28^th Nov., 5^th Dec. and 12^th Dec.2021

12 noon -1pm

• COP21 held in Paris in 2015 marked a leap in climate action. It resulted in most comprehensive international climate agreement. Signatories to the Paris Agreement agreed to limit emissions or global warming to less than 2^oC, ideally 1.5^oC. It was also agreed that developed countries would urgently give more resources (financial aid) to climate-vulnerable countries to resolve climate change. Under the Paris agreement, governments devise and present plans for reductions in national emission called the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).
• Two-thirds of the global economy is now covered by net-zero targets. 
• Progress has been limited and the lack of an effective reporting structure means it is unclear how much money has been contributed so far by high income countries.
• Developing countries face a lack of funds and the developed countries have not provided aid as they had promised to.
• The Glasgow Climate Pact at COP 26 was adopted by almost 200 countries after two intense weeks of negotiations. The UN Secretary General said at the conclusion of the conference “It is an important step, but it is not enough.”
• The Glasgow Climate Pact recognises the global climate emergency citing recent findings of IPCC. It expressed “alarm and utmost concern that human activities have caused around 1.1^oC of global warming to date and that impacts are already being felt in every region”. Parties resolved to pursue efforts to keep to 1.5 ^oC. It has urged developed countries to at least double their collective climate finance for adaptation in developing countries from 2019 levels by 2025, to ensure a balance between adaptation and mitigation. It also called on development banks, other financial institutions and private sector to enhance finance mobilization to deliver the scale of resources needed to achieve climate plans.
• COP26 also reached agreement on key provisions of the Paris Agreement Rulebook, which covers issues around market mechanisms and transparency.
• At COP 26, it was agreed that the developed countries should deliver more resources to help the climate vulnerable countries.
• Most countries have adopted the target “net zero” carbon emissions by 2050; China has aimed to become carbon neutral by 2060.
• India made 5 commitments towards climate action at COP26. 
• India will bring its non-fossil fuel energy capacity to 500GW by 2030.
• By 2030, India will fulfil 50% of its energy requirement through renewable energy.
• India will cut down its net projected carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes from now until 2030.
• By 2030, India will bring down carbon intensity of its economy by more than 45%.
• By 2070, India will achieve the target of “net zero” carbon emissions.

• As a party to international conventions, by and large, India has complied with the commitments and obligations despite political diversity.
• India is far ahead of several European countries in terms of compliance to the Minamata convention on mercury. India does not have mercury cell based caustic alkali plants, while Europe still has them despite setting a target of achieving this by 2025. We achieved this target in 2005. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) are being used now mainly, which has eliminated another source of mercury.
• India is on track to achieve its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, which is to achieve 40% of electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
• Because of high population density, enough land is not available for alternative power sources such as wind or the sun. To generate 1 KW of solar power, 7-8 sq m area is required. To generate 1MW, more than 7000 sq m of area, so to generate 1GW of solar power, lot of land would be required including wasteland and not just rooftop solar panels. 
• Land should have multiple uses. Land is also required for forestation, plantation and other development activities. An example is the Canal Solar Power Project  in Gujarat i.e., setting up of solar panels over canals. This not only saved land, but also prevented water evaporation in addition to generating solar power. But this cannot be the only solution. 
• Solar energy is useful for individual houses or small communities rather than in a grid, for which nuclear source of energy is suitable. Instead of producing more electricity to charge vehicles, solar panels can be put over parking lots or individual cars. Achieving the solar energy target should be made a mass movement.
• Mapping of energy consumption and requirement of urban, rural and industries will help to find out where and how much of emissions can be reduced. 
• Wastage, leakage, pilferage and encroachment, which are known issues, have to be stopped.
• Carbon emission is maximum from biodegradable waste. There are many policies for management of biodegradable waste, but their implementation is poor. Wet waste can be utilized for energy generation. Kitchen waste can be used to produce biogas. If renewable energy is used in solid waste management, lot of issues need to be taken up immediately and standardised.
• Hydrogen technology is an upcoming source of renewable energy, which is still under trial.
• Taking care of soil will not only take care of the air and water pollution problems but also the problem of climate change. In the absence of humus (top soil layer), sunlight is not absorbed and is causing rise in atmospheric temperature. We must also protect the soil while protecting our total environment.
• Preventing soil erosion will also save rivers and in turn lot of biodiversity will be saved.
• There is no shift towards cleaner fuel or renewable energy yet as coal-based plants are still functioning. The dependence on coal is a matter of concern. The changeover has to be done within the next 10-15 years otherwise the target of net zero by 2017 might be an unachievable target.

