Climate action must adhere to the principle of equity, providing vulnerable communities—those who contribute the least but suffer the most—with the support and resources they need for a zero-carbon transition. In a recent interview, Professor SN Mishra, a visiting Professor at TERI School of Advanced Studies and Senior Consultant for Climate Change and Sustainability at LEA Associates South Asia Private Limited, discussed with Muhammad Younis the importance of targeted policies to boost resilience of vulnerable communities and improve fair access to resources. He also highlighted the critical role of emerging technologies and behavioral changes in mitigating climate change.
#CTS: Vulnerable communities often face the brunt of climate change effects despite contributing the least to the problem. In this context, how can policies be designed to ensure that these communities receive adequate support and resources for adaptation?
Professor SN Mishra: Yes, it is true that poor and vulnerable populations contribute insignificantly to climate change, and yet they face its most severe impacts. Addressing these inequities requires a commitment to climate justice, ensuring that climate policies and actions prioritize the needs of those most at risk. These populations are particularly vulnerable due to higher exposure to environmental hazards, limited adaptive capacity, greater reliance on climate-sensitive resources, and socio-economic factors that exacerbate their vulnerability.
The World Bank reports that only one-tenth of the world's greenhouse gases are emitted by the 74 lowest-income countries, yet they will be most affected by the effects of climate change. These countries, primarily from the Global South, contribute very little to greenhouse gas emissions but face the most severe impacts of climate risks, whether chronic risk like sea level rise or acute risk like floods, heat waves, and other hydrometeorological disasters, due to poor infrastructure and limited adaptive capacity.
To mitigate the impact of climate change, targeted policies and interventions are needed to enhance adaptive capacity and resilience, improve fair access to resources, and ensure that the voices of the most vulnerable are heard and considered in climate action strategies. Government policies must focus on building adaptive capacity, improving infrastructure, providing financial support, and ensuring equitable access to healthcare, education, and social services.
Since the Paris Agreement, India has made significant strides in enhancing the adaptive capacity of its poor and vulnerable populations through various missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). It is worthwhile to mention a few initiatives that have improved the adaptive capacity of 250 million people and lifted them out of poverty.
The Indian government has empowered the poor by opening 520 million Jan Dhan accounts, providing them access to the formal banking system and finance for the first time. Additionally, all Indians have been issued a unique identity number based on their biometrics and geographical details, known as 'AADHAR,' allowing them to access all government services. To effectively utilize these details, a vast mobile and internet network has been established across the country, with almost 100% mobile penetration.
These three elements—Jan Dhan accounts, Aadhar, and mobile access—have been integrated into what is known as the 'JAM Trinity.' The JAM Trinity has successfully delivered various schemes to the actual and deserving beneficiaries, bringing about significant change.
To address this issue, the government has formulated policies specifically catering to the needs of vulnerable communities, ensuring they receive adequate support and resources to adapt to climate impacts. These strategies are delivered through the JAM Trinity (Jan Dhan accounts, Aadhar, and Mobile access):
1. Social and Financial Security
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): Enhanced and expanded to provide financial security and employment opportunities at the village level during climate-induced crises and pandemics.
Direct Cash Transfers: Implemented schemes to provide financial help to vulnerable families and poor farmers, aiding them in coping with the economic impacts of climate change, disasters, and pandemics.
2. Housing and Infrastructure
Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana: Launched an affordable housing scheme to provide climate-resilient housing to poor people free of cost, with 40 million houses built to protect communities from extreme weather events.
Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: Identified special disaster zones and invested in building infrastructure such as cyclone shelters, flood defences, drought-resistant water systems, and cooling centres in vulnerable areas.
3. Health and Well-being
Ayushman Bharat Yojana: A health scheme offering free treatment for 650 million vulnerable people. Wellness centres are being opened to manage health issues including climate-related health issues like heat strokes and vector-borne diseases.
Ujjwala Scheme: Launched a free LPG cooking gas scheme to provide clean fuel to 120 million families, reducing health risks from biomass burning and promoting a clean environment.
4. Education and Awareness
State Climate Action Plans: Implementing education programs with NGOs and local panchayats to raise awareness about climate change, train communities on pre-warning procedures, adaptation strategies, and emergency preparedness.
5. Agricultural Support
Kisan Samman Nidhis: Providing subsidies and direct cash transfers to smallholder farmers for climate-resilient crops, seeds, water-saving irrigation technologies, and training in sustainable and regenerative farming practices.
6. Livelihood Diversification
Skill Development Programs: Encouraging diversification of livelihoods to reduce dependence on climate-sensitive sectors, offering skill development programs and access to alternative employment opportunities.
7. Water and Energy Security
Nal Se Jal Scheme: Ensuring reliable access to clean water through piped safe water to every house.
Sustainable Energy Sources: Providing rooftop solar energy panels at subsidized rates and ensuring grid connectivity for uninterrupted power supply.
8. Food Security
Strengthened Food Security Programs: Providing free and subsidized food grains to 800 million people to promote good health and nutritious food to all pregnant and lactating mothers to prevent malnutrition and food shortages at all times including climate-induced disruptions.
