that without urgent action, global temperatures will rise by 2.4-2.6 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.

This reinforces the need for transformative commitments at the forthcoming two-week UN climate summit or COP28 hosted by the United Arab Emirates in Dubai.

To help fill the gap, nature can provide up to one-third of the emission reductions required by 2030, alongside ambitious decarbonisation plans.

Among the key issues that the COP28 Presidency can possibly claim this year could potentially be the operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund for climate change and tripling of global renewable targets by 2030.

However, experts believe, a lot of tussle is expected on who will pay for the Loss and Damage Fund.

On the need for bringing clean power to all by 2030, while the G20 nations have supported it in the Delhi Declaration, it cannot be taken for granted till the remaining 170 plus nations also buy into it.

Ambition is empty without the finance to support it. Finance solutions are coming from the global south, like the Bridgetown Agenda which identifies that the private sector has to be tapped for mitigation finance. Also, tripling of multilateral development banks (MDBs) is required to provide public finance for adaptation and new innovative ways are required to unlock finance for the Loss and Damage Fund.

Not to forget at this COP is the Global Stocktake, a formal collective moment for the world to reflect and take stock for ratcheting up ambition.

The new tussle is on methane. With the US and China coming to agreements, it will put methane in the new geopolitical ambit of Greenhouse gasses (GHGs), forcing nations to assess their methane emitting sectors and economy.

Looking internally at India’s own transition, it has not made enough attempts for finance, climate experts told IANS.

India can scale renewable energy, but will need finance for developing green energy corridors, grid infrastructure and critical minerals to meet its ambition.

Green hydrogen and energy efficiency as potential sectors to watch out for, though green hydrogen comes with caveats.

India is a late entrant to the exporters club and it is still a beginner in electrolyser manufacturing. Vaibhav Chaturvedi, Fellow, Council on Energy Environment and Water, told IANS the big difference in this particular COP is that this is a Global Stocktake COP.

“It is important to understand the motivation behind the Global Stocktake process, which is a formal point for the whole world to reflect and take stock for ratcheting up ambition, and I think that is the keyword. It is not just for taking stock, it is a formal process for reflection and ratcheting of ambition. “Of course, at every COP we have the UNEP’s Emission Gap reports so we know if progress is taking place or not. But it will be a formal thing at COP28 which is expected to happen every five years.”

On tripling of renewable energy (RE) targets, Chaturvedi said, “We might be taking the global target of tripling of renewables for granted because the G-20 declaration kind of adopted it. But it will only become a global goal if all 190 plus countries agree at COP28.

“This would be a great win, but we should never take these things for granted, because there are another 170 plus countries who have not really weighed in on this subject, and what we saw and what we have seen during the negotiation process is that in many, many countries the capabilities are so low that it’s not easy for them to understand the implications of any such thing for their country.”

“It is not so straightforward. We are expecting that tripling of RE will formally come into the COP text. I hope it does but some effort will need to happen for that also,” he said.

On India’s mitigation pathway, Alok Kumar, former Principal Secretary with the Union Ministry of Power, said, “The debate on coal phase-out and phase-down has been going on for many years. India has not been very aggressive on demanding climate finance at various platforms.

“There are some aspects to this. First, meeting energy demands is critical for a country like India. Then, we have to plan for 2030. These are all long-term projects. I agree that at the renewable energy level, we can do more. If we accelerate renewable energy, it is fine.

“Beyond a point there are some concerns like the technical issue of storage, our political system giving free electricity and that India’s reality is different.

“Third, we need finance to develop the green energy corridors. If the government is not sure about this, new coal mines will be set up automatically to meet the growing energy needs.

“Fourth, India should raise the affordability issue and supply chain of critical minerals at the international platform.

“Fifth, the technology is available but the point is, at what cost? So let us talk about finance. Therefore, India needs to talk about finance and critical minerals when we talk of accelerating RE. India is doing sufficient. Local manufacturing in RE projects is picking up. Our track record of transparent bidding and payment has worked.

“The issues will come on transmission lines, storage lines and for these, we need climate financing and not for setting up RE projects. We need more money to scale up the project.”

According to Kumar, green hydrogen is a futuristic ambition for India, which will scale up in the next decade. However, there are three issues for India as it wants to tap export markets and major competitors like Australia who have already moved ahead.

“India will have to depend on domestic demand for scalable returns. If we have domestic demand, India can become a leader in green hydrogen production.

“Lastly, when we look at electrolyser manufacturing, both material-wise and technology-wise, we are still a beginner in technology and we can’t build a green hydrogen ecosystem without having expertise in electrolysers,” Kumar said.

According to Chaturvedi, the new tussle would be methane as the US and China have already come out with their announcement.

“India has already said officially that the agricultural sector is out of our NDC (nationally determined contribution) or any emission pledge because it is such a complicated sector for us. In India, more than 60 per cent methane emissions are from the livestock sector, and then it is rice production.

“Both sectors are very complicated for us to deal with. It is hard for me to expect India to sign on the methane pledge. But if it happens in a big way, then one will be forced to look at many, many things and eventually three, four, five years down the line, one could see that this becomes a very big sticking point the way loss and damage has been till now. So a new channel has been opened at this COP,” Chaturvedi added.

By the end of COP28, negotiators hope countries must agree to shun fossil fuels -- the root cause of climate change as impacts are felt everywhere, including in the Antarctica, and with a clear timeframe aligned to the 1.5 degrees Celsius warming limit.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at gulatiians@gmail.com)

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, Nov 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) At a time when West Bengal is hitting the national headlines for all the wrong reasons, there is at least one area where the state has been acclaimed nationally as a model. And that area is minimising the impact of increasingly frequent and untimely cyclonic storms in coastal areas.

Besides being accepted as the national model for systematic and scientific mangrove plantation to reduce the impact of cyclonic storms on coastlines, this project adopted in Sunderbans area scattered over the South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal has also become an exemplary example of women empowerment.

In July this year, the ‘Sunderbans model’ was accepted nationally by the Union Government as an Rs 200 crore project named ‘Mishti.’ Now, extensive and systematic mangrove plantation will be done on the Indian coastline right from Gujarat to Odisha to minimise the impact of cyclonic storms.

At the same time, the spirit of women empowerment that was adopted in the ‘Sunderbans model’ is also being replicated in the national model of ‘Mishti’ where women-dominated Self-Help Groups (SHGs) will be entrusted with the task of plantation and maintenance of mangroves along the coastlines.

Encouragingly, six coastal states namely Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Kerala individually approached the West Bengal forest department by the end of last year to purchase nine varieties of mangrove seeds for their states.

A team of experts from West Bengal also visited these six coastal states to train their counterparts there on the plantation, nurturing and maintenance of the mangrove saplings.

According to experts, the speciality of the mangrove plantation are the stilt roots that develop from the stem nodes and join the soil substratum, hence providing mechanical support even to weaker stems. That is why the mangroves are in a better position to bear the impact of cyclonic storms and don’t get easily uprooted.

Though the West Bengal Government and the ruling Trinamool Congress have taken the credit for the ‘Sunderbans model’ being adopted nationally, however, the beneficiaries give the real credit to a group of environmental activists.

The protectionists, under the aegis of the Nature Environment & Wildlife Society (NEWS) started a mission in 2007 to achieve permanent and concrete protection from the ravages of cyclones.

The initiative started under the banner of ‘Project Green warriors’ involved women from three villages in the Sunderbans area in South 25 Parganas, namely Dulki-Sonagaon, Amlamethi and Mathurakhand.

Before the beginning of the project, although the state forest department practiced mangrove forestation in July every year, nothing remained by winter since the plantation was monoculture in nature.

Lack of monitoring was also a reason for the quick wiping out of the plantation undertaken by the state forest department before 2007.

However, after ‘Project Green Warriors’ started in West Bengal involving 150 village women, there was a change in the approach towards systematic mangrove plantation as a long-term resistance tool against cyclonic storms.

The volunteers of NEWS along with the 150 SHG women started educating the local people to avoid certain practices like cattle grazing in the mangrove plantations or fishing net-dragging that were uprooting the plants and leading to soil erosion. This extensive and parallel exercise resulted in a good yield between 2008 and 2009.

The positive impact of the project on Sunderbans was felt in May 2009 during Cyclone Aila. Its tail touched Sunderbans before it moved on to Bangladesh. While the rest of the Sunderbans was severely affected by Cyclone Aila, the patches of land where the mangrove forestation was done under the project was absolutely untouched.

That was an eye-opener for everyone, and NEWS started mobilising funds, doing risk-mapping and between 2010 and 2015 over 18,000 local women were involved in the project.

Over 4,600 hectares of land scattered over 183 villages in 14 community development blocks in the Sunderbans areas was brought under large-scale mangrove forestation.

Later, mangrove plantation was also included in the 100-day job project under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, ensuring that the protection of the coastlines continued unabated.

Source: IANS

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Lucknow, Nov 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) He was a student when he saw ponds and lakes in Gautam Buddha Nagar gradually shrinking and then vanishing. Ramveer Tanwar, now 29, felt that if the local people took the initiative, they could save the water bodies in their areas.

“I had an unexplained fascination for water. I would take my herd of cattle for grazing in my village Dadha. I would sit by the local pond to leisurely finish my schoolwork, even as the animals munched on the grass,” recalls the resident of Gautam Buddha Nagar.

Tanwar, who went on to pursue his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering also witnessed the urbanisation of his village and all the areas of Greater Noida, over the years.

