Steering Collective Action Against Climate Change Crisis

Abstract

This research paper will look into the phenomenon of climate change and the role of individual nations as well as international platforms on addressing this crisis before its escalates into deep, irreversible damages to planet earth. The reported cases of rampant forest fires, flooding, and famines in developed and developing countries across the globe have underlined once again the severity of challenges before us. In the United Nations-led COP26 summit, held in Glasgow, Scotland during October 31- November 13 this year, different countries have reiterated their commitment to reducing carbon gas emissions, although the target years offered by major countries like the USA at year 2050, China year 2060 and India at year 2070 makes one wonder if the targets are realistic enough to arrest global warming and the extreme weather patterns that arise from it. While the efforts of countries like India to switch to renewable energy for cooking and transportation purposes via electricity and hydrogen fuels are appreciated, it remains to be seen how effective they would turn out to be considering higher than expected spikes in average temperature world wide.

Also differences between the developed and developing countries on the cost of implementing zero-carbon emissions measures on local economic structure and, thereby, associated human welfare has led several developing countries, including India and China, to demand compensation from the industrially developed nations as despite housing smaller populations, they have been major contributors to global warming. It is important that an agreement is reached on this between the two groups to decisively implement the changes in the nick of time since an inter-governmental panel IPCC has said in its Sixth Assessment Report, “Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science” that no more precious time can be lost in ‘prevarication’ or in finding new excuses not to act. It has urged all the countries to decarbonise their economies to reduce green house gas emissions below the 2010 levels to 45 to 50 per cent by 2030 while reaching zero emission levels by 2050.

Developed countries have a lot to contribute besides offering financial compensation to poorer nations; with their advanced research and development sector they must also come up with innovative carbon-capture technologies to clean the environment and other innovative techniques to help lesser developed countries to transition to a decarbonised economic model. Despite the efforts towards a smooth transition, it would be realistic to expect major changes in human behaviour that would have a telling effect on general human welfare in the near future. The researcher will trace the efforts of global community leaders towards evolving effective social and economic policies for such a transition.