On Earth Day, A Warning Sign From India
Posted April 22, 2010 in Solving Global Warming
As people across the globe celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, India is experiencing its second warmest temperatures for this time of year since 1901 and suffering from reduced grain outputs as a result of these rising temperatures and inadequate rainfall. Developing nations like India are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. This Earth Day we should acknowledge these alarming developments around the world and recognize that they are predicted to only become worse and more prevalent if we don’t take significant global action to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
In India, impacts from climate change include changes in average temperatures, rainfall patterns and monsoon timings. These changes affect the nation’s water resources, sea-levels, and biodiversity, with implications for a wide variety of sectors, especially agriculture.
With India’s economy so closely tied to natural resources, a large portion of the population is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. More than 56% of workers are engaged in agriculture and related sectors, according to the United Nations Development Program. Many others in India live in coastal areas and depend on fishing or tourism for their income. Also, the majority of India’s population lives in rural areas where they rely on natural resources for food, shelter, and their income.
India also depends on its annual monsoon for water and food. Last year’s monsoon proved to be significantly less plentiful than most years previous. Indian newspapers have reported that the country’s economy “cannot bear another successive year of inadequate rainfall.” Experts are predicting this year’s monsoon will be better despite prevailing El Nino conditions that contributed to the poor monsoon last year. However, Indian communities and farmers are increasingly distressed about the changing patterns of the monsoon and food shortages.
It’s true that India has taken significant steps to set national goals and put policies in place to support a transition to clean energy technology and developing a low-carbon growth strategy. But as the Major Economies Forum – a platform for ministerial discussions on energy and climate issues – ended earlier this week with a focus on preparing for the summit on climate change in Cancun in November 2010, we need action. The increasing temperatures and erratic monsoon in India alert us that there is a need to channel discussion into global action to support large developing economies, like India, into intensifying national action and expediting implementation of climate mitigation to drive a clean energy revolution and climate adaption to protect public health.
(Co-Authored by Melissa Donnelly, NRDC India Initiative Intern)
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Comments
Mary Johnson — Apr 23 2010 04:18 AM
How about we think seriously about the huge global population and trying to bring the growth rate to zero in a humane fashion?? For some reason this subject is taboo in the media. Why? Do people not realize the impact our population exerts on the planet's resources? What is so wrong with trying to persuade the planet's people to reduce the birth rate to something that is more earth-friendly?
Anjali Jaiswal — May 5 2010 01:18 PM
Thanks for the commenting on the blog. While population is certainly relevant, Americans and other developed nations are hard pressed to urge developing countries to curb their populations in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, especially when considering per capita numbers and even absolute numbers. For instance, according to UN statistics, the US’s per capita carbon emissions are 19.70 tonnes of CO2. In contrast, India’s per capita carbon emissions are 1.31 tonnes of CO2. Here’s the link to the UN’s chart: http://unstats.un.org/unsd/environment/air_co2_emissions.htm. Moreover, there is a stark contrast in terms of energy use, such as some folks in developed countries leaving office lights on overnight to some folks in developing countries not having access to electricity to turn on the single bulb they own.
In addition, there is a strong link between providing electricity and declining birth rates. Not only does electricity empower better livelihoods, such as electricity for sewing and reading light for children who work during the day, providing modern energy also reduces population growth. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6695338.ece. There certainly is a challenge in addressing the tension of bringing millions of people of out poverty through economic growth and curbing greenhouse gas emissions. Recognizing this, Prime Minister Singh has already stated that India’s development path must be different – a greener, sustainable path. That’s why increasing US-India cooperation on climate and energy as well as implementing projects that increase energy efficiency and spur clean energy technologies is critical to working toward sustainable development and curbing emissions.