The urbanisation resulted in population growth, which further resulted in the shrinking of water bodies and forests, as the tall buildings were constructed on those lands.

Since it was mandatory for students pursuing the course to participate in social and environmental activities and provide viable solutions for issues related to them, Tanwar decided that he would address the concern of disappearing water bodies and forest lands.

Tanwar and his batch mates started an informal campaign on water conservation called ‘Jal Chaupal’ with local communities. He started from his village Dadha, but soon visited other villages in Uttar Pradesh, including Dabra, Kulipura, Chauganpur, Raipur, Sirsa, Rampur, Salempur.

The student group was also accompanied by several environmentalists and they held meetings with the villagers. In these ‘Jal Chaupals’, villagers shared their experiences on water quality issues, and the student group and experts discussed mitigation measures.

He urged the people to conserve water and save natural resources like ponds, lakes and wetlands. Tanwar started off by giving lessons to children from his village, who in turn, began to feel like they had to do something about their dying water sources.

Later, he told the students to come with their parents every Sunday and he would facilitate a discussion and suggest methods to conserve water.

The message finally started to sink in, and the villagers were really starting to grasp the problem they were facing.

His effort was appreciated by the district authorities, and these ‘Jal Chaupals’ were officially recognised.

In 2015, Tanwar and his team of volunteers, students, and their parents removed all the garbage from the first pond. Not only did they clean it, they also planted some trees around it.

Later on, they invited the local administration to come and see the glorious restoration. The good news spread fast and soon enough, people from other villages and districts started to come to Tanwar to ask for help with the restoration of local lakes.

He roped in more people and went on to restore dozens of lakes and ponds in the region. Soon after he completed his graduation, Tanwar got a job in a multinational company, where he worked for nearly two years.

However, he could not get ‘Jal Chaupal’ out of his mind and heart all that while and soon Tanwar quit his plush job to dedicate his time and energy in saving the parched water bodies and promoting afforestation.

Finally, Tanwar became a full-time conservationist in 2016. Tanwar says that more than 60 per cent of the water bodies in India are either filled with garbage or solid waste or those areas have been encroached upon.

“This is more prevalent in areas where urbanisation is taking place. The wetlands in the rural areas are comparatively in a better position. Whichever area is urbanised, rest assured the wetlands of the area will be damaged,” he says.

Tanwar says the lack of solid waste management is another reason for the deterioration of the water bodies, and this factor is prevalent in both urban and rural areas.

In rural areas, he says, the management is more difficult because there are no dedicated landfill sites or garbage collection vans, and nobody likes to keep the waste inside the house. So, the villagers dump the waste in the nearby water body, most of which is non-biodegradable.

Besides, the water bodies that are no longer a source of income for the villages or communities, are not taken care of, he adds.

He further says that when water bodies become contaminated with dangerous bacteria, it results in devastating health effects in humans. Symptoms may include an array of health issues, such as diarrhoea and neurological problems.

Tanwar’s moment of glory however came when he was praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ and also by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

He has been declared as the Brand Ambassador of the Swachh Bharat Mission, Ghaziabad and has been appointed as the District Coordinator of the 'BhuJal Sena’, Noida (Groundwater Force) by the Government of Uttar Pradesh.

Source: IANS

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Bengaluru, Nov 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) Dasabettu Mathayes D'Sa, popularly known as Desa, has accomplished what many could not even contemplate. He spent his entire retirement savings to purchase a wasteland -- a red stone quarry -- and planted a variety of wild trees that are on the verge of extinction.

Desa's determination to transform the wasteland into a mini forest is inspiring, especially on the eve of the COP28 Summit in Dubai focused on the climate challenge.

The flourishing mini forest now stands in place of the scarred land, once marked by deep trenches, covering three-fourths of an acre in Satwadi, a small village near Kundapura town in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka.

The 63-year-old Desa, after retiring from a humble job in Mumbai, moved to Satwadi in 2017, leaving his wife and son behind to pursue his dream of cultivating a forest and dedicating the rest of his life to nature in his native region.

Residing in Moodlakatte near Kundapura, merely a kilometre away from his dream forest, Desa relies on a bicycle as his primary mode of transport. He also owns a small boat with a tiny petrol engine, allowing him to explore the mangrove forest near his house. In Kundapura, he actively spreads awareness about the importance of mangrove forests among nature lovers, students, and journalists.

Additionally, he contributes to making the area a tourist hub by taking people on boat rides to explore the beauty of the small trees growing in coastal saline or brackish water, providing self-employment opportunities to locals. Desa also contributes to greening his village roads by planting and watering plants.

In an interview with IANS, Desa explained that his inspiration came from the novel "Swapnada Hole" by well-known Kannada author K. Shivaram Karanth. “I belong to the Christian community. Despite community members' curses for not attending church masses, I had dedicated my weekends to nature trips,” Desa says.

He is a long-time member of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), has attended various nature camps nationwide for wildlife studies with BNHS, and is a lifetime member of the Youth Hostels Association of India (YHAI), participating in numerous trekking programmes at both state and national levels.

Desa has volunteered for wildlife studies in the Nallamala forest with the Government of Telangana Wildlife Department and has led countless students and professionals in various trekking programs.

Describing the challenges of growing a forest on quarry land, Desa highlighted the difficulty of dealing with trenches up to 15 feet deep, where the land below that depth is infertile.

Despite the financial constraints for levelling the land, Desa has managed to grow tree saplings in the existing trenches.

Reflecting on his decision to retire in Satwadi instead of pursuing a watchman's job in Mumbai, Desa emphasized the joy of reliving childhood days through reading, wandering in forests, and fishing.

Desa passionately believes that the survival of the land depends on the existence of forests.

He criticizes politicians for their soft stance on forest destruction and points out the encroachment of forests by politicians and elites, particularly in the birthplace of the Cauvery river, where vast acres of coffee plantations have replaced natural forests.

Desa emphasizes that people will only realize the importance of forests during water shortages in big cities, calling attention to the collective responsibility to protect these crucial ecosystems.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) A climate crusader-cum-academic-cum farmer, who has analysed long-term and short-term climate data, has warned that by 2100, Maharashtra will become hotter, wetter and agriculture activities would be hit in a big way, affecting major crops and raising questions on food security for the people.

Prof. Rahul S. Todmal, who teaches Geography at the Vidya Pratisthan's ASC College, Baramati (Pune) -- likes to describe himself as a farmer by upbringing and a climate activist by choice -- has prepared a study, 'Future Climate Change Scenario over Maharashtra, Western India', with several stunning revelations of how the coming 75 years would affect the state.

“I used the projected climate data (regional model) from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, for the period 2015-2100, based on the Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5 scenario that was considered in the Fifth Assessment Report of IPCC,” Todmal told IANS.

Accordingly, Maharashtra will experience a staggering increase in monsoon rainfall between 18-22 per cent in the regions of Raigad, Satara, Pune, Kolhapur, Nagpur, Amravati, Yavatmal, Wardha, Bhandara, Gondia and Akola, over the next 25 years (2050).

“However, this rainfall increase can be destructive, if it occurs along with an increase in extreme events and repeat the catastrophic flood events witnessed in Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara districts (August 2019). Most districts of Vidarbha region are likely to see a spike in rainfall by 53-122 mm, with Nagpur-Wardha poised to see rainfall increase of 82-122 mm,” Todmal said.

The 30 districts (out of 36) which will see big jump in rainfall are: Mumbai & Mumbai Suburban, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Dhule, Jalgaon, Nandurbar, Nashik, Ahmednagar, Pune, Solapur, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, Hingoli, Aurangabad, Jalna, Buldhana, Amravati, Yavatmal, Washim, Akola, Nagpur, Bhandara, Gondia, Nagpur, and Wardha.

Though increase in rains is a ‘natural bonus’, it can cause havoc if accompanied by extreme events that could threaten the rainfed agriculture through flash floods, waterlogging and other woes, besides posing challenges for water resource management, he avers.

After the wetter spells, 80 per cent of the state will see a rise in Annual Mean Temperatures (AMT) of between 1C-2.5C degrees, albeit with spatial variations.

These districts are: Mumbai & Mumbai Suburban, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Dhule, Jalgaon, Nandurbar, Nasik, Ahmednagar, Pune, Solapur, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, Hingoli, Aurangabad, Jalna, Buldhana, Amravati, Yavatmal, Washim, Akola, Nagpur, Bhandara, and Wardha.

“Along with the rise in AMT, the annual minimum-maximum temperature is also expected to increase, meaning that in the coming years, winters would be quite warmer and summers would be much harsher…” said Todmal grimly.

This twin development will directly impact agriculture and crops in different parts of the state, making them vulnerable and also hit the farmers badly, said Todmal, himself a tiller who goes in his fields regularly.

With the Planet heating up, jowar crops will plummet by 6-18 per cent in Satara, Pune, central Maharashtra; Sugarcane will drop by 6-22 per cent in Osmanabad, Pune, Ahmednagar, Sangli, Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Satara and Ratnagiri.

Other major crops to be hit would be rice, bajra and cotton with the increased temperatures due to germination/pollen related aspects, and the rising mercury would affect both the Kharif and Rabbi crop seasons, with rainfed crops and irrigated crops facing a decline in productivity.

The AMT increase in the winters may hit wheat cultivation, plus augment the rate of evapotranspiration that could aggravate water scarcity in parts of the state, especially those falling in the ‘rain shadow’ zones.

