Thank you dear subscribers, we are overwhelmed with your response.

Your Turn is a unique section from ThePrint featuring points of view from its subscribers. If you are a subscriber, have a point of view, please send it to us. If not, do subscribe here: https://theprint.in/subscribe/

 

In the last decade, conversations around climate change and global warming have gone from “Futuristic science stuff some scientists keep on complaining about” to being one of the most talked-about terms on the internet and a favored topic of discussion among experts as well as general opinion writers. Despite this, for a phenomenon that might impact the way of life of the next few generations, climate change, unfortunately, hasn’t yet become the routine dinnertime, tea stall, or primetime news conversation unlike the border tensions, sports, the pandemic, or the economy. Now that the last couple of years has seen numerous floods, cyclones, wildfires, and heatwaves throughout India and the world due to the effects of climate change, it is imperative that we focus on creating more public awareness around the topic and drastically increase its priority in public policy engagements. 

Currently, public awareness around climate change is quite narrow, as the reportage of natural disasters usually mention it as a matter-of-fact one-off statement, postscript, or an afterthought. No serious conversation around its short-term as well as potential long-term effects are held. Thus, one modification that is required in our outlook towards it is that we should not look at climate change just as a complicated scientific phenomenon. Yes, though the causes and process of climate change are quite arduous and technical, the effects are not. It is critical that we look at it in terms of national and personal security as well as a potential cause of an economic crash.

On the public policy front, there have been no disruptive, path-breaking steps towards mitigating the effects of climate change after the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2016. Unfortunately, the hype that the agreement had created around the global fight against climate change fizzled out in 2017 when the United States intended to pull out of the agreement rendering this fight toothless. Its readmittance recently might reignite this movement, but that has yet to be seen. 

From the Indian perspective, some progressive steps have been taken such as reduction of dependence on coal for energy in 2019-2020 (sadly, it has since increased in 2021), investments towards renewable energy sources and organisations like the International Solar Alliance, policies like vehicle scrappage and Ujjwala Yojana, etc. But we are yet to see any radical policy from the government that would not only directly target the problem of climate change, but also create a sense of urgency in the minds of the people. Radically changing climate needs radical solutions. With that said, a few steps must be taken immediately.

First, the government must not only refine projects for coastal and low-lying cities under the Smart City Mission to withstand the effects of climate change, but also start and accelerate the building of new planned “Climate Haven” cities. Climate Havens are cities that can take in people from cities that would be affected by climate change and provide refuge and economic opportunities to the climate refugees.

Second, conduct an infrastructure development-cum-awareness policy/campaign on the lines of the Swachh Bharat Mission, which could help create awareness among people as well as create green infrastructure for people to use. 

Third, include the Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change into the Cabinet Committees of Security as well as Economic Affairs (CCS and CCEA). This would alert the people about the seriousness of the issue and reiterate to the world that India is serious about tackling climate change. Accepting the fact that climate change is one of the biggest threats to national security and to the economy should be the first step in this fight and its priority should be similar to that of the Chinese border incursions in Ladakh.

Rising sea level caused by climate change is an unknown enemy that will not just incur inhabitable parts of Ladakh, but also populated cities like Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. Moreover, the economic disaster that can be caused by just a few feet of rise in sea level can be catastrophic. And unlike the Chinese who perhaps can be negotiated with, sea levels may not be that amenable to go back to their original status.

Climate does not negotiate.


Also read: India to suffer more intense heat waves, heavier rainfall in future decades, IPCC report says


These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint.