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General Studies 3 >> Enivornment & Ecology

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1.5 DEGREE CELSIUS TARGET

1.5 DEGREE CELSIUS TARGET

 

1. Context

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released two reports titled “Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update 2023-­2027” and “State of Global Climate 2022.” The decadal predictions of the WMO said that the annual mean global surface temperature between 2023 and 2027 will be 1.1-1.8 degree Celsius higher than the baseline temperature of 1850-­1900 or pre­industrial levels. In 2022, it was 1.15 degrees above the baseline, and by 2027, the average will exceed 1.5 degrees, a critical point beyond which there may be no return.

2. What is the 1.5 Degree Celsius Target?

  • The 1.5 degree Celsius target is the global climate target that aims to limit warming to said level by 2100, to prevent the planet from slipping into further climate crises.
  • For decades, 2 degrees was an acceptable level of warming. The idea of 1.5 degrees was perceived as unrealistic and unachievable.
  • However, the 2-degree target was unacceptable to small island countries as it implied that their survival was compromised.
  • In 2010, at the Cancun COP16, countries agreed to limit global average warming to below 2 degrees Celsius.
  • In 2015, the parties to the Paris Agreement pledged to limit the average temperature rise to below 2 degrees, while actively aiming for 1.5 degrees above pre­industrial levels.
  • This was endorsed as a global target by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2018 and has been pursued in all climate dialogues since then.

3. Why is the 1.5-degree target critical?

  • In 2018, the IPCC released a special report on the impact of global warming when the temperature reaches 1.5 degrees Celsius above baseline.
  • It also drew a comparison with the effects of 2-degree Celsius warming. It was estimated that anthropogenic activities would have already caused 1 degree of warming, likely to reach 1.5 degrees between 2030 and 2052 at the current rate.
  • Frequent and intense heat waves, droughts, heavy precipitation, an additional 10­ centimeter rise in sea level, destruction of ecosystems, and mostly irreversible changes can be witnessed at the 2-degree level.
  • However, discussions on the average temperature rise do not imply that global warming is uniform. For example, warming greater than the global average is being experienced in the Arctic, with the term ‘polar amplification’ gaining more traction.
  • The regional differences and the vulnerability factors spell more urgency for climate action which must limit the average planetary warming to 1.5 degrees.

4. Reasons for missing the targets

  • Historically, developed countries are responsible for a major chunk of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Therefore, they are expected to assume more responsibility and implement climate action.
  • However, the Climate Performance Index over the years has shown otherwise. Countries like Australia, the U.S., Japan, Russia, and Canada have made little progress in meeting their pledges.
  • Additionally, polluters like China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia rank low in climate performance.
  • The pandemic pushed the world into a socio­economic crisis. On the road to recovery, countries pledged measures to build­back.
  • However, in most cases, there is little to no consideration for building­back in a sustainable manner. The Ukraine conflict has further added to woes and sparked an energy crisis threatening climate goals.

5. Impacts on India

  • India has been increasingly facing the brunt of climate change.
  • February 2023 was recorded as the hottest month since record­keeping began in 1901. In 2022, India witnessed extreme weather events for 80% of the days.
  • Indian monsoons were wetter than usual last year after recording extreme heat during the pre­monsoon period, resulting in wildfires in Uttarakhand and acute food shortages.
  • According to the Climate Change Performance Index 2023, India ranked eighth with a high performance after Denmark, Sweden, Chile, and Morocco.
  • Being an emerging economy with development needs, it is attempting to balance its development needs with ongoing climate action both at the domestic and international levels.
  • With domestic measures like the Green Hydrogen Mission and the introduction of green bonds, India is performing fairly well despite contributing only a miniscule to cumulative GHG emissions.
  • At the international level, through the International Solar Alliance and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, India can prove to be a responsible climate player keeping in mind that it has a long way to go in very little time.
For Prelims: Intercontinental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Green House Gas (GHG) Emissions, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), State of Global Climate 2022, COP16, and Global warming.
For Mains: 1. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), recently released a report in Seoul highlighting the impacts that developing countries like India would face if global warming touches 2°C as compared to 1.5°C. Discuss what steps can be taken to mitigate the impacts of climate change on India. (250 Words)

Previous year Questions

1. With reference to the 'Global Climate Change Alliance', which of the following statements is/are correct? (UPSC 2017)
1. It is an initiative of the European Union.
2. It provides technical and financial support to targeted developing countries to integrate climate change into their development policies and budgets.
3. It is coordinated by World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 3 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A
 
2. With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in 2017
2. The Agreement aims to limit greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature by the end of this century does not exceed 2°C or even 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
3. Developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility in global warming and committed to donate $ 1000 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries to cope with climate change.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 1 and 3 only
B. 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: B
 
3. Consider the following statements : (UPSC 2022)
1. "The Climate Group" is an international non-profit organization that drives climate action by building large networks and runs them.
2. The International Energy Agency in partnership with the Climate Group launched a global initiative "EP100".
3. EP100 brings together leading companies committed to driving innovation in energy efficiency and increasing competitiveness while delivering on emission reduction goals.
4. Some Indian companies are members of EP100.
5. The International Energy Agency is the Secretariat to the "Under2 Coalition".
Which of the statements given above is correct?
A. 1, 2, 4 and 5
B. 1, 3, and 4 only
C. 2, 3, and 5 only
D. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Answer: B
Source: The Hindu

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