Todmal said though the state has a larger net sown area under rainfed crops, in the past few decades the area under cash crops (sugarcane, cotton, onion, maize, etc) is increasing with a corresponding increase in demand for agricultural water.

Against these challenging backdrops, Todmal said that agro-experts and agronomists can contribute by introducing low-water requiring crop varieties that can withstand and perform in future climates, while the government should introduce stricter policies on cropping patterns depending on the cropping zones to reduce pressures on water resources for farming.

Despite huge investments in rainwater harvesting in the state, water scarcity persists – in stark contrast to Israel which has marginal rainfall (500 mm) but has conquered its water crisis by applying water-saving techniques in agriculture, he pointed out.

Todmal cited a World Bank (2008) report warning that the droughts and floods (in 2003 and 2005) have consumed about Rs 175 billion - which was larger than the planned budget of Rs 150 billion - on agriculture, irrigation and rural development for 2002-2007 period.

These extreme events are also responsible for the suicides of around 400,000 farmers in the state since 1995 till date, and the future hotter-wetter months could have serious implications not only on the country’s agriculture and economy but also society at large.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)

Source: IANS

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Patna, Nov 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) People in Bihar are experiencing early chilly weather this winter season and the met department is expecting 1 to 3 degrees minimum temperature in the next 24 hours. This may be a temporary phase but it is a reflection of the change in the climate due to various reasons, says an expert.

He said there are various reasons for the climate change here during summer and winter. The state is lacking green cover especially in the rural areas. Bihar, over the years, is facing disasters like the annual floods in North Bihar and a drought-like situation in South Bihar every year.

As per a study by the Journal of Natural Science Research, 21% of the total area comes under seismic zone 5. Bihar has 14 districts which are highly vulnerable due to lack of forest cover, flood affected zones and other issues. Around 70% of the districts have a wind speed of nearly 50 meters/second which is considered very high. The northern part of Bihar has low lying plains where water from Nepal accumulates. Rivers like the Kosi, Kamla Balan, Gandak, Parman originate from the Himalayas and their water crosses various North Bihar districts to finally fall into the Ganga river.

The biggest challenge for the state government is the silt carried by these rivers and its accumulation in the low lying areas of North Bihar, affecting the natural drainage. This became worse after the drainage system in various districts was developed in an unplanned manner. The water comes from the Himalayan range but does not exit to other sides due to the poor drainage system.

Around 21 districts including West Champaran, East Champaran, Sheohar, Supaul, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Khagaria, Katihar, Kishanganj, Araria, Purnea, Madhubani, Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Vaishali, Patna and many others are hit by floods every monsoon season. “The actual reason for flood water accumulating in these districts is the siltation and the poor drainage system. The state government has failed to construct a drainage system in a well planned manner. In the last few years, various people in the government and different agencies are discussing it and expressing concern about the changes in the weather but because of political apathy, Bihar does not have an action plan on the ground,” said Bharat Sharma, a Patna based environmentalist.

Dinesh Kumar Mishra, research expert (IIT Kharagpur) on the Bihar flood situation, pointed out that the poor functioning of the state government is responsible for the problem. “Everyone in the government and engineers in the water resource department know that siltation and drainage are the key issues to resolve the problem but the government looks only at temporary solutions. When the Kushaha tragedy happened in the Kosi region in 2008, the Nitish Kumar government had given compensation to the affected families and they kept quiet. No one spoke about permanent solutions. The state government opens a control room in Patna to monitor the flood situation every year from May 15 to October 15. Every year, floods occur in July. Why can the control room not work for 12 months? They know the problem but have failed to address it,” Mishra told IANS.

“In 1955, the farmers of North Bihar said that flood waters remained for two and a half days in their villages. Now, the water stays for 4 to 6 months in some of the districts like Supaul and Sheohar. Why did it happen? The natural drainage systems were disturbed at a massive level. Hence the water does not drain towards the nearby rivers,” he said.

The Bihar government has formulated a plan to connect the rivers with one another. Recently, the Nitish Kumar government had brought Ganga water to districts like Nalanda, Gaya and Nawada. The experts believe that such efforts are needed in North Bihar as well to connect various rivers and drainage systems with rivers through channels to address these issues.

The Nitish Kumar government launched the Jan Jeevan Hariyali programme on October 2, 2019 and allocated Rs 24,524 crore to promote ecological balance and water conservation in the state. One of its goals was to deal with water scarcity especially in the southern part of Bihar. This needs proper implementation in districts like Gaya, Nawada, Aurangabad, Jamui Sheikhpura and others.

The government came with the Bihar State Action Plan of Climate Change in 2015 and made sectoral plans to deal with it. However, the implementation was lacking. In the same year, the state government constituted a team of experts to make an action plan with the help of the Department For International Development (DFID). the DFID suggested some measures like desiltation in North Bihar especially in the Kosi range, strengthening agricultural chains, development of agro based industries. The government, through the Bihar state pollution control board signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations Environment Programme India in February 2021 to prepare strategies to build climate resilience and reach net zero emission by 2070.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) The spirit of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (one earth, one family, one future)’ is visible through the efforts of several Indian-origin climate warriors across the world who are engaged in fighting and finding solutions to save the Earth.

British-Indians Moksha Roy and Aleesha Gadhia, aged seven and eight respectively, are among the youngest climate campaigners who have been raising their voices against microplastic pollution, deforestation and ecosystem degradation.

Aleesha has written hundreds of letters and emails to some of the UK’s largest companies and most influential people -- The Queen, Labour leader Keir Starmer, environmental royalty Sir David Attenborough -- to encourage them to take climate action.

She has also raised funds for non-profit organisations that work alongside rainforest communities to halt deforestation and climate change, in addition to setting up a climate change club at school.

Moksha has been advocating for the UN Sustainable Development Goals to be integrated into school curricula and even communicated with leaders worldwide, urging them to consider these critical objectives.

Her journey to fight for a healthy Earth began at the age of three when she volunteered for a United Nations’ initiative against microplastic pollution.

According to the UN, two-thirds of the 430 million tonnes of plastic produced annually soon becomes waste, filling the ocean and, often, working its way into the human food chain.

Reshma Kosaraju from Saratoga, California, has developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) model that proactively predicts forest fires using meteorological data and other parameters.

In addition, the model also takes into account both the weather in the region as well as other temporal factors to account for human behaviour.

Recently, a few prominent leaders hailing from India were named in the 'Time 100 Climate' list of the world's most influential leaders driving business to real climate action.

Among them was World Bank Group president Ajay Banga who is ushering in a new mission for the institution -- eradicating poverty while fighting climate change.

Banga is calling for more money to “widen the aperture” of the Bank to structure incentives and loans for projects that lower emissions and advance sustainable development.

He is also pushing to reduce how long it takes to approve projects, so that billions of dollars can quickly reach the countries that need it, according to Time magazine.

Geeta Aiyer's Boston Common Asset Management firm prioritises investment in climate change mitigation, and uses shareholder engagement to push portfolio companies toward more sustainable business practices.

Rajiv J Shah's Rockefeller Foundation partnered this year with the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet to launch the Coal to Clean Credit Initiative. The aim is to develop a new carbon finance standard to spur a just transition away from coal-fired power plants to renewable energy in emerging economies.

Chitra Gomanee, a banking professional from Mauritius, was named by the World Economic Forum as one of the young leaders driving action on nature and climate. Gomanee has been working on projects including waste clean-ups in Mauritius, which is experiencing considerable economic loss, humanitarian stresses and environmental degradation from climate change impacts.

Led by Indian-American Aadith Moorthy, Boomitra is working with farmers and ranchers to accelerate carbon removal on a gigaton-scale, while helping them produce more with less. It helps farmers and ranchers adopt agricultural practices that increase carbon sequestration -- a process by which carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and held in solid or liquid form.

Boomitra then quantifies the additional carbon captured and works with international standards bodies to generate Verified Emission Removals, commonly referred to as carbon credits.

Former UK Minister Alok Sharma was knighted for his contribution to combating climate change through his leadership at the COP26 summit by King Charles III in his 2022 New Year Honours list.

New York City's Chief Climate Officer Rohit Aggarwala led the effort to make 13,000 yellow taxis convert to hybrids, clean up the heating oil used in the buildings, and develop a greener construction code for the US state.

Source: IANS

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Panaji, Nov 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) Not only coastline erosion, but rainfall and fruiting patterns, and flower blossoming seasons have been altered due to the impact of climate change in Goa, say environmentalists and experts.

According to noted environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar, the impact of climate change can easily be seen in the Western Ghats, from where the rivers Zuari and Mandovi originate.

“The flow of rivers has become less and it is not as it was in earlier times. These things are happening due to the destruction of forests. In the last two years, there has been rampant cutting of trees and forest fires have been taking place frequently due to extreme weather conditions,” Kerkar said, adding this year there was a crisis of potable water for the people living along the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.

Karvi, also known as Strobilanthes Callosus are green shrubs that bloom once in eight years and the flowers vary in colour from purplish-blue to pink.

Rich in pollen and nectar, Karvi flowers attract a wide range of species of butterflies, birds and insects including honey bees.

Kerkar said that the Karvi honey is relished by sloth bears and other wild animals that are now missing out on this vital source of nutrition for them.

“The blossoming of Karvi has been impacted due to climate change,” he rued, adding that there was no mass flowering of Karvi in recent times in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary in the Western Ghat areas of Sattari.

