As the world enters into yet another year, it is troubled with the dual issues of COVID-19 and the climate crisis. Despite this, India continues to fight the pandemic and climate change with wows and commitments. While the pandemic has been responded with a legion of initiatives, consequently saving millions of lives, the climate trouble does not seem holding back despite various commitments. The country has set a target to attain net zero Carbon emissions by the year 2070. Moreover India will lower its economy’s emissions intensity by 45 percent by 2030, which is a more ambitious objective than the prior target of a 33-35 percent reduction from 2005 levels. This will include reduction of all greenhouse gases including Carbon Dioxide. India has already made major vows in 2021, putting climate change at the centre of its environmental policies. The Prime Minister at the key international climate summit COP 26 has already declared that India is the only country delivering on the Paris Agreement’s commitments in it’s true essence. Pollution emanating from vehicles as well as emissions from industrial and coal-fired power plants, contribute to air pollution round the year in the country.Air Pollution is the second-highest risk factor for disease in India (after hunger), accounting for 10% of the disease burden. According to the World Air Quality Report, India has 22 of the top 30 most polluted cities in the world, with Delhi ranking as the 10th most polluted city and the world’s most polluted capital city. To tackle this grave issue, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) was established after a bill was passed by the Parliament. Another challenge comes in the form of Coal power plant emissions as one of the biggest sources of air pollution; increasing coal power will result in 60 percent more premature deaths in India’s metro cities.In a bid to bring the graph down, the nation is set to generate electricity from non-coal or gas sources by 2030. On account of the plastic wastages being a detrimental ingredient tampering with the climatic conditions, India has also launched a campaign called “Plastic Hackathon 2021” to ensure that the country is plastic-free by 2022.All these and various other initiatives and targets are worth watching for, ina bid to reverse the changing climatic phenomenon.
Editorial: Dealing with the Climate change
