Climate change is “real”, and it needs to be addressed on a regular basis: While we all agree that the “Climate Change” issue has been the most pertinent issue of our time, we ourselves as individuals tend to turn a blind eye to the situation. However, it is hard to ignore the signs of a rapidly deteriorating world, especially when we know that nearly 51 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases are added to the atmosphere every year. From shifting weather patterns that threaten food production, to rising sea levels that increase the risk of catastrophic flooding, the effects of climate change are global in scope and unparalleled in scale. It goes without saying that climate change has been responsible for rapidly altering the world we live in and indeed has been affecting us more than we think. Slowly and gradually political leaders have taken cognizance of the fact that the threat is for “real”, and one needs to take significant steps to address the concerns. Unlike other large emitters, India has not yet set a timeline for attaining carbon neutrality: Nearly 137 countries have committed to carbon neutrality, as tracked by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, and most of the commitments are centred around 2050. Along with 137 countries, companies, cities, and financial institutions, have now set or are considering a target of reducing emissions to net zero by mid-century. While net zero is a critical longer-term goal, steep emissions cuts, especially by the largest greenhouse-gas emitters (US, China, India, and EU) are imperative in the next 5 to 10 years to keep global warming to not more than 1.5 °C and safeguard a liveable climate. Of the 191 Parties to the Paris agreement, more than 110 Parties have so far submitted a new or updated national action plan: Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), as required by the agreement. Their planned combined emissions reductions by 2030 still fall far short of the level of ambition needed to achieve the 1.5 °C goal. Unlike US and China, India has not set a timeline so far but has been working constantly towards the attainment of NDCs. All eyes on COP26: As world leaders prepare to meet in Glasgow, UK, in November 2021 for the COP26, all eyes will be on whether India will set a timeline this time around or will it just update its voluntary emissions-control commitments. Lot of climate experts expect the world leaders to bolster the “Paris Rulebook” to obligate countries to set adequate emissions targets, report on their progress transparently, provide finance to developing countries to meet their commitments, as well as operationalise carbon markets. According to reports, COP26 is set to start the five-year process of updating emission reduction ambitions pledged by countries through their NDCs. So far, 77 countries including the US, UK and Canada, have announced net-zero targets. But not all countries have ambitious targets, and the rulebook fails to take notice of this. Though, there has been mounting pressure from the climate experts on Indian authorities to set up a timeline for attaining net-zero emission target, Indian authorities are of the belief that net zero is not enough to keep the global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius. According to the environment minister, developed countries need to reduce emissions to provide carbon space to developing countries to exercise their right to grow and eradicate poverty.
