Climate Science Comes of Age

It has been about half a century since the ozone problem gained global recognition. A large hole in the upper reaches of the atmosphere had come about, where a lack of an ozone layer was letting in harmful radiation onto the Earth. With many hits and misses, ups and downs, humanity did finally get its act together and the ozone hole is almost gone. A simple reminder that politicians can get difficult things done. 

Spillity Lyngdoh, the grand old lady of Domiasiat in Meghalaya, took on the combined might of the Meghalaya government and India’s public sector might; she succeeded in keeping them away from mining her lands and retaining their pristine nature. She saved her plot of land and the environment too but reduced India’s energy security. Emerging environment-economic face-offs will occur more and more frequently, forcing us to grapple with ourselves and what we desire. And only the brave will be able to withstand the pressure from India’s ever thirstier and hungrier economy.

More and more studies are finding that India can move away from fossil fuels to renewable energy plus battery-driven ones, and supply electricity at a cost lower than what consumers currently pay. And that this is all possible within the next decade or so. The key challenge now is not technology or economics, but finance.

The Chief Minister of Arunachal, Pema Khandu, and his government need to be congratulated for bringing out a comprehensive plan on how the ecologically sensitive Arunachal will tackle climate change. From a cursory reading, it appears a lot of what is planned is about mitigation or reducing the extent of change. Arunachal is not a small state (its area is more than one and a half times that of Punjab) but still, it can do significantly little fighting climate change. Its focus needs to be adaptation and saving what it can.

India has already announced the banning of selected plastic items over a three-year period, and now Japan is following suit. Plastic straws, knives folks are among the twelve items that businesses will need to do away with by next year. Unlike India historically, Japanese authorities are known not to give in easily to industry lobbies once a decision has been taken. But this is a new era, India or Japan, governments are coming under increasing pressure to make difficult decisions.

Berlin is considering what no other city globally has even dreamt of – banning private cars from its streets completely.  How would this work? A ban would work if cars are replaced by more public transport, more cycling tracks, and more pedestrianization. If we did this in India, it would also lead to greater street food, higher auto fares, and of course a sweatier society. On a serious note, Daimler Benz, BMW, and VW groups will be hit hard and may need to recalibrate their production line-ups towards cycles and footwear.

Some of the world’s topmost CEOs of companies including Unilever, H&M, WIPRO, Mahindra, Holcim, Rabobank, Natura, etc. penned an open letter to the world’s leaders.  In short, the letter says reverse not just global warming but also the damage being done to nature. The emphasis on nature, over and above that for global warming is the key. The CEOs know and political leaders do too, that our children will inherit a desert if nature is not protected.