The Paris Climate Agreement came into force on the 4th of November 2016. As a mark of success, though limited, the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement was observed on 12th December 2020 through virtual mode by organizing the ‘Climate Ambition Summit 2020 co-convened by UN, UK and France in partner with Chile and Italy. l
The countries were expected to set out new and ambitious commitments under the three pillars of the Paris Agreement: mitigation, adaptation and financial commitments, during the summit.
Prime Minister of India while participating in the Summit in virtual mode stated that our country is not only on track to achieve its Paris Agreement targets but to exceed them beyond expectations. India has reduced the emission intensity by 2 per cent over 2005 levels, he said. l. India’s solar capacity has grown from 2.63 Giga Watts in 2014 to 36 Giga Watts in 2020; and it will reach 175 Giga Watts before 2022. Its ambitious target is to generate 450 Giga Watts of renewable energy capacity by 2030. l
Our renewable energy capacity is the fourth largest in the world. India also succeeded in expanding its forest cover that serves as natural carbon sink and safeguarding the biodiversity, said the PM.
The Paris Agreement’s long-term goal is to keep the increase in global average temperature to well below 20C above pre-industrial levels, and to limit the increase to 1.50C, since this would substantially reduce the risks and effects of climate change. The Paris Climate Agreement is a fruitful international initiative.
It was for the first time in the history that all the Parties to the UNFCCC reached a landmark agreement that there will be no differentiation between developed and developing countries and all countries will have a common framework and commitment to regulate emission of green house gases in order to combat climate change impact.
A strong political will, international understanding and partnership with well coordinated approach would only succeed in achieving the Paris Agreement target. Climate change driven global warming is a reality and the impacts are multiplying year by year which pose a great challenge to the very survival of humanity and threat to existence of myriads of species. l
Luxury intensive lifestyle will turn the livable green planet mother ‘Earth’ to inhospitable brown planet ‘Earth’. A Gandhian simple lifestyle, harmony with nature and culture of minimalism to live with mil nimum consumption of nature’s resources would go a long way to hope for a sustainable future.
(Dr Patro is head of the Orissa Environmental Society)