The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report has once again stressed the need to reduce the rate of emissions to save planet Earth. The report has clearly described the present situation as ‘now or never’ and has warned of a possible disaster if suitable action is not taken at the earliest. It has urged all nations to restrict global warming to 1.5 degree celsius as the next few years are going to be extremely crucial for the planet. The report has noted that in-order to save the Earth, greenhouse gas emissions should be reduced by 43 per cent and methane cut by a third within a decade. Any leniency towards achieving the emission target may spell doom for mankind, the report has warned.
To keep emissions within the permissible level, the need is to plug resource points on a war footing. The construction sector causes nearly a fourth of the total emissions worldwide and understandably the report suggests strong action against this sector. But achieving success in this sector will be a real challenge as it requires wholehearted support from all sections of society and change in infrastructural technology. Until everyone works in unison it will be extremely difficult to cut emission rates in this sector. Industrial pollution is another major contributor to emissions. Strict vigil should be initiated on all manufacturing units to keep emissions under check. In this regard, it must be admitted that vigil is not effective in developing nations. All nations must train officials on adhering to emission norms. It’s a pity that thus far all talks of preventing global warming have mostly remained on paper; and very few promises have been kept. While developed nations are not in favour of spending much for the cause, developing nations argue that richer developed nations are responsible for a majority of global warming effects and should make financial and technological investments as required for a greener world. It must be mentioned here that a few years ago, the then US President Donald Trump walked out of the Paris Climate Treaty alleging that his country would have to spend more than other nations if the treaty was implemented. It’s heartening to note that his successor Joe Biden has reversed the country’s stand and promised to partake in the treaty. But all such unnecessary controversies have considerably delayed action against climate change, which has caused more harm to the planet. Finally, India cannot be a mere spectator in this regard as a vast area of the country falls in the vulnerable zone. If global warming is not checked, many major port cities of the country are in danger of being submerged within a decade or two. Frequent floods, erosion and occasional cyclones may create food scarcity. So, India should work to unite the world against the climate menace.