The book: State of the world 2009:

Confronting Climate Change mentions that the poor nations of the world are at high risk. The foreword brings out the point that: “Some regions of the world would be affected more than the others. In Africa, 75-250 million would experience water stress as early as 2020.”

In a chapter, titled The Perfect Storm, the tragedy of inaction over climate change due to the United States’ rejection of the Kyoto protocol is laid bare. The world has been taken to the brink due to the inaction of the world at large despite early warnings from scientists. Global emissions of CO2 have risen by 37 per cent between 1990 and 2007. US emissions of CO2 from fossil fuel combustion grew by 27 per cent but in China they grew by 150 percent.

The problem caused by accelerating emissions is not the only challenge and the 10 key challenges that must be met in order to “create the world of zero net greenhouse emissions” are an indication of the multiple issues that surround climate stability.

The book also raises pertinent issues with respect to land use. In the chapter on ‘Farming and Land Use’, the authors tell us that land used for agriculture, deforestation and devegetation led to 31 per cent of total CO2 emissions in 2004. This fact highlights the need to implement agricultural reforms with immediate effect. It also emphasises the importance for regulating the use of land to maintain its natural biodiversity and for allowing it to play its natural role of carbon sinks. India, as a country, spends millions on agricultural subsidies which has resulted in indiscriminate use of harmful chemicals and over-exploitation of water. The National Action Plan of the government of India is addressing these issues.

Climate change is a battle that needs to be fought on all fronts and women, according to a chapter in the book: ‘Vulnerabilities and Adaptive Capacities’, have a key role to play. Research shows that women are likely to be worst affected by climate change and given that in most countries, especially the poor and under developed, women have limited access to medical facilities, the dangers they face are graver. Chapter by chapter the book investigates the impact of climate change on diverse groups, countries and segments with expertise.

The only way ahead, given the grim pronouncements that science offers, appears to be developing efficient and affordable alternative energy systems across industries. And the book provides a comprehensive list of alternatives to fossil fuels (a detailed list of alternatives can be found in Chapter 4, on p140). It also provides an extremely useful timeline which cover several significant events.

The book reinforces the message: If the world does not take action early and in adequate measure, climate change could overwhelm the capacity of all species to adapt. With all roads leading to Copenhagen the book gives out a thoroughly, researched framework for developing a roadmap that can guide the world away from such a grim future. It is now for leaders in every walk of life to take note and initiate action. 

Ten Challenges for creating a better World

Climate change issues need to be demystified for governments and people to become a part of the movement. The challenges identified in the book help do that:

1. Thinking long term: People are often unable to think beyond their life span. However this is one issue that needs human beings to perceive the threat that a changing climate poses not just for our lives but for future generations. As the book says, just like the Europeans built cathedrals to last millennia, “we need to start acting as if the future of the planet matters.”
2. Innovation: Technologies that promote the use of carbon-free energy are the need of the hour and innovative thinking is required for their development and deployment.
3. Population: The world needs to revisit the population debate and nations must invest in family planning, health and education of women to reverse the galloping rate of growth of population.
4. Changing lifestyles: People must be willing to change the way they travel, live, eat and deal with waste to make a positive impact on the climate.
5. Healing land: Degraded forests and land must become a thing of the past and the world must move towards setting up effective carbon sinks in the form of well-cultivated land and more green cover.
6. Strong institutions: A firm and effective regulatory body and new and innovative funding organisations have to evolve in the years ahead.
7. The equity imperative: There is a need to recognise that rich and industrialised countries that have been responsible for the bulk of emissions in the past as well as those that have been less polluting in the past need to work together towards a solution.
8. Economic stability: Climate agreements must take into account the fact that the world will swing between cycles of economic prosperity as well as downturns. Thus a pact must ensure that energy efficiency and cost is not inversely proportional.
9. Political stability: Climate change treaties could provide an opportunity for peace and cooperation and that must be seized upon by all countries
10. Mobilising for change: The world needs to provide momentum to the climate-change mitigation and adaptation movement. The chance to do that is going to be the Copenhagen meet on climate change.

Manish Vaidya, General Manager, TQMS