9. Early Warning Systems and Disaster Preparedness
Early Warning Systems: Developing robust systems for extreme weather events, providing timely information through national agencies like the India Meteorological Department, National Disaster Management Authority, and State Disaster Management Authorities.
Disaster Preparedness Training: Conducting regular training and drills in vulnerable communities to enhance resilience and response capabilities.
By implementing these strategies through the JAM Trinity, the government has created an enabling environment and enhanced the adaptive capacity of poor and vulnerable populations, helping them cope with and recover from the impacts of climate change.
#CTS: Traditional mitigation efforts are not enough to curb rising greenhouse gas levels. What role do emerging technologies, such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) or geoengineering, play in your vision of effective climate change mitigation, and what are the ethical considerations associated with their deployment?
Professor SN Mishra: Emerging technologies such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) and geoengineering are increasingly viewed as essential components of effective climate change mitigation, complementing traditional efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, their implementation presents significant technical challenges and ethical considerations.
CCS technologies aim to capture CO2 emissions from large point sources like power plants and industrial facilities, then store the captured carbon underground or utilize it in other processes. The potential of CCS in climate change mitigation is considerable, particularly as it can help reduce emissions from hard-to-decarbonize sectors like cement and steel production.
Nevertheless, CCS faces several challenges due to high costs and the significant energy requirements for the capture and storage processes. There are also serious concerns about the long-term stability and safety of underground CO2 storage. Currently, CCS is still in an evolving stage and has not been effectively implemented on a wide scale.
Geoengineering encompasses a range of proposed technologies designed to deliberately manipulate the Earth's climate system, such as solar radiation management or ocean fertilization. While these approaches could potentially provide rapid cooling effects, they are highly controversial due to uncertain global impacts and potential unintended consequences of large-scale artificial alterations in atmospheric constituents. Ethical concerns about altering the Earth’s systems on a global scale are significant, as are the likely unintentional consequences. For instance, cloud seeding has been linked to unintended changes in natural weather systems. The recent extreme floods during April 24, in Dubai were attributed to extensive cloud seeding experiments conducted in that region, although no scientific study supports this claim. Global warming itself causes changes in atmospheric gases and thereby contributing to the climate crisis.
The deployment of these emerging technologies raises several ethical issues and concerns, particularly regarding who benefits from and bears the risks of these technologies. Frontline communities, already disproportionately affected by climate change, may face additional risks. The long-term effects of these technologies on future generations are not well understood, and reliance on these technologies might reduce efforts to cut emissions through traditional means. It is crucial to carefully evaluate whether the potential unforeseen negative impacts can be reversed if needed.
The deployment of these technologies, especially geoengineering must be approached with extreme caution, considering the ethical, environmental, and social implications. Robust international governance, transparency, and inclusive decision-making processes are essential to ensure these technologies are used responsibly and equitably. This approach should prioritize equity, involve diverse stakeholders in decision-making, and maintain a strong focus on reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions.
Given the current uncertainties surrounding these technologies, attempting to solve the problem of global warming with them may lead to even greater issues. Therefore, in my considered opinion, the most effective approach to carbon mitigation is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the source. This can be achieved by decreasing dependence on all forms of fossil fuels—coal, gas, and oil—and transitioning to renewable, clean, and green energy sources and processes.
#CTS: The global nature of climate change poses challenges for international cooperation, given the varied economic capabilities and priorities of different countries. How can international governance be improved to effectively address these disparities and promote coordinated climate action?
Professor SN Mishra: Climate change is a transboundary issue, with each country facing its own unique challenges. Developing countries, particularly those in the Global South, have contributed the least to climate change but are the most vulnerable to its impacts. Improving international governance to address the global nature of climate change requires a multifaceted approach that acknowledges these economic disparities and promotes coordinated action.
To enhance international cooperation on climate change, key strategies must include strengthening international agreements, providing financial and technical support, building resilient institutions, aligning climate and development goals, enhancing adaptation and resilience, encouraging private sector participation, and engaging non-state actors. Recognizing and addressing economic disparities while promoting inclusive, transparent, and equitable decision-making can foster coordinated climate action that meets the needs, aspirations, and capabilities of all countries. The main strategies that can make a significant difference include:
-The principle of equity and justice in climate agreements must be prioritized, recognizing the disproportionate impacts on vulnerable communities. Operationalizing the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) by taking into account historical emissions, current economic capabilities, and specific national needs can foster greater participation and commitment from all nations.
-Enhanced and accessible international financial support is crucial for developing countries, requiring improvements to mechanisms like the Green Climate Fund and the creation of innovative financing instruments. Developed nations must fulfil and exceed their financial commitments made during the Paris Agreement to help vulnerable countries mitigate and adapt to climate change, prioritizing adaptation efforts, technology transfer, and capacity building. Facilitating the transfer of clean technologies and knowledge from developed to developing countries can bridge the technological gap and enable low-carbon development pathways. Additionally, providing technical assistance and capacity-building programs can help these nations implement effective climate policies and actions.
