Climate change taking a toll on global health:

Climate change taking a toll on global health:

Context:

New research published by The Lancet medical journal states that on an average there has been a 5.3% fall in productivity for rural labour estimated globally since 2000, as a result of rising temperatures around the world.

The Lancet report:

• Lancet study estimates 1.9 million deaths in 21 Asian countries in 2015 that could be attributed to PM2.5 air pollution from sources such as coal plants, transport, household pollution, others
• The report talks of the various ways climate change has started affecting the health of people across the planet.
• Doctors, academics and policy makers have contributed to the analysis and jointly authored the first report of “The Lancet Countdown: Tracking Progress on Health and Climate Change”.
• Partners behind the research include the World Bank, World Health Organization (WHO), University of London and Tsinghua University.

Anthropogenic effect

• The research builds on the work of the 2015 Lancet Commission on Health and Climate Change, which concluded that anthropogenic climate change threatens to undermine the last 50 years of gains in public health.
• The report said that over one billion people globally will be faced with a need to migrate within 90 years, due to a rise in sea level caused by ice shelf collapse, unless action is taken.
• The research found that 87% of a random sample of global cities are in breach of WHO air pollution guidelines.
• The world has seen a 46% global increase in weather related disasters since 2000, the reported pointed out.
• The total value of economic losses resulting from climate-related extreme weather events was estimated at $129 billion in 2016.

What is Climate Change?

• Climate change is a long-term shift in the statistics of the weather (including its averages).
• For example, it could show up as a change in climate normals (expected average values for temperature and precipitation) for a given place and time of year, from one decade to the next.

Why is climate changing?

Natural causes

• Climate change is a normal part of the Earth’s natural variability.
• It is related to interactions among the atmosphere, ocean, and land.

Variation in Solar energy:

• It is also related to changes in the amount of solar radiation reaching the earth-As the stream of solar energy reaches earth, the character of the Earth’s orbit and of its rotation plays a major role in causing long-term climate change.

Volcanic eruptions:

• Explosive volcanic eruptions can inject large quantities of dust and the gas, sulphur dioxide, high into the atmosphere.
• Whereas volcanic debris in the lower atmosphere falls out or is rained out within days, the veil of pollution in the upper atmosphere is above the weather and may remain for several years, gradually spreading to cover much of the globe.
• The volcanic pollution results in a substantial reduction in the stream of solar energy as it passes through the upper layers of the atmosphere, reflecting a significant amount back out to space.

Anthropogenic Causes

• Humans are increasingly influencing the climate and the earth’s temperature.

What is Paris agreement?

It is an agreement within the UNFCCC dealing with greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, adaptation and finance starting in the year 2020. The Paris Accord is considered as a turning point for global climate policy.

Aims:

• The central aim is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
• It further aims at pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
• The agreement aims to increase the ability of countries to deal with the impacts of climate change.
• It also aims at making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development.
• The Paris Agreement was adopted by 195 countries at the 21st Conference of the Parties of the UNFCC in Paris on 12th December 2015.

India’s commitment to climate change

• Post US withdrawal from Paris Agreement, India announced that it would continue its support for climate action.
• Given the current scenario, India could play a leadership role in mobilizing the climate-vulnerable countries, to recommit to and strengthen the Paris Agreement.
• India could also formally make clause with China and the European Union (EU).China and EU have reportedly planned alliance to lead the implementation of the Paris Accord.
• Recently, the price of solar energy has fallen and the need for coal has also decreased substantially, indicating that India is well placed to make a transition to clean energy use.
• As a strategy to reduce its emission, India has embarked on a massive renewable energy programme.
• Upscaling the National Solar Mission, India has set a target of 100 gigawatts (GW) of installed solar energy capacity by 2022. This is five times higher than the original 20 GW target. May 2017 has seen record drop in solar power prices to Rs 2.44/kWh.
• India also recently became the fourth largest producer of wind energy in the world and announced plans to cancel 14 GW of coal plants. Indeed, India is currently in a strong position not only to meet, but exceed its Paris climate targets.
• Even under India’s new tax regime, 18% of tax is proposed to be levied on electric cars, vis-a-vis 28% tax on conventional cars.
• The green power revolution is envisaged to attract millions in investment and create job opportunities, while providing a substantial boost to export of new commodities.
• In the aftermath of creating the largest market of solar power for itself, India has now proposed a pioneering commitment to sell only electric cars by 2030.

