The Sixth Assessment Report ‘Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis' finalized by the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) and released on August 9, has clearly signalled the pressing need of coordination among all the countries of the world. Countries need to join the net zero emissions coalition and reinforce their promises on slowing down and reversing global heating with credible, concrete, and enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that lay out detailed steps.
The IPCC has made a very strong case for immediate cuts on global greenhouse gas emission and has warned of warming of the Earth by 1.5 degree Celsius even before 2040. Obviously, being the third largest emitter in the world, India would have to face tremendous pressure from the world to agree to a net-zero emissions target within a reasonable timeframe according to the perspective of the world. It would require setting up an early deadline by India by which it should be able to bring down its emissions to the level of absorption by its carbon sink including its forests.
India is willing to agree to the net-zero emissions target, but has some real problems. The country has been doing much more than it is required to do as per several international obligations set by multilateral agreements among nations. Any further burden would jeopardize its efforts to eliminate extreme poverty prevailing in the country which has been further aggravated by the COVID-19 crises. India presently houses the largest number of poor in the world, and they need concerted efforts in respect to development and financial support to survive. Therefore, the country is not in a position to further burden itself with climate change mitigation measures as the world wishes it to do.
The report may trigger a widespread call for stronger and more wide-ranging emission cuts from all countries, but India cannot do more than it has been already doing without further help and cooperation from the world community especially from the developed nations, both in elimination of poverty, and in furthering the cause of climate change.
Since China is the largest emitter of the fossil fuel carbon dioxide emission in the world followed by the United States, the responsibility of these two countries are even more than India which is only the third largest in emission. Even in economic development and living standard of the people, India is far behind them. Moreover, China's contribution to world emission is about 30 per cent and the United States is about 15 per cent, while India's contribution is only a little over 7 per cent.
Since India will be among the worst hit countries due to climate change risks, it is also important for the country to save its own people from loss of lives and livelihoods by taking appropriate climate actions. The IPCC report says the India may see more heat waves, droughts, and cyclones. Ecology and agricultural risks are also going to increase, not only in India but in entire South Asia. Heat waves and humid heat stress will be more intense in India, along with extreme cold conditions and devastating floods. Moreover, according to the scientists, warming of the earth beyond 2 degree C would result in catastrophic and irreversible changes in the climate that would make it difficult for human beings and other species to survive. Therefore, we must act decisively now to keep the global warming below 1.5 degree C expected over the next two decades. Time is running out for all, and the top largest emitters China, United States, and India must act in the right direction.