Kerkar said that climate change has impacted Western Ghats, coastal areas and biodiversity in the state.

“We can see coastline erosion taking place in the coastal areas,” he said.

Noted environmentalist Abhijit Prabhudesai, told IANS that climate change has impacted not only the coastlines but also fruiting patterns of fruit-bearing crops and trees.

“Many farmers tell us that climate change has impacted cashew production and other activities. Even fishermen say that fish are moving to other places for breeding as the climate here is not suitable,” Prabhudesai said.

“Our beaches are becoming shorter due to coastline erosion. Fruiting patterns and flower blossoming seasons have been altered due to climate change. Even the number of migratory birds has become less,” he said.

“As per the ‘Goa State Action Plan for Climate Change’ 15 per cent of the land in Goa will be lost due to flooding and other reasons,” he said, warning about the implications of environmental degradation and the consequent climate change.

Water Resources Department Minister Subhash Shirodkar is on record saying that climate change is causing floods in Goa.

"In the last two to three years due to climate change and the resultant shifts in rainfall patterns and other issues, floods are taking place more frequently," Shirodkar said.

According to Minister for Environment and Climate Change Nilesh Cabral, the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) in its ‘Beach Carrying Capacity Report’ has observed that overall, for a coastal stretch of about 105 km in Goa, 35 per cent of the coast is rocky terrain, 20 per cent is stable, 27 per cent is under erosion and 17 per cent of the coasts experience accretion.

“River mouths and port areas experience significant erosion characteristics and pocket beaches of Goa are either stable or are accreting,” the report further said.

Nilesh Cabral said that the State Government has also initiated the process of implementing soft measures for the control of erosion.

Around 27 per cent of Goa's 105-km-long coastline is under the threat of erosion, due to the increase in sea level and human intervention. It has become a major challenge for the Goa government to take preventive measures and save the beautiful beaches of the coastal state.

This occurrence may impact its tourism economy in the years to come. Hence environmentalists have urged the Goa government to take action now. MLAs representing the constituencies that fall along the coastline are raising their voice and asking departments concerned to act on it swiftly.

Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao said that it is important that measures be taken to protect the coastal areas from erosion.

“The state Government should study ISRO’s report revealing that Goa has lost around 15.2 hectares of land due to coastal erosion in ten years,” Alemao said.

Even Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte admitted that coastline erosion had become a major challenge.

“Coastline erosion is a major challenge. It is a threat (to the tourism industry) the way it is taking place. Beaches are getting washed out. Though we give permission to erect shacks, however they are not able to occupy a longer stretch (in the permissible limit), as the beaches have been washed out,” Khaunte said.

He said that it was very important to adopt measures to stop this erosion. “We can adopt technologies to ensure that we get our surface back. Techno-commercial concepts can be adopted with the help of the environment and other departments,” he said.

Source: IANS

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Lucknow, Nov 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) That climate change is impacting weather conditions across the globe and triggering natural disasters, we all know quite well. But the fact that it is impacting food and its taste, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, is a little-known truth, strange though it may sound.

To begin with, winters are, at times, colder than usual and at other, much less cold. The summers are hot but the winds, known as ‘loo’ in local parlance, are missing. The rains come and go before and after the designated monsoon period and the onset of spring varies alarmingly too.

This erratic weather pattern is impacting food that is naturally produced and also which is man-made.

For instance, mango, which is known as the pride of Uttar Pradesh, is gradually losing its taste as inclement weather and unseasonal rains have an adverse impact on the king of fruits.

“Unexpected storms in February and March prove devastating for mango crop because this is their flowering season and the flowers, known as ‘baur’, fall off because of strong wind and rains. Mango growers believe that the hot May winds add sweetness to the fruit as they help to ripen it naturally. Now summers remain hot but they are without the ‘loo’ winds and this is taking away the taste from mangoes,” says Insram Ali, president of the Mango Growers Association.

Another local fruit that has almost vanished due to weather changes is ‘phoot’, a fruit that belongs to the musk melon family and is also known as snap melon.

‘Phoot’ a summer delicacy was grown on the sandy banks of rivers in the summer and ripened when hot winds blew across the plains. Since the last one decade, snap melon has not been seen in the markets and cultivators claim that the crop does not ripen due to changing weather.

Besides these fruits that suffer the impact of the changing weather conditions, some manmade delicacies have also taken a hit.

‘Makhan-malai’ in Lucknow has been a much-awaited winter delicacy. Often known as ‘Daulat ki chat’ in Delhi, this mousse-like dessert is made out of milk and is nurtured in morning dew. As the mercury falls, this delicacy gains taste.

Ram Kishore, who sells ‘makhan-malai’ in Chowk area, says, “People have tried making ‘makhan-malai’ using ice to keep the mixture cool, but have never got the desired results. The winter-like outcome is impossible to achieve even if you sacrifice your life. It is the dew that does the trick.”

He laments that since the last three years, there has been reduced dew – mainly due to intense construction activity — and this impacts the taste of ‘makhan-malai’.

Another sweet that is peculiar to Lucknow and is heavily dependent on weather is ‘dhoddhi’ barfi that is made with ‘khoya’ and has a layer of pure ghee on it.

“If winters are not adequately cold, the layer of ghee on top of the barfi melts and the sweet loses its taste. Till a few years ago, we would start making this sweet from Diwali but now we make it only from mid-December,” said Ravi Gupta, whose shop is known for this delicacy.

Prayagraj was once known for its ‘lauki ke lacche’ where strips of bottle gourd would be cooked in sugar syrup and then dried till crisp. This delicacy was sold in summer and is believed to be a coolant.

It is no longer manufactured on a large scale because the summer heat is no longer stable.

“Once the rain sets in, the dish loses its flavor, so now we make it in very small quantities,” said Gopal Babu, known for his expertise in making it.

Interestingly, the fruits and delicacies that are said to be impacted by weather conditions are all sweet. The sour fruits or the savoury dishes don’t seem to be impacted by climate change. Neither the fruit growers nor the sweet makers have an explanation for this strange phenomenon.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) As the global community grapples with the far-reaching consequences of climate change, the Indian capital, Delhi, finds itself at the forefront of an escalating environmental crisis. The city, known for its vibrant culture and historical significance, is now grappling with a myriad of climate-related challenges that demand immediate attention.

One of the most pressing issues faced by Delhi is the deteriorating air quality. The city consistently ranks among the most polluted in the world, with residents contending with hazardous levels of particulate matter. The government has implemented various measures, including Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)- IV, imposing restrictions on industrial activities, BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles but the battle against air pollution remains an uphill struggle.

Rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns further compound the problem. Delhi witnesses sweltering summers and unpredictable monsoons. Urban heat islands exacerbate the heat, affecting the health and well-being of the city's inhabitants.

“Climate change has also heightened concerns about water scarcity in Delhi. Changing precipitation patterns and increased demand for water pose significant challenges to the city's water supply,” said Chandra Veer Singh, former scientist and environmentalist.

In response, the Delhi Government led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has initiated projects to improve water management, exploring sustainable solutions such as rainwater harvesting and efficient distribution systems.

Waste management is another critical aspect of Delhi's climate action plan. The city is working towards reducing waste generation through awareness campaigns and innovative practices. Recycling initiatives, waste segregation at source, and the promotion of responsible consumption are key components of this comprehensive strategy

To address these challenges, authorities are exploring sustainable solutions and intensifying efforts to promote public awareness.

Initiatives such as afforestation drives, investment in renewable energy, and the promotion of eco-friendly transportation options are gaining momentum.

Additionally, civic engagement campaigns aim to empower residents to actively contribute to mitigating climate change.

However, experts emphasise the need for a comprehensive and collaborative approach involving not only government initiatives but also active participation from businesses, communities, and individuals.

As per the draft released in June this year on Delhi State Action Plan on Climate Change, by 2050, the city is likely to face economic losses amounting to Rs 2.75 trillion due to the impacts of climate change.

In 2008, India introduced the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), prompting state governments to develop their own action plans aligned with the strategies outlined in the NAPCC, known as the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC).

Earlier, addressing the threat of climate change to water security in the city, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai stressed the need for collaborative efforts among states to effectively handle such challenges.

Rai pointed out that developing nations, including India, are grappling with the consequences of actions by developed countries.

He highlighted the importance of integrating environmental protection, climate change, and air pollution into national policies and politics, asserting that this approach could pave the way for ecologically-friendly development throughout the nation.

Rai emphasised that climate change is a global challenge, affecting not only Delhi but the entire world, with developed nations playing a significant role in contributing to it through unchecked exploitation of natural resources.

As Delhi faces this climate challenge head-on, it serves as a microcosm of the global struggle to create a sustainable and resilient future in the face of climate uncertainty.

(Shekhar Singh can be reached at shekhar.s@ians.in)

Source: IANS

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Bengaluru, Nov 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Western Ghats, also known as the Sahyadri Mountains, is a mountain range that runs parallel to the western coast of India. Experts call them the lifeline of peninsular India that constitutes the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.

Climate change that followed the rampant destruction of land, river, forests and hills in the Western Ghats, has led to disastrous implications in Karnataka. The desertification of land has already started in the state, say experts.

The Western Ghats act as a crucial source of water for the major rivers in peninsular India, including the Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, and numerous smaller rivers.

The Western Ghats are recognised as one of the world's biodiversity hotspots, home to a rich variety of flora and fauna. Many species found in the Western Ghats are endemic, meaning they are not found anywhere else in the world. The range plays a significant role in regulating the climate of the region and influencing the monsoon patterns.

