CLIMATE CHANGE

1. Context

2. Climate change

• Climate change is a global concern and requires a well-coordinated global approach to address it. In simple terms, what needs to be done is to assess and monitor the net stock of GHG (greenhouse gases) present in the atmosphere at any given time, and work out ways to reduce it. Unlike many pollutant gases that have a relatively shorter life span once emitted, GHG can remain in the atmosphere for a fairly long time. For instance, carbon dioxide, the major constituent of GHG, can remain in the atmosphere for as long as a thousand years. 
• Another aspect of this is the distance GHG can travel from the emitting source in the atmosphere. As compared to pollutant gases like sulfur dioxide, which can at best travel up to a few hundred kilometers, carbon dioxide can travel up to thousands of kilometers.
• So, while excessive sulfur dioxide emissions could cause acid rain (rainwater containing sulphuric acid) in areas near the emitting source, GHG could potentially impact climate in places far away from the source.

3. Discussions about Climate change

• The Industrial Revolution in the 19th century and industrialization in the world added to great volumes of GHG in the atmosphere over time. Unfortunately, the realization of their adverse impact o climate came quite late.
• International Climate change negotiations among different countries under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) framework started only in 1994.
• GHG targets discussed in the COP meeting under the UNFCCC framework largely focus on containing inflows of new emissions, which would add to the GHG stock already in the atmosphere.
• To address this, substantial financial resources and the latest technologies are required. Developed countries, which are responsible for creating this mess in the first place and have the better financial capacity and technological capability, have to bear the major burden for this. They need to provide funds for developing countries and facilitate technology transfers. This is the basic philosophy behind the "common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities" principle.
• In the COP meeting in Copenhagen in 2009, developed countries pledged to channel $ 100 billion a year to developing countries by 2020 to help them adapt to and mitigate climate change. Unfortunately, despite all the talk, this is not happening.

UNFCCC

4. Effects of climate change 

• Excessive hot weather, untimely and excessive rains, flooding, and extreme climatic conditions this year have affected people across the world.
• The poor and developing countries in Africa, South Asia, and Latin America suffer the most due to a lack of resources to deal with the problem. Even if these countries were to follow the emissions discipline strictly individually, they might still suffer the climate change consequences.
• When it comes to survival, there is little option for anyone but to take required precautionary or adaptive measures to the best of their capabilities.

5. India's Agenda

• India with 17.7 percent of the world's population, 30 percent of the world's cattle population, 2.4 percent of the world's surface area, 4 percent of the water resources, 55 percent of energy needs met by coal, and only $2,200 per capita per annum income, has its back against the wall while participating in international forums on climate change negotiations.
• India has shown leadership in declaring voluntary, ambitious NDCs in Paris, followed by bold commitments in COPs thereafter. This is likely to motivate others, especially developing countries, to follow.
• India should use its global stature, lobbying power, and leadership to take the bull by its horns- make developed countries do what they should rightly be doing, be it during the COP meetings on climate change or in other forms like G-20. As India takes over the G-20 presidency, this should be our main agenda.

G-20

For Prelims & Mains