Safeguarding the earth – time to act is now

Global warming is one of the greatest threats to human survival. Last year, we saw some of the most sobering reports on the impacts of climate change around the world. Seas are rising. Extreme weather events are increasing. Storms, floods, droughts and wildfires are raging and devastating communities and all they support. Entire species are dying off faster than at any other time since the dinosaurs disappeared around 65 million years ago. Our window of opportunity to get the world on track, limit global warming to 1.5 Degree Celsius is rapidly narrowing.All over the world, the impacts fall first and hardest on those with the fewest resources to take care of themselves. Low-income communities bear the greatest burden of climate hazard and harm. Science tells us that all this will get much worse unless we move quickly and deliberately to cut dangerous carbon pollution that is driving climate change. And do so while preparing our communities adapt to the inevitable changes, creating jobs, and promoting secure livelihoods for our families.

Solutions Exist

While the situation is dire, solutions exist. A new report “Realizing the Promise of Paris: Roadmap to a Safer Climate Future” finds that accelerating progress on a suite of 24 realistic actions by 2030 can put the world on track to stay under 2°C (3.6°F) of temperature rise, and closer to a path that scientists say is needed to stay at the safer level of 1.5°C (2.7°F) of warming.

The report provides a clear roadmap for leaders and concerned citizens to put the world on a path toward achieving the goal of the Paris agreement. The report assesses 24 practical and realistic actions to implement between now and 2030. Many of the actions in this roadmap are already underway, and all of them are immediately doable. This includes such actions as deploying more renewable energy, transitioning away from coal, accelerating electric vehicle deployment, ending deforestation, and boosting building, industrial, and energy efficiency.

India’s Climate Actions

In India, analysis estimates the potential GHG emissions reductions associated with accelerated renewable energy deployment and energy efficiency penetration, as well as shifts away from coal build out in India to be 0.60 GtCO2e/yr (range of 0.60 to 1.0 GtCO2e/yr) in 2030. Renewable energy — especially solar — has surged in India, aided by a suite of ambitious national policies and steep drops in solar energy prices that regularly outcompete fossil fuel prices.

India has a domestic target of achieving 175 GW of renewable energy by 2020. At 75 GW, it has made impressive progress. A recent analysis shows that meeting these targets can also provide jobs to over 300,000 workers in India.

India also continues to make strides in energy-efficient buildings, appliances, and transportation. India’s approach of coupling clean energy deployment with energy efficiency measures are some of the most cost-effective ways for it to address the challenge of climate change for India while bringing millions of people out of poverty.

At the grassroots level, women are part of India’s clean energy transitions and climate change debate. A new case study highlights how the training programs improved livelihoods as part of a project on women salt farmers who transitioned from diesel pumps to more efficient solar pumps. The shift to clean energy resulted in real world improvements from increased incomes, economic growth, and health and pollution benefits.

[Suh was a speaker at WSDS 2019]

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