COP-28 is not just a mere convenience, everyone should gear up to control climate.

The United Nations Climate Conference-COP-28 being held in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is very important to consider the earth’s environmental concerns and solve the problems because the impact of global warming is clearly visible on our lives. In the Paris Agreement signed in 2021, there was talk of limiting the world temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius, this year there have been more than 38 days in which the temperature was one and a half degrees above the average. This year, the increase in temperature, heat of the ocean, loss of ice in Antarctica, etc. have increased the effects of global warming to worrying levels. Due to which, the danger of drowning of many cities and metropolitan cities situated on the sea shore is looming, floods, droughts and landslides are happening again and again. Therefore, developed countries need to reduce their carbon emissions and invest in green energy. The deteriorating environment and the deadly consequences of climate change have made life complicated.

Scientists and environmentalists are warning that global temperatures will increase further in the coming decades, so if the world is not vigilant now, then no one will be able to save the twenty-first century from terrible disasters. In the G-20 conference held in Rome, all the countries have agreed to reduce the earth’s temperature by 1.5 degrees Celsius. Apart from this, the facts of controlling emissions have been determined. The G-20 has even promised to reach carbon neutrality by the middle of the century. Due to floods at some places, drought at some places and unseasonal rains at some places, meteorologists around the world are considering 2023 as a year where the Earth’s environment is entering an unknown area i.e. a crisis environment. It is obvious that COP-28 will now have to reach a decisive and executive level; only attractive plans and speeches will not suffice, as the 198 countries and their representatives currently participating in it have been providing empty comfort. COP meetings may be held to outline a better future, but barring a Paris Agreement, little has been done to solve the problem. To get rid of this huge and burning problem, all the representative countries will not only have to tighten their belts but will also have to provide economic cooperation.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also participated in COP-28. At the International Climate Conference (COP 26) held in Glasgow, he had advocated helping backward countries in the growing environmental crisis so that the poor population can live a secure life. Modi gave a clear message to the rich countries that saving the earth should be their priority, they cannot escape this responsibility. In fact, the stance taken by rich countries on the issue of reducing carbon emissions is going to deepen this crisis. The deadly effects of climate change have increased the concerns not only of India but the entire world. India’s concern about the apathy and careless attitude of rich and powerful countries to deal with the climate crisis is not unwarranted. The world will have to take the challenge of climate change seriously and take steps to reduce its ill effects. Till now, due to their selfishness, many countries of the world do not take fast steps in this direction, especially the rich countries. In fact, to achieve the goal of net zero, huge investments will have to be made in green energy and the use of polluting fuels will have to be reduced. But this may reduce economic growth for some time. Due to this also, a hesitation is visible in many countries, due to which the future of future generations and the environment on the earth may be spoiled.

The displacement caused by global warming in India is much greater than estimated. With changing weather patterns, the intensity of primary disasters has increased in different parts of the country. The report released by the International Institute for Environment and Development on climate change in India states that there is a decline in fish farming due to crop destruction due to floods and droughts and cyclones. Many people have lost their lives due to landslides within the country. Landslides are not limited to two states like Uttarakhand and Himachal, but in the hills of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Sikkim and West Bengal, people have lost their lives due to heavy rains, floods and landslides. Most of the victims of these natural disasters are the poor. Poor people are unable to bear the brunt of primary calamities and are being uprooted from their lands. Poor people have migrated to safer places. Displacement is continuously increasing. Metros and densely populated cities are victims of severe pollution, where life is becoming more complex.

Governments of many states in India are at loggerheads over the distribution of river water. Elections are being fought and won in the name of not giving our water to anyone else under any circumstances or snatching water from anyone else under any circumstances. But how to improve the condition of rivers, how to increase their water and how to prevent them from becoming garbage heaps, this matter is beyond the agenda of politics, let alone even civil society. There is a modern saying that we are playing with our planet as if we have kept some other planet locked in a box as an alternative – what if it gets spoiled, we will play with it!

In America’s National Intelligence Estimate report, India has been included among the 11 countries, including Pakistan and Afghanistan, which are considered in the category of concern in terms of climate change. According to the report, these are countries which are particularly weak in terms of their ability to deal with the environmental and social challenges arising due to climate change. It has also been told in the report that China and India are going to play an important role in determining the condition of world temperature in the coming time. After all, China is the world’s largest carbon emitter. Even though India is at fourth position, it joins China because the amount of emissions in both these countries is increasing year after year. It is well known that there is a deep connection between humans and nature. Human greed, convenienceism and the concept of so-called development have caused huge damage to the environment. Due to climate crisis and rising temperatures, not only rivers, forests, deserts, water sources are shrinking but glaciers are also melting, which is a sign of destruction. Due to which human life is also becoming unsafe.

There is a need that COP-28 should inspire the rich nations to be sensitive and generous as well as to be in harmony with nature and be aware of it, so that we can get rid of the climate crisis and achieve the goal of zero carbon emissions by 2050. can do. The dangerous effect of global warming is that summers are becoming hotter and winters are becoming hotter. Due to this, glaciers are melting rapidly and increasing the sea level rapidly. The continuously changing nature of the environment has undoubtedly forced us to think about its increasing ill effects. Due to continuously increasing emissions of industrial gases and rapid reduction in forest cover, the ozone layer is getting depleted. The effect of this unnatural change is visible in the form of climate changes happening at the global level. To get rid of it, we will have to wake up, be sensitive and the powerful nations of the world will have to gear up for cooperation, only then we will be able to deal with the climate crisis, otherwise it will be a big crime against world humanity.

-Lalit Garg

(The author is a senior journalist and columnist)