Experts opine that the pro-industrialist policies of the Centre and the government of Karnataka are pushing the entire Indian Peninsula to the brink of ecological disaster.

Dinesh Holla, artist and environmentalist from the region explained to IANS that, all rivers in the state take birth in the Western Ghats. "Climate change has affected the rain pattern as I have observed in 15 years," he said.

The Western Ghats in Karnataka receive rains for six months continuously. They store, recharge water in all the rivers and this gets distributed. Due to this, the Shola forests and wildlife there are thriving. At present, due to a rain deficit, the water storage area is reducing in the catchment area, he explained.

Dinesh Holla explained that as a result of this, the region has been witnessing landslides and floods for five years. This year the Western Ghats received least rainfall and if one river system weakens, the big cities will be directly impacted.

“Cauvery River supplies water to Bengaluru and other cities in south Karnataka, Netravati River supplies water to Mangaluru city, Kali River supplies water to Karwar city. It’s all going to be affected,” he explained.

“The water demand is rising but the systems where rivers take birth are weakening every year. The balance is lost. In the last 15 years, every river origin has weakened. The landslides are causing damage to the grasslands and to the Shola forest. The grasslands store rainwater and through the inner water layer they supply water to the Shola forest. The rivers are already empty in Western Ghats due to drought. This is going to be a permanent phenomenon. It’s not like it’s going to be alright if excess rains are received in future,” Dinesh Holla warned.

“There is no point in blaming the Centre and the state governments, the people will have to take initiatives. The Western Ghats have turned out to be entertaining spots, which leads to further degradation,” he lamented.

Dr AN Yallappa Reddy, former Environment Secretary, Government of Karnataka and activist explained to IANS that next to Rajasthan, Karnataka has the geographically largest area. The Western Ghats and Malnad (hilly) region are 20 per cent and 80 per cent of the region is arid and semi-arid.

Because of reckless destruction of vegetation, the lack of environment assessment and establishment of ‘red category’ industries there has been a rise in temperature.

Karnataka is going to face a very huge crisis of floods, cyclones and cloud bursts. The climate change event is playing havoc in the total ecosystem and in isolation, Reddy explained.

“Western Ghats are a vital lifeline of Peninsular India, not only Karnataka. Now, the mining activity in Western Ghats, construction, deforestation, regularisation of encroachments is going on without restrictions,” he observed.

Added to that, the Centre has now relaxed the Environment Assessment rules and allowed MNCs to start industries. “If at all the community is affected and a complaint is raised, they will slap a fine and allow them to continue work. The situation today is that anyone can come and start any kind of industry,” he pointed out.

The polluting industries banned in European countries and America, are allowed to set up businesses here. The laws related to the environment are relaxed and desertification is taking place already.

“The land is going to become a desert. The trees which are 500 or 1,000-years-old are cut. There is no monitoring. Only satellite images are used. The agencies will not allow the release of genuine satellite imagery,” Reddy explained.

According to him, meteorological study reveals the dramatic changes in the rainfall pattern and Monsoon patterns due to which agricultural activities are also affected. Borewell irrigation has already exploited the underground water and reached the fossil water which is 1,000 to 1,500 feet deep. “The water we are using for drinking and farming is nearly 1,000-year-old water, which is called fossil water and that is also nearly exhausted,” he stated.

Thousands of acres of land in Karnataka have already become useless and data is available for every district but none of these things are considered during policy-making.

“The politicians are busy grabbing power, no one is bothered about what is happening to the land, water and air,” Reddy lamented.

Source: IANS

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Guwahati/Agartala, Nov 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) Though the northeast region, which covers 8 per cent of the country’s total geographical area, has around 65 per cent of the region’s 2,62,179 sq km area under forest cover but the region according to experts would not be spared from the effects of the changing climate and global warming.

Once considered as a biodiversity hotspot, the northeast region comprising eight states, earlier received one of the highest rainfall in the country and was a top humid region of India.

Experts said that besides the effects of climate change and global warming, gradual declining of the forest cover and the number of water bodies, increasing urbanisation, expansion of human habitations, indiscriminate implementation of developmental projects and other activities are adversely affecting all aspects of human life, wildlife and nature.

Climate change and global warming have also adversely affected tea plantations in Assam, Tripura and other states for the last few years, experts said and said that without irrigation, tea plantations are finding it difficult to survive.

The tea industry is the biggest organised industry in Assam and Tripura.

Assam, which produces roughly 55 per cent of India's tea, has more than 10 lakh tea workers in the organised sector, working in about 850 big estates. Besides, there are lakhs of small tea gardens owned by individuals.

After Assam, Tripura is the second largest producer of tea in the northeastern region, producing around 10 million kg of tea annually on an area of 6,885 hectares.

Dr P Soman, agronomist and plant physiology expert, said that climate change is one of the top five challenges for the tea industry in Assam.

Noting that tea plantations are highly climate dependent, Soman, as a key speaker at a recent workshop in Assam’s Golaghat, explained “how changes in agronomy help micro irrigation technology to enhance crop performance.”

Various official and unofficial studies revealed that between 2001 and 2021, the northeast region witnessed the highest loss of forest cover.

According to India State of Forest Report 2021 (ISFR 2021), the forest cover in the 140 hill districts of the country has shown a decrease of 902 sq km (0.32 per cent) with all eight states of the northeast region, specially in the mountainous districts, also showing a decline.

Arunachal Pradesh, that has 16 hill districts, has shown a loss of 257 sq km forest cover compared to a 2019 assessment followed by Assam's three hill districts (- 107 sq km), Manipur's nine hill districts (- 249 sq kms), Mizoram's eight hill districts (- 186 sq km), Meghalaya's seven hill districts (- 73 km), Nagaland's 11 districts (- 235 sq km), Sikkim's four districts (- 1 sq km), and Tripura's four districts (- 4 sq kms).

The total forest cover in the northeastern region is 1,69,521 sq km, which is 64.66 per cent of its total geographical area.

Incidentally, Assam, as a whole, has shown smaller negative change (- 15 sq km) compared to just three of its hill districts (- 107 sq km).

Experts said that the climate of the mountainous northeast region of India is changing with the rainfall patterns over the region in the last century having considerably altered, resulting in its overall drying up.

As per the Climate Vulnerability Assessment in 2018, among the eight northeastern states, Assam and Mizoram have been identified as the states most vulnerable to climate change.

Centre for Aquatic Research and Environment (CARE) Secretary and environment expert Apurba Kumar Dey said that as the effects of climate change are sweeping and multifarious, the government and all other stakeholders in close association with the people must jointly come forward to mitigate the situation.

Dey told IANS: “People living in remote and hilly areas, tribals, poor and vulnerable people, farmers are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis. From rice to tea, farming across the board has been affected by variations in temperature and rainfall, causing distress to the concerned people directly and the others indirectly.”

Principal Scientist of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Sankar Prasad Das. said that extreme events of climate change including excessive rainfall, frequent floods, increase in the number of dry days and rainless days, repeated cyclones and hailstorm in a short period are more challenging and disastrous.

“Though the overall rainfall pattern in the region has not yet changed much, the distribution of rainfall has changed in the region. For some of the effects of climate change including rising temperatures, science and scientific arrangements are ready to tackle the situation for the next many years, but for the extreme events of climate change, we are not prepared,” Das told IANS.

He said that many crop varieties have been developed to sustain the rising temperatures and floods in a limited sphere.

Das said that in India there is only 50 per cent cultivable land under irrigation while 35 to 40 per cent cultivable land in the northeastern region is irrigated.

India’s northeastern region, home to 45.58 million people (2011 census), bounded by many beautiful hills with the sun rising amidst a valley, clouds floating by your side, the greenery rich area has something extraordinary to experience.

However, in the near future climatic conditions and the overall environmental milieu would face a serious threat in the northeastern region.

In the four-month long (June to September) southwest monsoon three of the eight states of the region -- Assam, Manipur and Mizoram -- witnessed deficient rainfall due to lack of rain-bearing clouds and monsoon troughs from the Bay of Bengal.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), of the four IMD regions across the country, the northeast region has recorded 82 per cent rainfall in this year’s monsoon period.

Experts said that as per the long period average estimation, during the past three to four years, though the northeastern states witnessed normal rainfall, uneven distribution of monsoon rain has affected various crops in the region where agriculture is the mainstay.

According to the IMD data, Assam, Manipur and Mizoram during this year’s monsoon witnessed deficient rainfall while five other northeastern states -- Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Sikkim and Tripura -- have experienced normal rainfall since the southwest monsoon began in June.

In Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura, there is 12 per cent to 16 per cent deficient rainfall while in Sikkim, 5 per cent excess rain has been recorded since June.

As per the IMD norms, up to 19 per cent deficient or excess rainfall is categorised as normal.

The IMD data revealed that in Manipur, there is 46 per cent deficiency, in Mizoram the shortage of rainfall has been recorded at 28 per cent, while Assam recorded 20 per cent deficit monsoon rain since June.

Senior technical officer in the Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa under the ICAR, Dhiman Daschaudhuri said that rainfall in the four-month-long monsoon period in the northeastern region was more or less normal for the past few years, but proper distribution of rain has become a factor for agriculture.

“We have observed that there are dry spells at the beginning of the monsoon, affecting the seedling of the seasonal crops. Subsequently, sufficient or excess rain occurred. The imbalance of the monsoon rain affects the timely sowing of different varieties of rice and other crops,” Daschaudhuri told IANS.

