I recall commuting to college on a hot May afternoon from Andheri to Girgaum Chowpatty (for those unfamiliar with Mumbai, this consists of sweat-soaked bodies packed into crowded trains like sardines and often standing throughout). However, something felt unusual. As I stepped out, my skin burned, my head spun, and a hint of nausea lingered. Normally, I’d put this down to sluggishness or missed meals, but this was different. Back home, seeking refuge in my air-conditioned room and sipping a cold drink, I still had a fever from the heat exposure.
Later, I learned the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a heatwave alert for Mumbai and neighbouring districts in Maharashtra’s Konkan region. This marked the fourth heatwave warning this season for Mumbai. This is not just India’s exclusive dilemma. In Egypt, where I currently am, mandated power cuts are routine due to Misr’s high electricity demand straining the grid.
This isn’t just a personal anecdote; it’s a reminder of a planet on the brink of crisis. A study from July this year notes that climate change is making heat waves more common. The life-threatening heat waves that have baked US cities and inflamed European wildfires in recent weeks would be “virtually impossible” without the influence of human-caused climate change. Floods that soak towns, landslides that consume homes, and erratic monsoons that cast uncertainty over farmers’ livelihoods — all these incidents are connected to a climate crisis bound to happen.
So, how bad is the situation?
India is the 7th most affected nation in the world due to climate change as per the Global Climate Risk Index 2021, and the 5th most vulnerable as per the Environment think tank report. India’s net emissions are significant due to its large population – we are the third largest emitter in the world. The effect of this is the tragic deaths of thousands, the displacement of millions and significant damage to both infrastructure and ecosystems, and a loss of $87 billion every year in India
Which is why India has set its foot forward to try and mitigate these challenges.
India has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070; however, it did not meet a crucial objective set during the COP26 summit, which required countries to pledge attainment of this goal by 2050. India believes that it is more important for the developed countries to lay out a pathway to reduce such emissions, as its emissions per capita are much lower than theirs.
India even introduced the net-zero emissions bill in December 2022 to build a framework to achieve these goals. However, as several reports highlight, this bill was introduced as a private member’s bill rather than a public bill, whereby the likelihood of approval in parliament becomes low.
In November 2022, India presented a plan at the COP’27 in Sharm Sheikh, Egypt, which included increasing eco-friendly hydrogen, nuclear capacity by 2032, and much more. The country also revealed its approach to tackling climate change, called Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). These NDCs are like India’s playbook for fighting climate change.
In December 2022, Rajya Sabha approved the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, which authorises the central government to define a domestic carbon credit trading system and mandates significant energy consumers to fulfill a portion of their energy requirements from renewable sources. The bill seems futuristic and can play a critical role in achieving India’s climate goals.
While India’s Long-term Strategy for Low Carbon Development is being lauded, it is also being criticised as coal’s role remains significant in meeting India’s energy needs. India is definitely not taking the climate issue lightly, as is evident from the following. India set its sights on specific goals through its NDCs: boosting non-fossil energy and cutting emissions’ intensity by 2030. Remarkably, these goals weren’t just reached, they were outdone! By 2016, emissions had already dropped by a remarkable 24%. So, India wasn’t content; it went back to the drawing board in 2022 to set even more ambitious targets.
India’s role in the climate crisis narrative is pivotal, influencing global policy and responses. But as much as the world’s gaze is on India, it’s not a solo act. This is a story of interconnected nations, reducing the gaps between developed and underdeveloped countries while defending against an inevitable reckoning. It’s a story of floods, fires, heatwaves—they’re not separate events; they’re the chapters of a larger saga. As we grapple with their unfolding impact, we must forge ahead, not just for India, but for the entire planet.
Leave a Reply