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CoverStory ENVIRONMENT

other coasts are causing loss of work for fishing com- no significant data to measure the success or failure
munities. So far, Odisha has lost 153.8 km, or 28 per of these programmes. The lack of reliable data and
cent, of its coastline due to coastal erosion, shows a negligible change on ground speak more about the
study by the National Centre for Coastal Research, current state of affairs. In September this year, a new
released in July 2018. This has dealt a massive blow to draft bill to clean the Ganga river was released, with
the state government’s plan to promote beach tour- plethora of punitive measures for offenders. And yet
ism. In Lakshadweep, the sea level rise has been up to we have witnessed that climate change and pollution
0.6 m in the past 20 years. It has lost 5 per cent land- cannot be fought with punitive action proposed on
mass between 1989 and 2006, suggests ISRO’s Shore- paper. We need a shift in attitude along with a practi-
line Change Atlas in 2014. El Niño events of 1998, 2010 cal shift in government policy. The dearth of mecha-
and 2016 have weakened the coral colonies, warns a nisms to record and reveal reliable data has been a
study published in Springer in September. The report constant roadblock in ensuring quantifiable change.
suggests that absolute coral cover has reduced by With every new initiative Emissions are expected
around 40 per cent during the period. A 2014 report to decline due to various considerations outlined by
the National Electricity Plan, including adoption of
cleaner technologies, a moratorium on adding new
From 2005 to 2013, coal-based capacity, the ambitious goal of updat-
ing the fuel-mix to 40 percent non-fossil modes by
India emitted 20.54 2030 and overall packages on resource and energy
efficiency. India has committed to reduce the emis-
billion tonnes of sion intensity of its gross domestic product (GDP) by
33 to 35 percent by 2030 against 2005 levels. At the
carbon dioxide same time, through the Make in India Initiative, the
Government of India aims to encourage domestic
industrial production. Enhancing efficiency gains
equivalent, with along with a shift towards cleaner fuel can help
decouple emissions from industrial growth. Addi-
emissions growing tionally, revised Municipal Solid Waste (Management
& Handling) Rules in 2016 and an increased focus on
annually by 5.57%. “waste to wealth” should result in reduction of GHG
emissions in this sector.
Several recent international reports as well as
Emissions per capita the national economic survey point towards the
grew by 4.07% annually far reaching effects of climate change on a growing
economy like India which can hamper its develop-
ment. Extreme climate events are most detrimental
to the weaker sections of society, unable to secure
themselves against the wrath of nature. Moreover,
submitted by a panel led by Justice R V Raveendran the recent economic survey warns that climate
to the Supreme Court says there has been flagrant change could affect crop output, thus lowering farm- ARE YOUR LUNGS
disregard to the fragile ecosystem of the island in er incomes by as much as 25%. This will also affect
the developmental priorities and projects that have the national food security. Such events can indirectly
been undertaken on the islands. The report adds that threaten national peace and security due to rise in
poorly planned infrastructure and coastal embank- anti-social elements due to dearth of resources. On
ments have increased erosion. World Ozone Day, India’s Ministry of Environment, TURNING BLACK?
Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) released the
THE ROAD AHEAD draft India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP), aimed to fulfil
In June 2008, India announced its National Action the cooling requirements of the growing economy
Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). When it happened, in the face of global warming. Now we have to en-
we were just one of the 10-odd countries in the world sure that the plans become more than just symbolic The most ironic part of Delhi’s Diwali was the sight of people burning crackers
to have a consolidated policy instrument to tackle exercises to secure international standing and media
climate change. Alas, we are yet to see any signifi- coverage, if we want any chance for redemption for while wearing their pollution masks. Their love for the polluting crackers was
cant action under the same. The Namami Gange our ongoing abuse of the gifts of nature. so much that they didn’t think twice before risking their lungs and health, while
Programme launched with much fanfare, in 2014 violating the order of Supreme Court, writes PRERNA PRAS
with much fanfare has met the same fate. There is LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM

TEHELKA / 30 NOVEMBER 2018 16 WWW.TEHELKA.COM TEHELKA / 30 NOVEMBER 2018 17 WWW.TEHELKA.COM

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