He said sometimes after the dry spell, cyclone-triggered rain benefits cropping in the region.

(Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in)

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference or COP28 hosted by the United Arab Emirates in Dubai will take place between November 30 and December 12 in the backdrop of recent unprecedented heatwaves, droughts, floods and wildfires that have wreaked havoc, especially in climate-vulnerable countries.

The scientific community says these extreme weather events reinforce just how urgent it is for the world to tackle the climate crisis, improve people’s lives and livelihoods and to keep 1.5 degrees Celsius alive through net-zero economy transition.

COP28 brings together world leaders, policymakers, scientists, and stakeholders from across the globe for course-correct by deliberating on strategies and commitments that will shape the future of our planet.

Forests are an integral part of the climate solution as they contain 662 billion tonnes of carbon, which is more than half of the global carbon stock in soils and vegetation.

Greenhouse gas levels have hit a record high again.

According to a new report from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations were a full 50 per cent above the pre-industrial era for the first time in 2022 and there is no end in sight to the rising trend.

Methane concentrations also grew, and levels of nitrous oxide, the third main gas, saw the highest year-on-year increase on record from 2021 to 2022, according to the ‘Greenhouse Bulletin’, which is published to inform people about the COP28 negotiations.

“Despite decades of warnings from the scientific community, thousands of pages of reports and dozens of climate conferences, we are still heading in the wrong direction,” WMO Secretary-General Professor Petteri Taalas said.

A latest report from UN Climate Change finds national climate action plans remain insufficient to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement -- the landmark climate treaty concluded in 2015.

Even with increased efforts by some countries, the report shows much more action is needed now to bend the world’s emissions trajectory further downward and avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

“Today’s (November 14) report shows that governments combined are taking baby steps to avert the climate crisis. And it shows why governments must make bold strides forward at COP28 in Dubai, to get on track,” said the Executive-Secretary of UN Climate Change, Simon Stiell.

“This means COP28 must be a clear turning point. Governments must not only agree what stronger climate actions will be taken but also start showing exactly how to deliver them.”

The latest science from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicates that greenhouse gas emissions need to be cut 43 per cent by 2030, compared to 2019 levels. This is critical to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees by the end of this century and avoid the worst impacts of climate change, including more frequent and severe droughts, heatwaves and rainfall.

The world is failing to get a grip on the climate crisis, warned UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Global ambition stagnated over the past year and national plans are strikingly misaligned with science, he said. “COP28 must be the place to urgently close the climate ambition gap.”

From the base of Mt. Everest on October 30, the UN chief issued a strong call, “The world cannot wait!”

“We cannot address climate catastrophe without tackling its root cause: fossil fuel dependence,” he said in response to a report showing increasing fossil fuel production.

The UN has been bringing together almost every country on earth for global climate summits -- called COPs -- which stands for ‘Conference of the Parties’. This process led to the landmark Paris Agreement.

Climate extremes, whether multi-year droughts or extreme floods, are affecting every major food-producing region and are threatening agricultural productivity, reducing food security, disrupting food supply chains and eroding the livelihoods of billions of people.

A report from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Center for Environmental Information states after the warmest October last month, the 174-year global climate record, there is a 99 per cent chance that 2023 will set a new annual record.

The current hottest year on record is 2016. Seven of the past 10 years are on the list of warmest years on record.

Over the past year, Canada’s unprecedented forest blaze is perhaps the most severe. Wildfires release methane, which accelerates climate change.

Another warning comes in the run-up to COP28 by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is that sand and dust storms are an under-appreciated problem now “dramatically” more frequent in some places worldwide, with at least 25 per cent of the phenomenon attributed to human activities.

With impacts far beyond the source regions, an estimated 2 billion tonnes of sand and dust now enters the atmosphere every year, an amount equal in weight to 350 Great Pyramids of Giza.

In some areas, desert dust doubled in the last century.

With the ongoing severe floods in the Horn of Africa, worsened by El Niño, at least 7,00,000 people have been displaced.

A new study from McGill University researchers, in collaboration with researchers in Spain, Mexico, Portugal, Denmark, Australia, South Africa and other universities in Canada, investigates the importance of temperature in determining where animal species are currently found to better understand how a warming climate might impact where they might live in the future.

To find out, the researchers tested the role of temperature as a factor that could limit a species’ potential habitat range.

They compared the temperatures and areas where 460 cold-blooded animal species currently, live to the temperatures and areas where they could live, based on their tolerance to temperatures.

They found that, unlike species living in the ocean, land animals such as reptiles, amphibians and insects have habitat ranges that are less directly impacted by temperature.

The higher a species is in latitude, the lower its tendency to live in areas near the equator with temperatures they could tolerate, the researchers say. This means that, instead of tolerance to temperature, negative interactions with other species -- like with competitors or parasites -- could be what keep these species away from this potential habitat.

Let’s work together to make COP28 the turning point to course-correct -- not too late to bring the world back on the 1.5-degree path.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at gulatiians@gmail.com)

Source: IANS

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Bhubaneswar, Nov 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) Owing to its proximity to the Bay of Bengal, Odisha has been bearing the brunt of climate change with the regular occurrence of devastating tropical cyclones, increasing volume of lightning, irregular rainfall and coastal erosion.

"With over 480 km of coastline, Odisha is in a precarious position when it comes to the impact of climate change," says the Odisha State Action Plan on Climate Change (Phase-II).

The document also mentions that Odisha's coast is vulnerable to cyclones as well as chronic problems associated with shore erosion, coastal flooding, storm surge and inundation.

Studies conducted by several other reputed government and non-government organisations have also echoed the same warning that large parts of coastal Odisha under Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore districts are at greater risk of deluge and inundation due to erosion of coastal lands.

"Many coastal villages in Kendrapara, Ganjam and Puri districts are experiencing increased levels of inundation and storm flooding, accelerated coastal erosion, seawater intrusion into freshwater, including groundwater and encroachment of tidal waters into river systems. All these lead to multiple displacements and the poor living on the margins of subsistence are forced into greater poverty," said popular environmentalist and researcher, Ranjan Panda.

Those living in the sea coast have been facing acute shortage of drinking water, the loss of their livelihoods as huge patches of arable lands were eaten away by the rising sea waves.

While sharing her ordeal, an elderly Bengalata Rout of Tandahar village in Astaranga block of Puri district, said, "In my younger days, the villagers had to cover a long distance to go to the sea for fishing or any other work. But, now the sea has come so close to our village that we are staring at displacement. Around 20 to 30 acre of agricultural land where we used to grow rice and other crops have been submerged in sea during the last couple of years."

On the other hand, the Tandahar village with a population of around 1,000 persons has only one handpump for drinking water.

The situation is more precarious in Udayakani village of the same block as the residents have been buying drinking water from a place around four to five km far. Piped drinking water supply is a distant dream for the residents of these two villages.

"We are living a miserable life after the destructive super cyclone in 1999. Since then, the sea waves continue to expand inundating our land with every passing year. We have already been displaced twice due to the shore erosion. All our agricultural lands are either submerged or filled with salt water and sand forcing us to work as daily labourers in nearby villages," said Siba Pradhan of Udayakani.

The forest department officials have been planting casuarinas and mangrove trees to create artificial jungles at regular intervals but their efforts are not yielding satisfactory results due to the lack of proper care, Pradhan alleged.

The womenfolk of the area and some local activists are taking up the task of creating jungles in the area. The women residents of Tandahar led by Swain have been planting mangroves and casuarinas trees in the area to check erosion.

Swain also said that unless the government starts massive plantations of the mangroves and casuarinas or Jhaun trees along the coast, it is difficult to check soil erosion.

"Such situations are already forcing many people to migrate out to miserable conditions. We urgently need rehabilitation policies for supporting these climate migrants and displaced people so that their right to life with dignity is protected," said Panda.

Source: IANS

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Jaipur, Nov 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) As the world eagerly awaits the COP28 climate negotiations, the small but significant initiatives taken by the ‘Treeman’ and the ‘Waterman’ of Rajasthan are worth discussing here as they have brought phenomenal changes in a desert state at a time when climate change and its effect are clearly evident.

Himmat Ram Bhambhu, also known as ‘Treeman’, was awarded the Padma Shri in 2021 by the President for his social and environmental work.

Bhambhu is a farmer and environmentalist, who works selflessly for the protection of nature. He has planted around 5.5 lakh saplings throughout Rajasthan of which 3.5 lakh have grown into trees, generating oxygen worth Rs 12 billion for the people.

Bhambhu, who hails from Nagaur district in Rajasthan takes pride in his work and urges people to start caring for the environment, else they will face the consequences of not caring for the planet by the year 2040.

"The rising temperatures across the world due to global warming are a warning sign for all. Every person might have to carry oxygen 24x7 if the current trend of depletion of the green cover continues," he told IANS.

Bhambhu has converted his six-hectare piece of land into a jungle by planting 11,000 trees. Now there are 300 peacocks and hundreds of deer and other animals on this land.

"Even the peepal tree which my grandmother inspired me to grow has spread wide and large, allowing around 500 people to sit under it. We celebrate its birthday each year by lighting diyas around it," he said.

Bhambhu is 71 now, but there is no lack of energy in him and he aims to plant 2 lakh more trees.

"While a person normally lives till 80, a peepal tree can live for 700 years while many other trees also live for around hundreds of years. So, we all should try to grow one sapling into a tree," he said, adding, "We have ensured that we plant one tree on the birth of each child in our village and name it after the baby so that his/her name lives on for hundreds of years."