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs):

• NDCs are contributions that each country should make in order to achieve the worldwide goals.
• The level of NDC that each country sets determines the targets to be achieved by the particular country.
• These contributions should be reported every five years.
• The principle of ‘progression’ prevails which indicates that the next NDC should be more ’ambitious’ than the previous one.

What are India’s intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) targets?

Reduce emission intensity by 33 to 35 per cent by 2030 compared to 2005 levels

• India will introduce new, more efficient and cleaner technologies in thermal power generation.
• Reducing emissions from transportation sector.
• Promote energy efficiency, mainly in industry, transportation, buildings and appliances.
• Develop climate resilient infrastructure.
• Pursue Zero Effect, Zero Defect policy under Make in India programme.

Produce 40 per cent of electricity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030, if international community helps with technology transfer and low cost finance.

• India will install 175 GW of solar, wind and biomass electricity by 2022, and scale up further in following years
• India will aggressively pursue development of hydropower.
• Will try to achieve the target of 63 GW of installed nuclear power capacity by 2032

Create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030 through additional forest and tree cover.

• India is looking towards full implementation of Green India Mission and other programmes of afforestation.
• Develop 140,000 km long tree line on both sides of national highways.

Develop robust adaptation strategies for agriculture, water and health sectors

• Redesign National Water Mission and National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture
• Active implementation of ongoing programmes like National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture, setting up of 100 mobile soil-testing laboratories, distribution of soil health cards to farmers.
• Additional impetus on watershed development through Neeranchal scheme
• Effective implementation of National Mission on Clean Ganga
• Early formulation and implementation of National Health Mission
• Complete Integrated Coastal Zone Management plan. Mapping and demarcation of coastal hazard lines.

Major Climate Laws in India

National Action Plan on Climate Change, 2008 –

• The Plan outlines eight “national missions” running until 2017. These include solar, energy efficiency, sustainable habitat, Green India (REDD & LULUCF), water, Himalaya ecosystems, agriculture and strategic knowledge of climate change.

National Electricity Plan, 2012 –

• The Plan’s 4th chapter deals with initiatives and measures for GHG mitigation, and aims to keep CO2 intensity declining while massively expanding rural access and increasing power generation to meet the demands of a rapidly growing economy.

Post – Copenhagen domestic actions, 2010 –

• On 10 May 2010, India released its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory for 2007, with the aim of enabling informed decision‐making and to ensure transparency. India has become the first “non‐Annex I” (i.e. developing) country to publish such updated numbers.

National Clean Energy Fund

• India has announced a levy, a clean energy cess, on coal, at the rate of Rs. 50 (US$1) per tonne, which will apply to both domestically produced and imported coal. This money will go into a National Clean Energy Fund that will be used for funding research, innovative projects in clean energy technologies and environmental remedial programmes. Expected earnings are US$500 million for the financial year 2010–2011.

Impacts of climate change:

• More than half a million Indians are estimated to have died prematurely in 2015 due to particulate matter (PM) 2.5 air pollution, according to a new Lancet report that highlights the significant public health risks from climate change.
• The medical journal said that the world has seen a 46% increase in weather-related disasters since 2000, contributing to $129 billion in economic losses in 2016.
• It estimated an average of 5.3% fall in productivity for rural labour globally since 2000 as a result of rising temperatures.
• The study estimated 1.9 million deaths across 21 Asian countries in 2015 that could be attributed to PM2.5 air pollution from sources like coal power plants, transport, household pollution, waste, shipping, agriculture and others.
• PM2.5 (particulate matters less than 2.5 micron) is one of the deadliest components of air pollution. It is a fine particle that can settle deep in the lungs and be absorbed in the bloodstream, which can lead to respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer.
• However, it is not Asia alone that faces high air pollution—the report revealed that “87% of random sample of global cities are in breach of WHO air pollution guidelines, meaning billions of people worldwide are exposed to unsafe levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5)”.
• Undernutrition as the largest health impact of climate change in the 21st century” and noted a 6% decline in global wheat yields and 10% fall in rice yields for each additional one degree Celsius rise in global temperature.
• The report observed that climate change is affecting the health of all populations and that these impacts are disproportionately felt by communities least responsible for climate change and those who are the most vulnerable in society.