UPSC EDITORIAL ANALYSIS : Poll campaigns in India must reflect climate issues
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: The Hind
Prelims: Current events of national importance(World Meteorological Organization (WMO), tropical Cyclones, Covid-19, National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)etc
Mains GS Paper II: Conservation of Environment, Biodiversity and Environment(Environmental Pollution and pollutants and degradation)etc
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
• The State of the Global Climate report released by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO): It states that 2023 was the hottest year in the recorded history of the planet
INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE
Context
Key Highlights of State of global climate report:
• The average temperature rise from pre-industrial levels has been 45 °C, with a margin of uncertainty of ±0.12 °C.
• The temperature rise is close to breaking the agreed limit of 5 °C by different nations.
• The WMO report states that 2023 was the warmest year by a clear margin and one where many records were breached. Records for a rise in ocean temperatures glacier retreat The diminishing Antarctic ice cover Sea level rise around the planet
• Records for a rise in ocean temperatures
• glacier retreat
• The diminishing Antarctic ice cover
• Sea level rise around the planet
• The heat content of the world’s oceans reached a record high in 2023, with the highest level of ocean heat content ever recorded.
• Slowdown of theAtlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a system of ocean currents.
• Global average sea-surface temperatures (SST)were at a record high in 2023, with several months breaking previous records by significant margins.
• The global ocean experienced an average daily Marine Heatwave coverage of 32%, well above the previous record of 23% in 2016
• The frequency of extreme weather events such as heat waves, torrential rains and tropical cyclones has increased.
• Renewable energy generation surged in 2023, with renewable capacity additions increasing by almost 50% from the previous year.
Reasons for degradation of environment:
• The industrial progress since the mid-18th century The principal drivers of this progress have been mechanization and technology-led innovations in all sectors.
• The principal drivers of this progress have been mechanization and technology-led innovations in all sectors.
• Exploitation of natural resources to drive progress has grown considerably in the post-Industrial Revolution period.
• Progress driven by the use of natural resources had an adverse impact on the environment. Dependence on natural resources for energy requirements has had enormous bearing on the climate.
• Dependence on natural resources for energy requirements has had enormous bearing on the climate.
• The use of fossil fuels has led to large emissions of greenhouse gasses, leading directly to the rise in global temperatures.
Mitigatory steps
• Paris agreement: holding the temperature rise to well below 2 °C from that in pre-industrial times, and pursuing efforts to limit it to 5 °C. It became a legally binding international treaty.
• It became a legally binding international treaty.
Other climate actions:
Steps by India:
• National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)
• The National Solar Mission(under the NAPCC).
• National Green Hydrogen Mission, making a strong commitment to the energy transition plan.
Way Forward
• The WMO report makes it imperative to trigger collective public action — something similar to what happened during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• In this election season, the WMO report should result in an awakening not only for all of humanity, but also, specifically, for all political parties.
• The anxiety over climate change expressed by the WMO, the UN and scientific fraternity should motivate parties across the political spectrum to make their action plans clear.
• Political parties must commit themselves to enhancing public awareness on climate change and clearly defining steps to reduce global warming.
• Political parties should spell out the steps that they would undertake to reduce the impact of global warming on India.
• If India were looking to find its rightful place in the global order, and be counted as a true world power in the “Amrit Kaal”, the demands on its leadership on climate change actions will be watched.
• The media’s crucial role can in emphasizing the environmental impact of conventional election methods, turn the spotlight on innovative eco-friendly alternatives.
• Embracing eco-conscious electoral practices can help India set an example for other democracies around the world.
QUESTION FOR PRACTICE
Discuss the role of the Election Commission of India in the light of the evolution of the Model Code of Conduct.(UPSC 2022) (200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)
Editorial Analysis – 3 Apr 2024