Bhambhu also has issues with bursting crackers during Divali. "When we were kids, we used firecrackers in limited numbers. But over the years, factories producing crackers have mushroomed with the sky turning into a smoke chamber during Diwali, posing health hazards to people, especially the children and the elderly. Is this the way to celebrate festivals," he asked.

"I have made 2.5 lakh children take a pledge to shun crackers during Diwali. Instead, they can light diyas and distribute clothes and sweets to the poor by saving the money they spend on crackers," he added.

While the work of this ‘Treeman’ is garnering accolades across the state, the ‘Waterman’ Rajendra Singh from Alwar has also made significant contributions. He understands the impending water crisis.

Popularly known as the ‘Waterman of India’, Singh has dedicated his life to the conservation of water bodies. Born in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, Singh, and is a trained Ayurvedic medicine practitioner who started his career with the Education Department in Jaipur, Rajasthan

In Jaipur, he also started working with Tarun Bharat Sangh (TBS), an NGO formed by officers and students of the university.

During his work with TBS, Singh got to learn about the struggles of the people of rural Rajasthan, and in 1984 decided to leave his government job to work for the betterment of their lives.

One of his first learnings was how borewells were adversely impacting the water cycle. As people started depending more and more on borewells to irrigate their land instead of the traditional johad, which were used to harvest rainwater and subsequently recharge the water table, the groundwater levels dropped.

Singh's message of water conservation using traditional techniques has since spread beyond Alwar and Rajasthan to across the world.

The ‘Waterman of India’ has been recognised globally for his work with honours including the 2001 Ramon Magsaysay Award For Community Leadership and the 2015 Stockholm Water Prize, known as "the Nobel Prize for water" to name a few.

Besides these two activists there are many heroes who are transforming lives of millions by weaving the stories of sustainability and nature protection.

Piplantri sarpanch is yet another figure who turned a barren area into a forest with 3 lakh trees. Shyam Sundar Paliwal pledged to plant 111 trees for every girl child born in Piplantri Village in Rajasthan. Today his promise has turned into an entire forest.

While such heroes continue working for nature, climate change and its effects are clearly visible in Rajasthan, causing worries for many. The rainfall has increased more than the average in the last few years. The pre-monsoon rains this year was 312 per cent more than the average season from March-May this year.

Once infamous for its dry weather, the desert state now receives erratic rainfall, which has even led to flooding a few times.

This year, the state saw 95.5 mm of rain from March 1, 2023 to May 31, 2023 while in general there is about 4.8 per cent of annual rainfall recorded in the pre-monsoon season in Rajasthan.

Surprisingly, May rainfall smashed a 105-year-old record, as it rained 62.4 mm in the entire month which is 458 per cent more than usual.

Also, the desert areas in the western part of the state have started receiving maximum rainfall in the once arid zones.

West Rajasthan in fact received more rain than east Rajasthan this year. It needs to be mentioned here that most of western Rajasthan is a desert with a long history of drought.

As per the state weather department, all 33 districts of the state received much more rain than usual, that is, more than 60 per cent rainfall. Bikaner city in fact broke all old records with 72.8 mm of rainfall on May 29, 2023.

In 2017, the state suffered heavy losses due to floods after heavy rains, as the people of Rajasthan know how to deal with droughts but are unprepared for flooding. Even the state’s disaster management plan did not include floods.

Incidences of flooding in the state have only increased since then. There was excess rainfall of 141 per cent in the monsoon of 2019. In the monsoon season of 2021, Rajasthan received 117 per cent excess rainfall. September 2021 witnessed 176 per cent excess rainfall than average.

Congress MLA Bharat Singh expressed concern on the changing landscape in the state and said, “There are many hills which have gone missing in the state. In fact, on the other hand, hills have been created on the plains by the locals by dumping garbage.”

Speaking to IANS, Singh said, “We recently saw cracks wreaking havoc in Joshimath in Uttarakhand. This story can be repeated in Rajasthan too. It is sad that governments realise the gravity of the issue when the situation goes out of control. The illegal mining in the state has thrown many challenges, however, everyone seems to be sitting with folded hands. They will wake up from their slumber when disaster strikes.”

“The entire ecology has changed in the region. The sad part is that such facts are being reviewed under an economic lens, keeping monetary prospects in mind and hence everyone has joined hands in this illegal act… Unitedly, they are exploiting the hills till they disappear”, he added.

Source: IANS

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Guwahati, Nov 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) A large chunk of the population in Assam is breathing toxic air, with Guwahati topping the chart of the highest polluted cities in the state and also having one of the highest black carbon emissions in the country.

The idea of clear blue skies and clean air in this part of the country is in danger as a result of the ongoing problem of air pollution in Assam and other northeastern states, according to a new warning from the Delhi-based Centre of Science and Environment.

Assam's five non-attainment cities -- Guwahati, Nagaon, Silchar, Sivasagar and Nalbari -- have been identified by the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP). These cities' pollution levels are higher than the recommended air quality guidelines.

Accordingly, the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) has been initiated to develop action plans to bring down the fine particulate matter (like PM10 and PM2.5) by 20-30 per cent within a stipulated time frame.

An emission inventory study has been initiated for Guwahati city, wherein the contribution of pollutants from different sectors like commercial, transportation, domestic and industrial sources shall be estimated.

Black carbon is just next to carbon dioxide in global warming potential and has an effect on global climate.

Rajarshi Sharma, a research scholar of the Air & Noise Research Lab of IIT Guwahati headed by Prof. Sharad Gokhale, studied emission levels of black carbon and found that fossil fuel burning (from transportation, industries, kerosene lamps for lighting in residential use) is responsible for about 60 per cent of black carbon emission, while biomass burning (from firewood for residential use, cropland burning, forest fires, slash burning) contribute to about 40 per cent.

The total emission of black carbon is about 19.38 Gigagram (Gg) during 2018-19, of which 3.38 Gg is from Kamrup Metropolitan district only, which is also the highest black carbon emitting district.

The unplanned and open burning of solid waste disposal within the municipal boundary is the other factor hurting Guwahati. The quantity of harmful chemicals and black carbon released by burning waste materials is something that most people are unaware of.

According to a state government official, Guwahati has one of the highest levels of black carbon pollution in the world, which is concerning.

In a study conducted close to Guwahati's metropolitan highways, Ardhendu Shekhar Chaudhury, another researcher from IIT-G, discovered that the average amount of black carbon present at the breathing level during the winter is roughly 32 micrograms per cubic meter.

Prof Gokhale told IANS that the air pollution scenario in Assam is not as grave as Delhi today but is certainly alarming as the levels of fine particles are rising.

“There is a need for public awareness of its harmful health effects and practically adaptable solutions to reduce the particle levels and minimize the damage to human health as well as the climate of the region,” he added.

In the hills and valleys of the northeastern states, the high levels of air pollution brought on by widespread motorization, traffic jams, and the usage of solid fuel are creating a public health emergency. Even worse, despite a slow worsening in air quality, little public attention has been drawn to it as of yet.

The wintertime air pollution in Guwahati is on par with that of several other Uttar Pradesh cities. Even smaller cities have substantial levels of pollution.

According to Parthankar Choudhury, a professor of ecology and environmental science at Assam University in Silchar, the amount of particle matter in the ambient air has been increasing over time.

“More research projects need to be carried out on the respiratory distress and other health ailments caused due to air pollution,” he added.

In the present scenario, various construction works are going on in and around Guwahati, which may be responsible for the increase in concentrations of PM10.

However, this increase is temporary in nature because, after the completion of the construction works, e.g., a flyover, the vehicle flow will be smooth with less congestion which will eventually lead to lesser pollutant levels in the long run.

Source: IANS

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Patna, Nov 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) If you are a resident of Patna and are planning to go for a morning walk, it would not be a good idea given the hazardous air quality of the city. The Air Quality Index (AQI) of Patna is the worst, not only in the country but in the world, this winter season.

The worst part is that the government and its agencies have no plan to tackle this worrying situation.

There are various factors that are impacting the AQI of Patna, but the major reason is corruption in the construction of roads and colonies in this unplanned city.

“In Patna, the majority of roads are made of cement, concrete and sand and as the contractors have used low quality material, these roads have deteriorated and the surface is covered with a kind dust. As a result, every time vehicles ply on those roads, the dust rises and adds to the air pollution,” said Shashi Bhushan Singh, a resident of RK Puram, Danapur.

Add to this the fact that Patna has developed in an unplanned manner and as a result it lacks a green cover.

Central Patna is considered the heart of the city and places like Boring Road, Boring Canal Road, Buddha Colony, Rajapur, Mainpura, Digha, Dujra, Mandiri, Basghat, Lodipur, Sabjibagh, Lohanipur, Kadam Kuan, Agam Kuan, Gaighat, Guljarbag, Patna City and Maroofganj in East Patna are densely populated.

All available land has been acquired and no space has been left for growing trees or plants.

This is because Government agencies such as Bihar Rajya Awas Board, Patna Municipal Corporation and the Ministry of Urban Affairs have completely failed to develop this city in a planned manner and are busy earning revenue through the registration of plots and houses.

Plus, the government agencies have allowed people to develop unauthorised colonies without proper planning, drainage systems and water pipelines.

Due to this unrestricted growth, the Patliputra Industrial Area now comes in the heart of the city.

“Apart from the four-lane Ganga Path, Atal Path and AIIMS-Digha elevated roads the Bihar Government has not made any new roads in the city. As a result there are major traffic jams as the number of vehicles keeps increasing each year and the roads remain the same,” said Shivani Jain, a resident of Boring Road, Patna.

“Now, with Bihar experiencing an early onset of winter, with the minimum temperature falling to 10-15 degree Celsius at night, the pollution hangs low due to the cold air. And as there are very few trees and plants in the city, the natural adsorbents of the pollutants are also missing. So this mix of vehicular emissions, dust pollution and cold air creates smog that hangs over the city in the mornings and evenings,” Jain said.

As a result of all these factors, the AQI of Patna reached 589 on Friday morning which is extremely hazardous for humans and animals alike.

In fact, the plummeting AQI in Patna was worse than that of Delhi by more than 100 points as the national Capital’s AQI was at 476 on Friday morning.

Not only Patna, four more cities of Bihar are in the top 10 in the list of most polluted cities in the country. Bhagalpur registered an AQI of 388, Rajgir 374, Saharsa 353 and Begusarai 340. These numbers are also considered to be harmful for human and animal health.

With the city lacking a green cover that acts as a natural adsorbent of pollutants the civic bodies are going for man-made solutions.

“As the AQI is worsening in the city, we are using anti-smog guns and water sprinkling equipment to minimise air pollution. The Patna Municipal Corporation has 12 anti-smog guns and 13 water sprinkling guns. We have directed the operators to use these machines for at least four hours in two shifts in every circle of the state capital,” said Animesh Parashar, Commissioner, Patna Municipal Corporation.

“As the wind speed also increases in the city, it allows dust to mix in the air. We are sprinkling water on the roads as well as on trees and footpaths to reduce threats,” Parashar added.

AQI from 0 to 50 is considered ‘good’, from 51 to 100 it is considered ‘moderate’, from 101 to 150 is ‘unhealthy’ for sensitive groups, from 151 to 200 it is ‘unhealthy’ for all groups, from 201 to 300 it is considered ‘very unhealthy’ while from 301 to 400 it is in the ‘severe’ category and from 401 to 500 it is in the ‘hazardous’ category for everyone.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) The island city of Mumbai, along with western India, increasingly faces threats from climate change including rising sea levels and a significant increase in mean temperatures predicted over the next 75 years, or by the end of the century.

The city has witnessed increased rainfall, excessive flooding with frequency of extreme weather events like heat waves, partly due to rising temperatures and more precipitation, plus the urban ‘heat island effect’ where urban centres become considerably warmer than their rural surroundings due to human activities, experts said.

On August 5, 2020, south Mumbai experienced heavy floods with 225 mm rainfall in just 10 hours, the highest single day downpour for the month since 1974.

The BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) received flak for the unprecedented waterlogging in areas like Churchgate, Nariman Point, Marine Drive, with fingers pointed at the Mumbai Coastal Road Project and the Colaba-SEEPZ fully underground Mumbai Metro line.

These are believed to have choked the drainage lines of the 140-year-old British-era drainage systems that serve Mumbai, which are now overburdened due to unplanned development and reduced green spaces.

Scientists at ASAR Social Impact Advisors grimly said that the projections for Maharashtra and western India point to an increase of temperatures by 1 degree C to 2 degrees C in the coming years with more 'rainy days’, and pose significant challenges to agriculture, urban infrastructure and natural ecosystems.

Maharashtra has witnessed many noteworthy climate anomalies in recent years triggered by the impact of climate change, as a few examples denote.

In monsoon 2021, the state recorded an estimated 10,000 landslides, as per a quick assessment of the Advanced Centre for Water Resources Development and Management, Pune, commissioned by the UNICEF, Maharashtra office and the state Disaster Management Authority.

The landslides, big and small, were reported in the coastal regions of Mumbai, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Satara and Pune owing to incessant rainfall, rapid soil erosion as some areas received 100 mm rainfall within five hours over a fortnight. The study noted that the landslides in these areas have been increasing exponentially since 2011.

The state has recorded 600-900 percent excess rainfall in several districts leading to severe floods in Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Pune, Satara and Kolhapur.

In 2021, Ratnagiri broke a 40-year-old record getting 1,781 mm downpour in three weeks starting July 1, surpassing the month’s average of 973 mm, while Mahabaleshwar hill station was lashed by 1,075 mm rain on July 22-23, Mumbai and its suburbs witnessed floods due to heavy rain, six-seven times the normal daily average. These are part of a broader trend of the changing monsoon patterns in the country.

On July 19, 2023 Raigad’s tiny village Irshalwadi on a hillslope was wiped off the face of the earth after a major hillslide following torrential rain of 400 mm in barely 24 hours.

This caused the entire semi-barren hilltop to crash onto the village, burying nearly half of the village’s 25 homes. Similar tragedies in Raigad have claimed more than 300 lives in the past 17 years, including Taliye and Jui villages, owing to reduced greenery, tree-cover and consequently soil degradation as the key triggers.

At the other extreme, the rain-fed agriculture dependent Marathwada and Vidarbha regions were plagued by drought-like conditions owing to significant variations in rainfall patterns.

ASAR experts say that upto 85 percent of the state’s farmers depend on rainfall, but one-third of the state falls under the semi-arid climatic zone where drought hits around once in a decade.

However, the situation has worsened in the past few years owing to plummeting groundwater levels, acute water shortages and severe crop losses in both the Kharif and Rabi seasons, hitting agriculture, domestic food needs, livestock and the livelihood of thousands of poor and marginal farmers.

Nevertheless, the region still relies heavily on water from dams which is either expensive or inaccessible to many tillers, leading to over exploitation of other sources like groundwater that create fresh complications.

In June 2020, the devastating Cyclone Nisarga with wind speeds touching 120 kmph, lashed coastal Maharashtra with landfall at Raigad, but Mumbai escaped its fury by a whisker.

Cyclone Nisarga wreaked havoc and reinforced the urgent need for climate adaptation and resilience in urban and environmental planning for coastal megacities exposed to rising sea levels, high population with vulnerability to floods and ecological degradation.

The Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC) has noted that by 2070, port cities like Mumbai could be risks in terms of population and assets exposed to coastal flooding due to rapid warming of the Arabian Sea, making it more conducive to cyclone formation and potentially resulting in an increase in the number of cyclones here.

While the Mumbai Climate Action Plan (MCAP) has been initiated to make the city ‘climate-resilient’, experts and critics point out gaps in MCAP and the BMC’s budget, and the need for more comprehensive and effective measures to address the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, Nov 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) West Bengal might be adversely impacted in a number of ways in the coming days because of climate change. However, of all the effects of climate change on the state, the two most serious will be the impact on the coastlines and the loss of species.

These are some of the findings in the 6th assessment report presented by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

According to Dr Anjal Prakash, research director with the Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business and also one of the writers of the assessment paper, considering that West Bengal has a massive coastline, the rising sea levels due to climate change could lead to coastal erosion in a big way.

“This could have significant implications for communities living along the coast, as well as for infrastructure and the economy there,” he added.

His observations on coastline erosion have been supplemented in the findings of the assessment report which said that at 63 per cent, West Bengal recorded maximum coastline erosion among all coastal Indian states between 1990 and 2016.

Climatologists like Joyashree Roy and environmental activists like SM Ghosh say that instead of realizing the danger of coastline erosion because of climate change, certain groups having vested interest in the coastal areas of the state are adding to the looming danger on this count in connivance with a section within the administration.

According to them, arbitrary real-estate development flouting all norms had been a major contributing factor adding to the crisis of coastal erosion.

The fact that rampant and arbitrary tourism-related real estate activities had been hampering the natural ecological ambience in the coastal areas of West Bengal was observed in a recent verdict by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which ordered the immediate demolition of a private resort at Dulki Village under Gosaba, one of the main deltaic islands in the Sundarbans region in South 24 Parganas.

While passing that order, the NGT observed that the said resort built in the critically-vulnerable coastal area was constructed by clearly violating the prescribed norms under the coastal regulation zone notification on this count.

“The Dulki incident is not a one-off case and throughout the coastal belts of West Bengal, especially those having tourist appeal, such violations are quite rampant. Unfortunately, the sufferers are not those who are actually adding to this danger of coastline erosion. The sufferers are those residing in the coastal areas and are dependent on the coast for their livelihood,” Ghosh said.

Climatologists and environment scientists say that another impact of climate change in West Bengal will be on public health and on agriculture production, considering the change in precipitation patterns in the state during the last few years where prolonged dry-heat spells have replaced the humidity factor.

The prolonged heat waves, according to climatologists, might pose health risks for vulnerable sections of the population.

As regards to the impact on agriculture products, that will be because of the non-conventional rainfall witnessed during the last couple of years in the state, where first there was a rainfall deficit during the peak seasons of Aman and Aus paddy production in June and July and then there was excess of autumnal rain in September and October when the sowed crops were ready to bear seeds.

Climatologists are apprehensive that since West Bengal is highly dependent on rainfall for farming activities, the changes in the precipitation patterns might lead to water scarcity during the peak farming seasons, which could have significant implications for farming, which is a major source of livelihood for many people in the state. Non-conventional rains will further add to the problem.

Economists are of the opinion that the impact of these vagaries of nature impacting paddy production could be felt in two ways, the first being an inevitable increase in the price of rice in the open market and the second being the negative impact on the livelihood of the sharecroppers

Source: IANS

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