-It is important to recognize that one-size-fits-all solutions are not effective. International governance should allow for flexible approaches that consider national circumstances, improving coordination between international, national, and sub-national levels to localize governance. This ensures that global agreements translate into local actions, reaching down to the village level.
-As climate impacts intensify, mechanisms to address loss and damage through the recently operationalized 'Loss and Damage Fund' should be further developed. The current state of the fund is highly inadequate compared to the significant financial requirements needed to support vulnerable and poor countries.
-Another key aspect is ensuring diverse representation in international climate negotiations and enhancing mechanisms for monitoring, reporting, and verifying climate actions to build trust among nations. Integrating climate action with broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can address multiple challenges simultaneously and create co-benefits across different sectors.
However, implementing these improvements requires sustained political will from all major climate change actors, along with increased cooperation, transparency, trust, and a shared commitment to addressing the global climate challenge.
#CTS: Individual and community behaviours significantly impact carbon footprints, but changing these behaviours is challenging. What strategies do you believe are most effective in promoting behavioural changes to support climate change mitigation efforts, and how can these strategies be scaled up for broader impact?
Professor SN Mishra: Yes. Individual and community behaviours significantly impact carbon footprints, promoting behavioural change crucial for mitigating climate change. However, ingrained habits, lack of awareness, and economic constraints make achieving these changes challenging. Therefore, effective strategies are essential to promote and scale up behavioural changes.
One effective strategy is to implement comprehensive public education campaigns to raise awareness about the environmental impacts of personal choices. Additionally, providing incentives for adopting sustainable practices, such as subsidies for renewable energy, public transportation, and eco-friendly products, can encourage people to change their behaviours.
Other strategies include community-based programs that foster local initiatives and leveraging technology and social media to share success stories and practical tips. These approaches can inspire action and maintain momentum for behavioural change.
Here, I will make a special mention of India's ‘Mission LiFE’ (Lifestyle for Environment), proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during COP26 and subsequently launched by the Indian Government, is a pivotal program aimed at fostering individual and community behavioural changes for environmental sustainability. Integrated into India's updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and highlighted in the Sharm El Sheikh implementation plan of COP27, ‘Mission LiFE’ focuses on reducing carbon footprints and promoting sustainable lifestyles and consumption patterns.
By encouraging eco-friendly practices in daily life, Mission LiFE seeks to ingrain environmentally conscious habits into society. The initiative underscores the importance of sustainable living and nudges individuals and communities toward eco-friendly lifestyles. Key components of the program include comprehensive public education campaigns, incentives for adopting renewable energy and sustainable products, and support for local environmental initiatives.
Through these efforts, Mission LiFE aims to mobilize millions globally to make sustainable choices. It demonstrates that joy can be found in producing and creating, rather than just consuming, through various initiatives. Being eco-friendly doesn’t have to be a painful or exhausting process. These actions can significantly reduce overall carbon emissions and contribute to global climate goals.
#CTS: The London Climate Technology Show seeks to outline a strategic approach for climate change mitigation and adaptation. What are your thoughts on the significance and effectiveness of events like this in driving meaningful climate action?
Professor SN Mishra: It's a great pleasure to share my thoughts on the London Climate Technology Show. Events like the London Climate Technology Show play a crucial role in driving meaningful climate action at global level by providing a platform for stakeholders to collaborate, innovate, and share knowledge. The significance of such events lies in their ability to bring together experts from various fields, including technology, policy, finance, and environmental science, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and partnerships.
These events are effective in several ways:
Showcasing Innovations: They highlight the latest advancements in climate technology, promoting the adoption of innovative solutions for mitigation and adaptation. This exposure can accelerate the implementation of effective technologies across industries.
Policy Influence: By bringing together policymakers and industry leaders, these shows can influence and shape future climate policies. The exchange of ideas and successful case studies can inform and inspire more robust climate policies.
Networking Opportunities: Events like the London Climate Technology Show provide invaluable networking opportunities, facilitating collaborations that can lead to large-scale climate projects and initiatives. These partnerships are essential for scaling up climate action efforts.
Raising Awareness: They help raise public and industry awareness about the urgency of climate change and the potential solutions available. This increased awareness can drive greater support for climate initiatives and investments in green technologies.
Funding and Investment: Such events often attract investors looking for sustainable investment opportunities, which can lead to increased funding for climate-related projects and startups, further driving innovation and implementation.
Climate change is a transboundary issue, and bringing all stakeholders together on such platforms to discuss, deliberate, and share climate concerns is essential for finding solutions. I commend the organizers of the London Climate Technology Show for serving as catalysts for innovation, collaboration, dialogue, and knowledge sharing. Events like this play a significant role in mobilizing resources, knowledge, technology and action towards effective climate change mitigation and adaptation, making them pivotal in the global effort to combat climate change. I also thank the organizers for associating me in the fight against climate change, and I am confident that together we will overcome this unprecedented and existential crisis facing humanity.
