Daily Hot Topic
G7 Countries Lag on Climate Action: Reports
GS-2 Mains
Reports Released on April 23rd:
- Climate inaction by developed countries: Highlighted by two reports.
- Impact on Asia: Makes Asia the world’s “disaster capital” according to World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
G7 Emission Cuts:
- G7 falling short of emission reduction targets as per the Paris Agreement.
- Aim: Limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels.
- Finding by Climate Analytics: G7 on track to achieve only half the necessary reductions by 2030.
Report Significance:
- Released before G7 Climate Ministers Meeting (April 28th, Italy).
- Highlights lack of action from developed nations despite their resources.
Overall Impact:
- High cost of inaction for climate-vulnerable regions, especially Asia.
G7 Countries Fall Short on Climate Pledges (Report)
Emission Reduction Targets:
- G7 needs a 58% cut by 2030 (compared to 2019) to limit warming to 1.5°C.
- Current G7 target: 40-42% (insufficient).
- Existing policies suggest they’ll only achieve 19-33% by 2030.
Recommendations for G7:
- Phase out domestic coal power by 2030, gas power by 2035.
- End public funding for fossil fuels abroad.
- Triple renewable energy and double energy efficiency by 2030.
- Increase international climate finance beyond $100 billion goal.
Overall Impact:
- G7 economies (38% of global GDP) not doing enough despite resources.
- World Bank/IMF show slight increase in climate finance, but insufficient.
- G7 needs to prioritize fixing climate finance to enable collective action.
India’s Climate Challenges: Siloed Governance and Urgent Action Needed
Climate Impacts and Report Findings:
- WMO report highlights rapid warming in India, exceeding the global average (1991-2023).
- Experts warn India is particularly vulnerable due to:
- Warming oceans on three sides
- Melting Himalayan glaciers
- Increased frequency of extreme weather events:
- 50% rise in Arabian Sea cyclones (past 4 decades)
- Projections of more severe cyclones
Gaps in Climate Governance:
- Lack of integration between climate-related ministries (e.g., earth science, environment, agriculture).
- Top-down policies not well-coordinated with ground-level action.
- Absence of climate change as a major political discussion point (2024 Lok Sabha Elections).
Recommendations for Improvement:
- Strengthen communication and collaboration between relevant ministries.
- Develop rigorous climate adaptation plans at the district level.
- Establish a dedicated climate change ministry or multidisciplinary committee.
- Involve climate experts in policymaking.
Overall Significance:
- WMO report emphasizes the urgency of evidence-based climate policies in India.
- Early warning systems and enhanced climate services are crucial for adaptation.
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