Published in Dwarka Express on 28.5.23

The “climate” will never listen to homo sapiens, for sure!  The planet Earth is warming up. Sooner than later, the global temperature is likely to surge to record levels. The world meteorological department predicts that there is 66% chance that the annual average near surface temperature will be breaching the set goals by the Paris Agreement. It was decided during Paris Agreement that the global nations together would endeavour to keep the global temperature within 1.5 degree above the pre-Industrialization level. This ambitious target does not seem like achievable. Every year the global climate convention takes place, the latest being COP 27 at Egyptian coastal resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh from Nov. 6 to Nov. 18, 2022. The Conventions appeared to be not more than an annual ritual with most of the plenary sessions dedicated to climate related themes.

The global summit was in fact an opportunity for the world leaders to meet and discuss how to protect the planet from warming up due to human activities. There were many themes that included biodiversity, water, gender and transport. A thought was shared that the Climate change has brought to the forefront political agendas as floods, drought, wildfires and extreme weather conditions since these issues affect millions of people as well as economies of under developed countries. The cool phase of La Niña ended in March 2023 and the warming up phase of El Niño is forecast to develop in the coming months. Typically, El Niño increases global temperatures in the year after it develops and so it appears that it will increase pretty well by 2024.

By the way, India’s population breached the 1.42 billion mark to surpass Chinese population recently. We are No 1 in the world now. Is it an achievement to feel proud of? Growing population coupled with depleting natural resources pose a tough proposition to adhere to the global commitments which we have proudly declared in the global convention. Already we have expressed our inability to do away with diesel. How are we going to ensure that we will meet the targets of carbon neutrality or net zero initiatives. The challenges are going to be innumerable and how we are going to ensure protection of our natural wealth such as clean air, drinking water and the carbon sinks is a question which remains unanswered.