DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS

The GRCA was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28 in Dubai in 2023.

• An India-led initiative inspired by India’s ‘River Cities Alliance’ (RCA).
• Launched by - National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).
• Secretariat
  • NMCG under Jal Shakti Ministry
  • NIUA under Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
• Aim – To empower global efforts towards river conservation and sustainable water management.
• Membership – 9 countries (Indian, Denmark, Cambodia, Japan, Bhutan, Australia, Netherlands, Egypt, and Ghana).
  • 142 Indian River cities, river cities of Den Haag from the Netherlands, Adelaide from Australia, and Szolnok of Hungary also joined.

Recently, the RCA had signed a Memorandum of Common Purpose (MoCP) with 124 member Mississippi River Towns and Cities Initiative of the US which is 1^st of its kind alliance in the world.

• Supported by – World Bank, Asian Development Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
• Activities – Water monitoring program, sharing best practices for renaturing urban areas, and restoring aquatic ecosystems for sustainable urban development initiatives will be discussed.

River Cities Alliance (RCA)

• It is a collaborated effort of National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and National Institute for Urban Affairs (NIUA).
• It is launched by the Ministry of Jal Shakti along with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• River Cities Alliance started with 30 cities in 2021 and currently has 95 cities as members across India
• The Alliance is open to all river cities of India. Any river city can join the Alliance at any time.
• The Alliance focuses on three broad themes Networking, Capacity Building and Technical Support.
• It is a dedicated platform for river cities in India to ideate, discuss and exchange information for sustainable management of Urban Rivers such as,

1. Minimizing their water footprint,
2. Reducing impacts on river and water bodies,
3. Capitalizing on natural, intangible, architectural heritage and associated services and
4. Develop self-sufficient, self-sustainable water resources through recycle, reuse strategy.

Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth’s climate system and caused change on a global scale.

Factors Affecting Climate Change

Natural Factors – affect the climate over a period of thousands to millions of years. Such as –

1. Continental Drift – have formed millions of years ago when the landmass began to drift apart due to plate displacement. This impacts climate change due to the change in the landmass’s physical features and position and the change in water bodies’ position like the change in the follow of ocean currents and winds.
2. Volcanism – Volcanic eruption emits gasses and dust particles that last for a longer period causing a partial block of the Sun rays thus leading to cooling of weathers and influencing weather patterns.
3. Changes in Earth’s Orbit – A slight change in the Earth’s orbit has an impact on the sunlight’s seasonal distribution reaching earth’s surface across the world. There are three types of orbital variations – variations in Earth’s eccentricity, variations in the tilt angle of the Earth’s axis of rotation and precession of Earth’s axis. These together can cause Milankovitch cycles, which have a huge impact on climate and are well-known for their connection to the glacial and interglacial periods.

Anthropogenic Factors – is mainly a human-caused increase in global surface temperature. Such as –

Greenhouse Gasses – these absorb heat radiation from the sun resulting in an increase in Global Temperature. GHGs mostly do not absorb solar radiation but absorb most of the infrared emitted by the Earth’s surface. Global warming begins with the greenhouse effect, which is caused by the interaction between incoming radiation from the sun and the atmosphere of Earth.

Atmospheric Aerosols – these can scatter and absorb solar and infrared radiation. Solar radiation scatters and cools the planet whereas aerosols on absorbing solar radiation increase the temperature of the air instead of allowing the sunlight to be absorbed by the Earth’s surface. Aerosols have a direct affect on climate change on absorption and reflection of solar radiation. Indirectly it can affect by modifying clouds formation and properties. It can even be transported thousands of kilometres away through winds and circulations in the atmosphere.

Shift in land-use pattern – Most of the forests and land covers are replaced by agricultural cropping, land grazing, or for Industrial or commercial usage. The clearing of forest cover increases solar energy absorption and the amount of moisture evaporated into the atmosphere.

The lower the albedo (reflectivity of an object in space), the more of the Sun’s radiation gets absorbed by the planet and the temperatures will rise. If the albedo is higher and the Earth is more reflective, more of the radiation is returned to space, leading to the cooling of the planet.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has issued a series of reports that project significant increases in these impacts as warming continues to 1.5 °C (2.7 °F) and beyond. Additional warming also increases the risk of triggering critical thresholds called tipping points.

Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, nations collectively agreed to keep warming “well under 2.0 °C (3.6 °F)” through mitigation efforts. However, with pledges made under the Agreement, global warming would still reach about 2.8 °C (5.0 °F) by the end of the century.

A rise in atmospheric temperature:

• The greenhouse gases released due to human activities are increasing the temperature of the Earth.
• The last 6 years topped the list of hottest years ever recorded.
• The increase in temperature is the major cause of the current increase in heat-related deaths and illnesses, rise in sea levels and an increase in the intensity of natural disasters.
• The 20th century saw an increase in the Earth’s average temperature by 1°F. This is believed to be the fastest rise in a thousand years.
• Research estimates predict that if the GHGs are not reduced, the average surface temperature could increase to 3-5°F by the end of this century.

Change in landscapes:

• Increasing temperature and changing climate and weather patterns across the globe led to the shift of trees and plants towards Polar Regions and mountains.
• As the vegetation tries to adapt to climate change by moving towards colder regions, the animals that are dependent on them will be forced to follow them for survival. While some survive, many perish in the attempt.
• Other species like polar bears dependent on cold terrains will not have any habitat due to the melting of ice, causing a risk to their survival.
• Thus, the current hasty change in the landscape causes a considerable risk to the survival of many species, including the human population.

A risk to the ecosystem:

• An increase in the temperature across the globe is changing the weather and vegetation patterns, causing the species to migrate to cooler areas for survival.
• This poses a threat to the survival of numerous species. It is projected that by 2050, one-fourth of the Earth’s species may become extinct if the current trend continues.

Rising sea levels:

• An increase in the temperature of the Earth leads to a rise in sea level due to the thermal expansion (a condition wherein the warm water takes up more area than cooler water). The melting of glaciers adds to this problem.
• The population living in under-lying areas, islands and coasts are threatened by the rising sea levels.
• It erodes shorelines, damages properties and destroys ecosystems like mangroves and wetlands that protect coasts from storms.
• In the last 100 years, the sea level has risen to 4-8 inches and will continue to rise between 4 and 36 inches in the next 100 years.

Ocean Acidification:

• The increase in the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere has increased the CO2 absorption in the ocean. This makes the ocean acidic.
• The increase in the acidification of the ocean can be harmful to many marine species like plankton, molluscs, etc. The corals are especially susceptible to this as they find it difficult to create and maintain the skeletal structures needed for their survival.

Increase in the risk of natural and manmade disasters:

• The moisture from land and water is rapidly evaporating due to the high atmospheric temperature.
• This causes drought. Those areas that are affected by drought are highly susceptible to the negative effects of flooding.
• As this current condition, the droughts may become more frequent and more severe. This may lead to distressing consequences for agriculture, water security, and health.
• Countries in Asia and Africa are already facing this phenomenon, with droughts becoming longer and more intense.
• The increased temperature is not only causing droughts but also increasing the cases of forest fires across the globe.
• Climate change is also causing increased and intensified hurricanes and tropical storms, causing a devastating impact on human societies and the environment.
• The cause of this is the rise in the ocean temperature as warm waters influence the energies of hurricanes and tropical storms energies.
• The other factors that cause intensified hurricane and tropical storms are rising sea levels, disappearing wetlands and increased coastal development.

Health issues:

• The high temperature across the globe can pose health risks and deaths.
• The increased heat waves caused by climate change have led to the deaths of many globally.
• For instance, in 2003, the extreme heat waves led to the death of more than 20,000 people in Europe and caused more than 1,500 deaths in India.
• Climate change increases the spreading of contagious diseases as the long-term warm weather allows disease-carrying insects, animals and microbes to survive longer.
• Disease and pests that were once confined to the tropics may find it habitable in the colder regions that were previously inhospitable.
• Currently, there is an increase in death due to extreme heat, natural disasters and diseases due to climate change.
• The World Health Organisation estimates that between 2030 and 2050, climate change may cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year due to malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and extreme heat.

Economic impacts:

• It is estimated that if action is not taken to address the carbon emissions, climate change could cost about 5 to 20% of the annual global GDP.
• In contrast, the cost to lessen the most damaging effects of climate change is just 1% of the GDP.
• Climate change can alter shoreline habitats. This may lead to the need for relocation of ports and near-shore infrastructures and habitats, costing about millions of dollars.
• The increased hurricanes and other related natural disasters can bring forth extreme economic losses caused by damaged properties and infrastructures.
• Declining crop yields due to the lengthy droughts and high temperatures can lead to a risk of starvation of thousands of people.
• Coral reefs generate approximately $375 billion each year in goods and services. Their very survival is currently under threat.

Agriculture productivity and food security:

• The crop cultivation is dependent on solar radiation, favourable temperature and precipitation.
• Hence, agriculture has always been dependent on climate patterns.
• The current climate change
• has affected agricultural productivity, food supply and food security.
• These effects are biophysical, ecological and economic.
• They resulted in:
• Climate and agricultural zones are moving towards poles
• There is a change in the agricultural production pattern due to increased atmospheric temperature
• Agricultural productivity has increased due to the rise in CO2 in the atmosphere.
• Unpredictable precipitation patterns
• The vulnerability of the landless and the poor has increased.

India was the fifth most affected country by climate change: It was not shocking when Germanwatch, an environmental non-profit think tank, reported in 2018, that India was the fifth most affected country by climate change, globally. In the last two years, the country has been hit by at least one extreme climate event every month. According to the World Risk Index 2020, India is the fourth-most-at-risk country in South Asia, after Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan. There is no doubt that climate change is real and its implications are disastrous. Historically, internal migration in India occurred due to factors like ethnicity, kinship, work opportunities, or access to better healthcare and education. More recently, climate disasters also contribute to displacement (involuntary and unplanned) and migration (voluntary and planned) in India. In 2018 alone, nearly 7 million Indians were either displaced or have migrated due to climate-induced distress.

COP (Conference of Parties):

• COPs are convened under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), a multilateral treaty adopted in 1992.
• It takes place every year, and is the world’s only multilateral decision-making forum on climate change with almost complete membership of every country in the world.
• Every COP is hosted in a different region based on a rotational schedule between the five United Nations regional groups:
  • The African Group
  • The Asia-Pacific Group
  • The Eastern Europe Group
  • The Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC);
  • The Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

• India had hosted one of these conferences — COP8, way back in 2002.

Achievement of COP:

• Kyoto Protocol (1997): COP summit laid the Kyoto Protocol aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat global warming by setting binding targets for industrialized countries to limit their emissions
• Paris Agreement: It was adopted by 196 Parties at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, on 12 December 2015 to edge the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

COP28 Climate Summit Different zones:

• Blue Zones: All of the official sessions, meetings, side events and press conferences are taking place in the “blue zone”, the formal conference and negotiation space managed by UN Climate Change.
• Green Zone: The “green zone”, is a space for youth representatives, artists, businesses and other civil society actors to discuss ideas for a net-zero future in a more informal setting.

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC):

• Origin: Signed in 1992, at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development also known as the Earth Summit the UNFCCC) is the foundational treaty that has provided a basis for international climate negotiations
• Key Principle: Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR–RC)
  • It is a principle that acknowledges the different capabilities and differing responsibilities of individual countries in addressing climate change.

Secretariat: Bonn, Germany.

• The Convention has near universal membership (197 Parties) and is the parent treaty of the 2015 Paris Agreement.
• Institutional Structure:
  • Conference of the Parties (COP): It is the supreme body to regularly reviews, devise, agrees and implements climate policy.
  • COP President and Bureau: The office of the COP President normally rotates among the five United Nations regional groups. The President is usually the environment minister of his or her home country. Their role is to facilitate the work of the COP and promote agreements among Parties.
  • Subsidiary Bodies (SBs): They provide scientific and technological advice and assess how well the Convention is being implemented

Devastating weather events of 2023:

• Extreme heat in North Africa and Europe
• Wildfires in Canada and Hawaii
• Floods in India and Libya
• Drought in the Horn of Africa.
• Land and ocean temperatures increases
• Antarctic sea ice decreased

Highlights of the COP28?

Loss and Damage (L&D) Fund: COP28, member countries reached an agreement to operationalize the Loss and Damage (L&D) fund aimed at compensating countries grappling with climate change impacts.

The World Bank will be the "interim host" of the fund for four years, aligning with UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement. All developing countries are eligible to apply, and every country is "invited" to contribute voluntarily. A specific percentage is earmarked for Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States.

Global Stocktake Text: The Global Stocktake (GST) is a periodic review mechanism established under the Paris Agreement in 2015.

The fifth iteration of the Global Stocktake (GST) text was released at COP28 and adopted with no objection.

The text proposes eight steps to keep the global temperature rise within the ambit of 1.5 degrees Celsius:

1. Tripling renewable energy capacity globally and doubling the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030;
2. Accelerating efforts towards the phase-down of unabated coal power;
3. Accelerating efforts globally towards net zero emissions energy systems, utilizing zero and low carbon fuels well before or by around mid-century;
4. Accelerating zero and low emissions technologies, including, inter alia, renewables, nuclear, abatement and removal technologies, including such as carbon capture and utilization and storage, and low carbon hydrogen production, to enhance efforts towards substitution of unabated fossil fuels in energy systems.
5. Transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade, so as to achieve net zero by 2050 in keeping with the science;
6. Accelerating and substantially reducing non-CO₂ emissions, including, in particular, methane emissions globally by 2030;
7. Accelerating emissions reductions from road transport through a range of pathways, including development of infrastructure and rapid deployment of zero and low emission vehicles;
8. Phasing out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption and do not address energy poverty or just transitions, as soon as possible.

The fifth iteration text maintains continuity with COP26 in Glasgow, balancing global aspirations of countries like India with diverse energy needs. India argues that it needs to continue using coal to meet its developmental needs and emphasizes the importance of adhering to nationally determined contributions (NDCs).

Nearly 200 countries agreed to "transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems" at the COP28.

The agreement is the first time countries have made this pledge. The deal aims to signal to policymakers and investors that the world is committed to breaking away from fossil fuels.

• • Developing and poor countries are expressing dissatisfaction with the latest draft of the Global Stocktake (GST) at COP28, calling for significant changes.
  • Several countries, including India, are extremely opposed to any mandate to cut methane emissions, mainly because one of the major sources happens to be agriculture and livestock.
    • Cutting methane emissions could involve tweaking agricultural patterns which could be extremely sensitive in a country like India.
    • Possibly in deference to the concerns of such countries, the agreement does not mention any targets for methane emission cuts for the year 2030, although a group of about 100 countries had made a voluntary commitment, in Glasgow in 2021, to reduce their methane emissions by 30% by 2030. This pledge is known as the Global Methane Pledge. However, India is not a part of the Global Methane Pledge.
  • Developing countries call on rich nations to achieve negative carbon emissions, not just reaching net zero by 2050. They emphasize principles of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR–RC) in combating climate change.
  • Developing countries argue that rich nations, having consumed over 80% of the global carbon budget, should allow developing nations their fair share of future emissions.

Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge: The Pledge stipulates that signatories commit to work together to triple the world’s installed renewable energy generation capacity to at least 11,000 GW by 2030 and to collectively double the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements from around 2% to over 4% every year until 2030.

The Global Cooling Pledge for COP 28: It includes 66 national government signatories committed to working together to reduce cooling-related emissions across all sectors by at least 68% globally relative to 2022 levels by 2050.

Climate Finance:The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) estimates that wealthy nations owe developing countries USD 500 billion in 2025 under the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance.

The NCQG was confirmed by developed countries under the Paris Agreement in 2015. The goal is to set a new collective quantified goal before 2025. The goal will start from a floor of USD 100 billion per year.

This includes USD 250 billion for mitigation, USD 100 billion for adaptation, and USD 150 billion for loss and damage. The figure is expected to increase to USD 1.55 trillion by 2030.

The current climate finance goal of USD 100 billion per year has not been met, and developing countries are facing debt distress. Experts call for reform of the global financial architecture to address structural issues and promote sustainable development.

Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA): The draft text on the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) was introduced. It was established under the Paris Agreement to enhance climate change adaptation by increasing awareness of and funding towards countries’ adaptation needs in the context of the 1.5/2°C goal of the Paris Agreement.

• • The draft text addresses critical issues:
    • Climate-Induced Water Scarcity Reduction.
    • Climate-resilient food and Agriculture Production.
    • Strengthening Resilience Against Climate-Related Health Impacts.

Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy:

• • The declaration launched at COP28 aims to triple global nuclear energy capacity by 2050.
  • Endorsed by 22 national governments, the declaration calls for support from shareholders of international financial institutions. It encourages shareholders to advocate for the incorporation of nuclear energy in energy lending policies.

Powering Past Coal Alliance(PPCA): PPCA is a coalition of national and sub-national governments, businesses and organizations working to advance the transition from unabated coal power generation to clean energy. PPCA at COP28 welcomed new national and subnational governments, and called for cleaner energy alternatives.

Coal Transition Accelerator: France, in collaboration with various countries and organizations, introduced the Coal Transition Accelerator.

Objectives include knowledge-sharing, policy design, and financial support to facilitate just transitions from coal to clean energy. The initiative aims to leverage best practices and lessons learned for effective coal transition policies.

Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnership (CHAMP) for Climate Action: A total of 65 national governments signed CHAMP commitments to enhance cooperation, where applicable and appropriate, with subnational governments in the planning, financing, implementation, and monitoring of climate strategies.

Major Engagements of India in COP 28?

Green Credit Initiative: The Green Credit Initiative has been conceptualized as a mechanism to incentivize voluntary pro-planet actions, as an effective response to the challenge of climate change. It envisions the issue of Green Credits for plantations on waste/degraded lands and river catchment areas, to rejuvenate and revive natural ecosystems.

Phase II of the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT 2.0): It will focus on inclusive & just industry transition, co-development and transfer of low-carbon technology, and financial support to emerging economies for industry transition.

Global River Cities Alliance (GRCA): It was launched at COP 28, led by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India.

• • GRCA highlights India's role in sustainable river-centric development and climate resilience.
  • This platform will facilitate knowledge exchange, river-city twinning, and dissemination of best practices.

Quad Climate Working Group (QCWG) on Localised Climate Action : The event focused on recognizing and amplifying the role of local communities, and regional governments in supporting sustainable lifestyles.

What are the Key Concerns?

• No Specific Timelines for Fossil Fuel Phase-out:
  • The agreement lacked a clear and urgent plan for fossil fuel phase-out, using vague language such as "transitioning away" without specific timelines or targets.
• No Specified Targets on Tripling of Global Renewable Energy:
  • The COP28 agreement calls upon countries to contribute to tripling of global installed capacity of renewable energy and doubling of annual improvements in energy efficiency.
  • Tripling is a global target, and it is not incumbent on every country to individually triple its current installed capacity. It is thus not clear how this tripling would be ensured.
• No Clear Mechanisms for Achieving Adaptation Goals:
  • Developing countries made it clear that the adaptation draft fell well below their expectations there is no mention of how these objectives are to be realized or the mechanisms that will fund these efforts.
• Lack of Accountability on Financial Commitments:
  • There is currently no established mechanism to hold governments and institutions accountable for fulfilling their climate financing commitments.
• Varying Interpretations on Climate Finance:
  • Data on climate finance flows are compiled using various methodologies and have varying interpretations.
  • Double counting of climate finance can occur when the same funds are reported by multiple parties, leading to an overestimation of the actual financial flows.
• Resistance over Phase-down of Coal:
  • There was a move to stipulate that no new coal-fired power plants could be opened without an in-built carbon capture and storage facility, but this was strongly resisted by India, China, South Africa, and other countries.
• Concerns over Methane Emission Cuts:
  • The agreement talks about “accelerating and substantially reducing non-carbon-dioxide emissions globally, including in particular methane emissions by 2030.
  • Cutting methane emissions could involve tweaking agricultural patterns which could be extremely sensitive in a country like India.

India was the fifth most affected country by climate change:

1. It was not shocking when Germanwatch, an environmental non-profit think tank, reported in 2018, that India was the fifth most affected country by climate change, globally.
2. In the last two years, the country has been hit by at least one extreme climate event every month.
3. According to the World Risk Index 2020, India is the fourth-most-at-risk country in South Asia, after Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
4. There is no doubt that climate change is real and its implications are disastrous.
5. Historically, internal migration in India occurred due to factors like ethnicity, kinship, work opportunities, or access to better healthcare and education.
6. More recently, climate disasters also contribute to displacement (involuntary and unplanned) and migration (voluntary and planned) in India.
7. In 2018 alone, nearly 7 million Indians were either displaced or have migrated due to climate-induced distress.

• One of the major areas that will be extremely vulnerable to climate change in the future is South Asia.
• India especially will be vulnerable to climate change due to its diverse terrain, rapid use of natural resources due to the current trend of precipitous urbanisation, industrialisation and economic growth.
• Water and air quality are worsening each day due to environmental pollution.
• Those that are especially susceptible to climate change are the country’s coastal ecosystems, biodiversity and agricultural productivity.
• The natural disasters’ increasing frequency and intensity are causing negative effects to the already struggling Indian economy.
• The adverse effects of such disasters range from poverty, vulnerability to diseases, loss of income and livelihoods.
• According to the World Bank, an increase of 2°C in the world’s average temperature in the next few decades will only make India’s monsoon more unpredictable.
• The changing rain patterns in India are predicted to leave many areas flooded and others without water scarcity.
• More than 60% of India’s agriculture is dependent on rain and the majority of the population are dependent on the agriculture sector for survival. This makes India more vulnerable to climate change.
• It is estimated that by the 2050s, with a temperature increase of 2-2.5°C, water in the river basins of Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra will be reduced. This may threaten the food security of about 63 million people.
• Poor will be more vulnerable to climate change since many of them are dependent on the rain-dependent agriculture.
• An increase of 2°C by the 2040s is going to affect crop production and will reduce the crop output by 12%, requiring more imports to meet the domestic demands.
• The melting glaciers and loss of snow can pose a risk to reliable water resources in India.
• Main rivers like Ganges, Indus, and Brahmaputra mostly depend on snow and glacial meltwater. This makes them vulnerable to global warming.
• Climate change can further increase the risk of flooding of low areas and threatens agriculture.
• Intensity of cyclone to increase
• Sea surge height may increase to 7.46 metres
• Sea level rise will be higher than global average
• Sunderbans and Darjeeling hill to have more rain
• The Indian Himalayan region:-
  • The Himalayas, which represent about 16.2 per cent of the total area of the country, are not only a key watershed of India but also play a crucial role in the monsoon system. Climate change impacts on the mountain range can affect the entire sub-continent
  • The mean temperature of the Himalayas has gone up by 0.6°C in the past 30 years; the frequency of warmer days is also increasing
  • The northeastern states of India, particularly parts of Assam and Manipur, are vulnerable
  • Flash flood due to glacial lake outbursts may lead to landslides and affect large-scale food security
  • Himalayan glaciers melting faster than others elsewhere in the world
  • Productivity of apple has decreased by 2-3% over the past few years. This will go down further
  • Projected increase in intensity of rainy days is 2-12% in the Himalayan region

India’s Efforts to Counter Climate Change

• India is the world’s third largest economy and fifth largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter, accounting for about 5% of global emissions. India’s emissions increased 65% between 1990 and 2005 and are projected to grow another 70% by 2020.
• By other measures, India’s emissions are low compared to those of other major economies. India accounts for only 2% of cumulative energy-related emissions since 1850. On a per capita basis, India’s emissions are 70% below the world average and 93% below those of the United States.
• India is also at the frontlines of facing the impacts of climate change. Shifting rainfall patterns, recurring floods, stronger cyclones and droughts or soil erosion are exacerbating the challenge of poverty eradication and necessitate the allocation of scarce national resources for preventing loss of human life.
• Despite resource constraints, India is undertaking ambitious actions to undertake adaptation and mitigation actions, including thorough lowering of the energy intensity of our economic growth, increasing energy efficiency across sectors and making greater use of renewable.
• India has doubled the Clean Energy Cess on coal, which very few countries have, and the Clean Energy Fund already has over 3 billion US dollars to be used for promoting clean technologies India’s National Solar Mission is being scaled up five-fold from 20,000 megawatts to 100,000 megawatts.
• This will mean an additional investment of 100 billion dollars and savings of about 165 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
• India is releasing 6 billion US dollars in one go for intensive afforestation which will result in more carbon sinks.
• India has allocated about 200 million US dollars for the ‘National Adaptation Fund’, setting-up of Ultra Mega Solar Projects, Ultra-Modern Super Critical Coal Based Thermal Power Technology, and the development of Solar Parks on canals.
• Another initiative is “100 Smart Cities’ with integrated policies for adaptation and mitigation to reduce the vulnerability and exposure of urban areas to climate change and also to improve their energy efficiency for which 1.2 billion US dollars have been allocated. India has put in place stringent norms for the cement industry.
• Our Action Plan for cleaning one of the longest rivers in the world, River Ganga will bring multiple benefits of pollution reduction and climate adaptation. We have also taken initiatives for protecting coastal, Himalayan, and forest areas.
• India has initiated preparations to develop a National Air Quality Index and have launched a National Air Quality Scheme. Setting-up of Ultra Mega Solar Projects in Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Ladakh to promote renewable energy.

• As a part of the NAPCC, the Indian government had launched 8 missions in focused areas. They are:
  • National Solar Mission
    • The NAPCC aims to promote the development and use of solar energy for power generation and other uses with the ultimate objective of making solar competitive with fossil-based energy options.
    • The plan includes: specific goals for increasing use of solar thermal technologies in urban areas, industry, and commercial establishments; a goal of increasing production of photovoltaic to 1000 MW/year; and a goal of deploying at least 1000 MW of solar thermal power generation.
    • Other objectives include the establishment of a solar research centre, increased international collaboration on technology development, strengthening of domestic manufacturing capacity, and increased government funding and international support.
  • National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency: Initiatives based on increasing the energy use efficiency were expected to yield savings of 10,000 MW by 2012. Building on the Energy Conservation Act 2001, the plan recommends:
    • Mandating specific energy consumption decreases in large energy-consuming industries, with a system for companies to trade energy-savings certificates;
    • Energy incentives, including reduced taxes on energy-efficient appliances; and
    • Financing for public-private partnerships to reduce energy consumption through demand-side management programs in the municipal, buildings and agricultural sectors.
  • National Mission on Sustainable Habitat: To promote energy efficiency as a core component of urban planning, the plan calls for:
    • Extending the existing Energy Conservation Building Code;
    • A greater emphasis on urban waste management and recycling, including power production from waste;
    • Strengthening the enforcement of automotive fuel economy standards and using pricing measures to encourage the purchase of efficient vehicles;
    • Incentives for the use of public transportation.
  • National Water Mission: With water scarcity projected to worsen as a result of climate change, the plan sets a goal of a 20% improvement in water use efficiency through pricing and other measures.
  • National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem: The plan aims to conserve biodiversity, forest cover, and other ecological values in the Himalayan region, where glaciers that are a major source of India’s water supply are projected to recede as a result of global warming.
  • National Mission for a “Green India” Goals: Goals include the afforestation of 6 million hectares of degraded forest lands and expanding forest cover from 23% to 33% of India’s territory.
  • National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture: The plan aims to support climate adaptation in agriculture through the development of climate-resilient crops, expansion of weather insurance mechanisms, and agricultural practices.
  • National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change: To gain a better understanding of climate science, impacts and challenges, the plan envisions a new Climate Science Research Fund, improved climate modelling, and increased international collaboration. It also encourages private sector initiatives to develop adaptation and mitigation technologies through venture capital funds.

• International Solar Alliance (ISA)
• State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC): State governments have drafted climate strategies aligned with the eight National Missions under the NAPCC. The strategies focus on issues ranging from climate mitigation, energy efficiency, and resource conservation to climate adaptation.
• FAME Scheme for E-mobility: Union Government in April 2015 launched Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicles (FAME) – India Scheme with an aim to boost sales of eco-friendly vehicles in the country. It is a part of the National Mission for Electric Mobility.
• Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation (AMRUT) for Smart Cities.
• Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana: The scheme provides LPG connections to five crore below-poverty-line beneficiaries. The connections are given in the name of women beneficiaries to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and conventional fuel like cow dung for cooking food, thus reducing air pollution.
• UJALA scheme: The scheme was launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2015 with a target of replacing 77 crore incandescent lamps with LED bulbs. The usage of LED bulbs will not only result in reducing electricity bills but also help in environment protection.

India in the international forums on climate change:

• India is currently setting up voluntary targets in the international forums to commit itself to the mission to combat climate change. It is also playing a major role in climate change mitigation.
• India’s proactive role in mitigating climate change is due to the domestic compulsion of tackling issues like the need for poverty eradication, food and nutritional security, universalization of health and education, water security, sustainable energy, employment.
• India is of the opinion that the developing countries’ need for inclusive growth, sustainable development, poverty eradication and universal access to energy must be made the fundamental differentiation between them and the developed nations. Currently, the Conventions recognise the historical emissions of the developed nations as the basis for differentiation between the developed and developing nations.

Efforts taken at the international level to combat climate change

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

• The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) founded the IPCC to provide for a mechanism to study the effects of global warming at a governmental level.
• IPCC is a UN body that assesses the science related to climate change.
• It provides the policymakers with regular scientific assessments on climate change, its implications and potential future risks while also providing adaptation and mitigation options.
• It complements UNFCCC and vice versa.

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC):

• It came to force on 21st March 1994.
• The 195 countries that have ratified it are called the Parties to the Convention.
• The UNFCC is a Rio Convention, one of the three adopted at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. The others include the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.
• The Joint Liaison Group was established to ensure cooperation among the three Conventions.
• Currently, it also consists of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
• The ultimate aim of the Convention is to stabilize the greenhouse gas concentration “at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system”.
• It also aims to achieve the said level within a specific period so that the ecosystem is allowed to adapt naturally to climate change while also ensuring food security and sustainable economic development.
• Following its establishment, the COP1 (first Conference of Parties) was held in Berlin, COP2 was held in Geneva and the COP3 was held in Kyoto to adopt the “Kyoto Protocol” that ensures the implementation of the UNFCCC’s objective.

Kyoto Protocol:

• Kyoto Protocols was adopted in Kyoto, Japan on 11th December 1997 and came to force on 16th February 2005
• Its signatories are committed towards the achievement of emission reduction targets.
• COP 7 held in Morocco in 2001 saw the adoption of the detailed rules for the implementation of the protocol. These are referred to as “Marrakesh Accords”.
• This protocol holds the developed countries accountable for the current high levels of GHG emissions into the atmosphere due to their role in the industrial revolution.
• Kyoto Mechanism, also known as Flexible Mechanism, is defined under the Kyoto Protocol to lower the overall cost of achieving the emission targets. It includes Emission Trading, the Clean Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation.
• In December 2012, the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol was adopted. The changes made include:
• New commitments were made by Annex I Parties (developed nations and Economies in Transition) to be implemented between the period of 1st January 2013 and 31st December 2020.
• A revised list of GHG that is to be reported by the Parties during the second commitment period
• Amendments were made to update several articles of the Kyoto Protocol to be on par with the second commitment period.
• The Kyoto Protocol is a significant step towards the reduction of global emission regime that will allow the stabilisation of GHG emissions.

Paris Agreement:

• Signed in 2016, it is considered to be the world’s first comprehensive climate agreement.
• It aims to:
• Keep the global temperature well below 2°C above pre industrial times and endeavour to limit them even more to 1.5°C.
• Strengthen the nations’ ability to combat the adverse impacts of climate change.
• The Paris Accord calls for a reduction of the GHGs emitted due to human activities equal to that of the trees, soil and oceans so that they can be absorbed naturally.
• As per the Agreement, each country’s contribution towards cutting emission must be reviewed every 5 years.
• It also states that rich countries must help the poorer nations by providing them with “Climate finances” to make them shift towards renewable energy usage.
• The agreement is binding in some elements like reporting requirements. Other elements of the agreement are non-binding like the emission targets of the individual nations.
• The Paris Agreement necessitates all Parties to put forth their best efforts through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and to strengthen these efforts in the future.
• This also includes the need for regular reporting emissions and implementation by the parties.
• India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) includes the reduction in the intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35% by 2030 from 2005 level. Additionally, it has pledged to increase the share of non-fossil fuel-based electricity by 40% by 2030. It has also agreed to enhance its forest cover, which will absorb 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 by 2030.

REDD+

• Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) is a mechanism developed by Parties of the UNFCCC.
• It creates financial value for the carbon stored in forests to offer incentives for the developing nations to reduce emissions from forested lands and invest in low-carbon paths.
• The developing nations will receive results-based payments for results-based actions.
• The REDD+ goes beyond simply deforestation and forest degradation by including the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.
• It is estimated that the financial flows for the GHG emission reduction from REDD+ could reach up to $30 billion per year.
• This improved North-South flow of funds can ensure a significant reduction of carbon emissions and the promotion of inclusive development. It could also improve biodiversity conservation and secure vital ecosystem services.
• Forests are a vital carbon sink and thus, it is vital to increase its resilience to climate change.

Responses: mitigation and adaptation

• Climate change impacts can be mitigated by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and by enhancing sinks that absorb greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
• In order to limit global warming to less than 1.5 °C with a high likelihood of success, global greenhouse gas emissions needs to be net-zero by 2050, or by 2070 with a 2 °C target^.
• This requires far-reaching, systemic changes on an unprecedented scale in energy, land, cities, transport, buildings, and industry.
• Scenarios that limit global warming to 1.5 °C often describe reaching net negative emissions at some point.
• To make progress towards a goal of limiting warming to 2 °C, the United Nations Environment Programme estimates that, within the next decade, countries need to triple the amount of reductions they have committed to in their current Paris Agreements; an even greater level of reduction is required to meet the 1.5 °C goal.
• Although there is no single pathway to limit global warming to 1.5 or 2.0 °C (2.7 or 3.6 °F), most scenarios and strategies see a major increase in the use of renewable energy in combination with increased energy efficiency measures to generate the needed greenhouse gas reductions.
• To reduce pressures on ecosystems and enhance their carbon sequestration capabilities, changes would also be necessary in agriculture and forestry, such as restoring natural ecosystems by reforestation.
• Other approaches to mitigating climate change entail a higher level of risk. Scenarios that limit global warming to 1.5 °C typically project the large-scale use of carbon dioxide removal methods over the 21st century.

What is Global River Cities Alliance?

National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), has launched the Global River Cities Alliance (GRCA) at COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

• During the event the NMCG also signed a Memorandum of Common Purpose (MoCP) with the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI), representing 124 cities/towns situated along the banks of the Mississippi River, the United States.
• The NMCG has signed the MoCP on behalf of the River Cities Alliance (RCA).

Global River Cities Alliance (GRCA)?

The GRCA is an international coalition of cities and countries dedicated to the conservation, sustainable management, and protection of river systems worldwide.

• • The alliance encompasses a diverse array of countries and river cities, fostering partnerships among key nations like India, Egypt, Netherlands, Denmark, Ghana, Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, Japan, and others.
  • GRCA's membership extends to cover 275+ river-cities across 11 countries, demonstrating a substantial global reach and influence.

Objective: It will serve as a platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and concerted efforts among various stakeholders, including governments, cities, financial institutions, and environmental organizations..

What is the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI)?

The MRCTI was created in 2012 to provide an influential voice for the Mississippi River, dramatically increasing demand for effective river protection, restoration, and management in Washington, DC.

It addresses matters of mutual concern, including river water quality and habitat restoration, flooding and floodplain issues, river-focused recreation, sustainable economies, and celebration of the River culture and history.

River Cities Alliance (RCA)?

The RCA is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) & the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), with a vision to connect river cities and focus on sustainable river centric development. The Alliance focuses on three broad themes- Networking, Capacity Building and Technical Support.

Beginning with 30 member cities in November 2021, the Alliance has expanded to 110 river cities across India and one international member city from Denmark.

Objective: The RCA intends to facilitate knowledge exchange (online) for Indian cities to learn new practices and approaches for urban river management. It will also be an opportunity for international cities to learn about experiences in Indian cities, which may be relevant to their contexts.

National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)?

On 12^th August 2011, the NMCG was listed as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.

It acted as the implementation arm of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) which was constituted under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act (EPA),1986. NGRBA was dissolved in 2016 and replaced by the National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection, and Management of River Ganga.

Objective: The objective of the NMCG is to reduce pollution and ensure the rejuvenation of the Ganga River.

Namami Gange is one of the Coveted Programmes of NMCG to clean Ganga. This can be achieved by promoting intersectoral coordination for comprehensive planning & management and maintaining minimum ecological flow in the river, with the aim of ensuring water quality and environmentally sustainable development.

Organization Structure:

The Act envisages a five-tier structure at the national, state, and district levels to take measures for prevention, control, and abatement of environmental pollution in river Ganga as below:

• • • National Ganga Council under the chairmanship of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.
    • Empowered Task Force (ETF) on river Ganga under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Union Minister of Jal Shakti (Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation).
    • National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).
    • State Ganga Committees
    • District Ganga Committees in every specified district abutting river Ganga and its tributaries in the states.

Ganga river Rejuvenation in India?

• Ganga Action Plan: It was the first River Action Plan that was taken up by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 1985, to improve the water quality by the interception, diversion, and treatment of domestic sewage. The National River Conservation Plan is an extension to the Ganga Action Plan. It aims at cleaning the Ganga River under the Ganga Action Plan phase 2.
• National Water Mission (2010): It ensures integrated water resource management leading to water conservation, less wastage, and equitable distribution forming better policies.
• Clean Ganga Fund: In 2014, it was formed to clean up the Ganga, set up waste treatment plants, and conserve of biotic diversity of the river.
• Bhuvan-Ganga Web App: It ensures the involvement of the public in monitoring of pollution entering into the river Ganga.
• Ban on Waste Disposal: In 2017, the National Green Tribunal banned the disposal of any waste in the Ganga.

• Pakadwa Vivah is a tradition in Bihar where a boy is kidnapped or coerced and then married to a girl.
• In this practice, the wishes of the boy and girl are not considered.

The practice is illegal and prevalent in several parts of Bihar.

• The African-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) is an intergovernmental organization that aims to improve rural areas in Asian and African countries.
• It is an autonomous organization established in 1962, headquartered in New Delhi.

It's one of the earliest examples of South-South cooperation in rural development.

• The new National Medical Commission logo has an image of god Dhanvantri, and replaces the word 'India' with 'Bharat' recently.
• The National Medical Commission (NMC) is India's top regulatory body for medical education and practice.
• It was established in 2020 by the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, replacing the Medical Council of India (MCI).

The NMC has 33 members.

• Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 436 baby Indian Tent turtles from a person illegally transporting them in Lucknow recently.
• The Indian tent turtle (Pangshura tentoria) is a species of turtle that is native to India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
• Indian tent turtles are mainly omnivorous and live in freshwater rivers and swamps.
• Conservation
  • IUCN - Least concern
  • CITES - Appendix II

Schedule 1 of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.