ACT NOW!!!

 

Every year the world leaders meet at different location around the globe to discuss about a burning issue that is CLIMATE CHANGE at a conference. The origin of this conference can be traced back to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), 1992. The parties attending the meet are referred to as COPs, which stands for "Conference of the Parties". This year’s meet was held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt to discuss about reducing emissions, helping countries to prepare for and deal with climate change, securing technical support and funding for developing countries for the same and resolving the issues that were left uncovered in CoP26.

The host for this year’s meeting was suitable enough. According to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Africa is one of most vulnerable region in the world. The River Nile is the longest river in Africa and has historically been considered the longest river in the world. Nile is the lifeline of Egypt, Sudan and South Sudan. But global warming and anthropogenic activities are putting the world’s second-longest river under strain. In the past 50 years, the flow of the Nile has fallen from 3,000 cubic meters per second to 2,830. A lack of rainfall and increased droughts expected in East Africa means river flow could fall by 70 percent by 2100, according to UN forecasts. River Nile meets with the Mediterranean Sea in the north forming a bird-foot delta, salt from the Mediterranean Sea is polluting land and degrading the biodiversity. Even the farmers have reported a reduction in the crop production and their quality. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is being constructed has become a point of contention among Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan.

In all CoP’s meet, we get to hear some very fascinating words like goals, accord, agreements, phasing down, mitigation, adaptation, negotiations etc. but are we really doing enough to save our planet? The 2015 Paris Accord brought together all the world leaders in a single agreement on tackling global warming and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Its goal was to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels. All the countries have pledged to set limits on the carbon emissions. UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement works in accordance with the principle of “Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities”, developed countries are to provide financial assistance to developing countries in implementing the objectives of UNFCCC. The Copenhagen Accord had set the “goal” of $100 billion per year by 2020, from “a wide variety of sources” to help developing countries cut carbon emissions. They have set a separate time limit to achieve Net Zero Emission, like India has set the targets of achieving Net Zero Emission by 2070, China till 2060, USA till 2050 and Europe by 2050.

According to UNFCCC standing Committee report, the target of $100 billion have not been met yet. The mobilization of the private players has also proven to be a comprehensive failure. The variation in the estimates is huge. The main challenge in the UNFCCC is the Climate Finance Governance as to how the international climate change funding should be governed effectively and delivered to the developing countries.

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the sister convention of UNFCCC, aims to combat desertification around the world and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements. “Making everyone resilient to drought” is a core mandate of the UNCCD.” The Drought Initiative was established in 2018 to help address these challenges. The initiative is based on the core principle that the impact of a drought is not determined by its severity alone but by the anticipation and preparedness of the communities and countries. A Drought Toolbox has been developed which countries can use to develop and strengthen their national drought plans. In 2007, African Union launched the Great Green Wall Initiative which aims to restore the continent’s degraded landscapes and transform millions of lives in the Sahel. From the beginning, lack of capacity building has been identified as an obstacle to effectively implement the Convention. CoP have always demanded the development and strengthening of capacity particularly at the grassroots level.

Any initiative that is decentralized and democratized seeks to redistribute authority, responsibility and financial resources. The solution to the issue of climate change does not lie in setting new targets, playing the blame game, making up promises that are difficult to keep so that one can make up to the front page of newspapers rather it lies in the behavioral insights that provides for innovative solutions to address people’s behavior and biases regarding climate change. There is a need for making easier and simpler choices. 

Benjamin Franklin once said, “When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.”

It is necessary to know and understand the response of public to any policy in a specific country and society if a policy is designed to help people reduce carbon emissions and increase their adaptability. More targeted and personalized nudging is needed in order to maximize welfare of the people and promote climate justice. Researchers warn about what they call the four horsemen of the climate endgame- Famine, extreme weather, conflict, and diseases spread by insects. Climate Change increases the vulnerabilities. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a dire warning at Petersberg Climate Dialogue conference in Berlin, Germany. "Half of humanity is in the danger zone from floods, droughts, extreme storms and wildfires. No nation is immune,” he said.

Strong Collaboration and co-operation is needed between governments, businessmen and people. The choices that people make about food they eat, places they travel to, energy they consume play an important role in tackling the effects of climate change. Every additional year of inaction pushes the planet to dangerous extremes. “Together we win, together we lose”.

“The world must come together to confront climate change. There is little scientific dispute that if we do nothing, we will face more drought, famine and mass displacement that will fuel more conflict for decades.” - Barack Obama.