Climate Change and India’s Role
“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.”
— Mahatma Gandhi
Human-induced climate change is the biggest threat to humanity. The world is facing a critical challenge of climate change, but no one wants to take the responsibility to mitigate this. There are several summits that take place every year. Certain proposals and commitments are made, but there is no concrete action taken to combat climate challenges.
Climate change is a phenomenon that came into light after the Industrial Revolution. It has reached at a critical stage today. Industrialisation is a major cause of climate change worldwide. The use of fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas causes global warming, which ultimately leads to climate change. Deforestation is another major cause of climate change. There is massive deforestation still going on in many countries in the name of development. For instance, India plans to cut lakhs of trees for construction of transshipment port in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Climate change not only impacts on the environment but also leads to many diseases. There is a rise in pandemics due to climate change. Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are already facing the wrath of climate change. Malnutrition, child stunting and wasting are rising due to hunger and lack of adequate nutrition. Climate change affects agricultural productivity. This will lead to the challenges of food security. UN SDG 2 (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2), which aims to achieve zero hunger cannot be achieved if the impact of climate change persists. Erratic monsoon and longer period of heatwaves are a major threat for the survival of humans and wildlife. The regularity and intensity of sudden floods followed by droughts has increased in many countries due to erratic monsoons. For example, Bihar faces a major flood every year. Similarly, heatwaves cause drought situations and depletion of water levels, for example, in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra and in the South Bihar region.
Climate change leads to forest fires, which destroys massive flora and fauna. For instance, Australia faces forest fires every year, which endangered the lives of koalas and kangaroos. Melting of glaciers like Himalayan glaciers, Arctic and Antarctica glaciers poses a severe challenge of water level rise in the ocean. There is a possibility that many island countries will be submerged under water due to a rise in sea level. For example, cities like Jakarta (Indonesia) are facing the challenge already. Maldives, Mauritius and other small countries will disappear if climate change persists.
The Kyoto Protocol (1997) is a landmark international environmental treaty adopted to combat climate shift in global climate governance. Unlike the Kyoto Protocol which imposed mandatory emission targets only on developed countries, the Paris Agreement requires climate commitments from all participating countries. The core objective of the Paris Agreement is to limit the increase in global average temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. However, the execution of these global initiatives faces significant challenges due to geopolitical changes such as volatile participation of major historical emitters like the United States of America. There is also a lack of climate finance and technology transfer from developed countries. The developed nations do not want to take responsibility and pressure developing countries like India to reduce its carbon emissions, while India advocates for Common Goal but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR).
India’s vast geographical landscape is vulnerable to climate change. Rapid structural development in the Himalayas is a critical reason for disasters like flash floods and landslides. The Kedarnath tragedy of 2013 and the Sikkim cloudburst incident of 2023 remind us to act responsibly in such sensitive climate zones. The melting of Himalayan glaciers threatens the perennial flow of major rivers like Ganga and Brahmaputra. Simultaneously, rising sea levels and intense tropical cyclones pose a severe threat to millions of lives along India’s 7,500 Km coastline.
Extreme summer heatwaves are becoming longer and more intense, leading to loss of lives and reducing labour productivity for outdoor workers. Agriculture employs nearly half of India’s workforce and is heavily reliant on the monsoon. Climate change has led to erratic rainfall patterns, causing prolonged droughts in some regions and devastating flash floods in others, directly threatening food security.
India’s role is critical in addressing climate change and its mitigation. India is the most populous country in the world and also one of the largest emitters of CO₂. India’s contribution to global warming and climate change is a challenge, but India is also taking the responsibility and taking steps to combat the situation. India has committed itself for net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. This is a challenge as India has to meet the needs of its 1.4 billion people.
India has taken many initiatives to combat climate change. In 2008, India launched National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), which shows India’s commitment to the issue of climate change. In 2015, India, along with France laid the foundation for International Solar Alliance (ISA) and now it has more than 120 members. India’s “Panchamrit” mission is also a major initiative promoting renewable energy. India already achieved its target of 50% renewable energy, which was supposed to be completed by 2030. This shows India’s commitment and proactive role in the mitigation of climate change.
India’s energy transition has been very fast over the last 10 years. From initiatives like PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojna to National Green Hydrogen Mission, India’s rising role in climate action is appreciated by the world. India is also moving rapidly towards sustainable agriculture and ecology by implementing initiatives like PM-PRANAM, PM-KUSUM and MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative).
India’s proactive stance on climate change is evident in its policy decisions and their implementation. Mission LiFE and Nationally Determined Contribution for the 2031-35 period ensure that the momentum from the “Panchamrit” targets continue into the next decade. India is proving that development and ecological responsibility can coexist. By balancing its domestic growth requirements with visionary global initiatives, India continues to serve as an indispensable pillar of global climate leadership.
The world needs to act together in this crisis and follow the Indian civilizational concept of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” which emphasizes universal brotherhood, interconnectedness and peaceful coexistence.
By:
Nishant Kumar
Intermediate – St. Xavier’s College, Ranchi
Graduation – B. Com from Patna University
Post Graduation – M.com from Patliputra University