• Forestation has to be a solution. Commercial cropping of wood should be allowed in India. Hard wood is still being imported in the country. This will prevent cutting down of trees (deforestation).
• Planting trees has been proven to reverse the impact of climate change. If we drive average 80km per day or around 500 km per week, the CO2 emissions will be 3.17 tonnes per year. if we buy one car, on an average, 400 trees need to be planted per person to offset our carbon footprint.
• Industries, which use coal and are emitting particulate matter should be asked to plant equal number of trees and maintain them to offset the impact of emissions. This is being done in Delhi, but also needs to be done in other cities.
• Transitioning into electric vehicle needs to be taken up as a serious alternative to diesel or petrol given their rising costs. There is lot of hesitancy and apprehensions about adoption of electric vehicles. A charging infrastructure needs to be developed

• We are dependent on other countries for many resources such as lithium for car batteries used in electric vehicles. For sustainability, dependence on other countries needs to be stopped. But these are not really sustainable solutions as thermal power plants have to work to produce electricity to charge these vehicles. Also, lithium-ion batteries are not recyclable and have limited lifespan. Batteries have to be disposed of in a very scientific manner; end to end management has to be worked out. 

• Electric vehicles may only be a stopgap measure to what actually needs to be done for a better solution that can last us for decades.

• The recently introduced vehicle scrapping policy has considered the use of different parts of the car. At present, the necessary infrastructure for the new vehicle scrap policy is present in only few states. Hence, its implementation and how its economic value can be improved needs to be worked out. The life of a vehicle now is 10-15 years. A balance has to be created between this and carbon emissions.

• Unauthorised sector has to be brought into the mainstream for faster development.
• DMRC has eight climate change projects; four under Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and four under Gold Standard. DMRC has till now issued 44 lakh carbon credits. One carbon credit is equal to one tonne of carbon dioxide. This means that 44 lakh tonnes carbon emission has been reduced by DMRC. This includes the Regenerative Braking project, The Modal Shift project and The Energy Efficiency Project and solar power plant project. DMRC has to increase the share of renewable energy (solar) by 50 MW up to  2022.
• If the environmental problems are not handled today, the health problems will not be overcome.
• We must find which policies can be adopted in a traditional way. Until we work at the local level, we will not be able to resolve the global issues.
• Scientists must think about how the gap between the commitment and availability in Indian conditions can be minimised.
• Acceptability and implementation are the blocks and the challenge lies in how this gap can be reduced.
• All commitments made by developed countries should be fulfilled and they have to set an example for the developing world. Developed nations must present actions taken by them, which can be followed by the developing countries. 
• The world has to realise that progress will be made by taking care of the environment and not against the environment.
• A distinction has to be made between human need and human greed.
• Focus has to be on restoration of ecology, control of emissions, use of renewable energy, and sustainable economy, alternative power sources etc.
• The commitment made at COP26 by India are tough to achieve. But the targets have to be accepted and the responsibility to achieve them is to be shared by all citizens. Any change that has to come should come from within us and we should start from our homes.
• Each and every citizen of the country has a responsibility to prevent climate change and start work from the local level for the restoration of ecology, reduction of emissions, use of natural energy for development.
• The targets set out by India in COP26 are achievable provided there is a will to do so. We have to move forward as a nation.
• Associated economic benefit, ease of doing business and betterment of public life may help achieve the target even earlier than 2070.

Participants

Dr Anil Kumar

Mr Vivek Kumar

Mr Paritosh Tyagi

Mr Ashish Gulati

Dr Dipankar Saha

Mr Ankit Sethi

Mr Neeraj Tyagi

Mr Varun Singh

Mr Vikas Singhal

Dr Ravindra Kumar

Dr Saroj Kumar

Mr VK Tyagi

Mr Pradeep Khandelwal

Dr SK Gupta

Mr Raghav Khemka

Mr Rajesh Arora

Ms Ira Gupta

Dr S Sharma