Role of political parties in addressing climate issues

Source – This post on Role of political parties in addressing climate issues has been created based on the article “Poll campaigns in India must reflect climate issues” published in “The Hindu” on 1 April 2024.

UPSC Syllabus – GS Paper 2 – Salient Features of the Representation of People’s Act & GS Paper 3 – Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation

Context – WHO has recently released The State of the Global Climate report which states that 2023 was the hottest year in the recorded history of the planet. As per the report, records for a rise in ocean temperatures, glacier retreat and diminishing Antarctic ice cover were also broken.
The author makes a case for mainstreaming climate change issue into political discourses during the election year.

What is the negative impact of rising global temperature?

1) There has been a rise in the frequency of extreme weather events such as heat waves, torrential rains and tropical cyclones.

2) It disrupts many activities including agriculture and significantly impacts socio-economic developments around the world.

What has been the principal driver of industrial progress since the mid 18 century?

The principal drivers of this progress have been mechanization and technology-led innovations in all sectors. There has been over exploitation of natural resources to drive progress in the post-Industrial Revolution period.

However, over dependence on natural resources for energy requirements has negatively impacted the climate. For ex-use of fossil fuel has led to large emissions of greenhouse gases that leads to the rise in global temperatures.

Read more- Time for a technology manifesto

What are the steps taken by the world and India particularly?

1) Paris Climate Deal– It is a legally binding global agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that was adopted in 2015. It aims to combat climate change and limit global warming to well below 2o C above pre-industrial levels, with an ambition to limit warming to 1.5o C.

2) Indian government initiative–
a) It has launched the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). The National Solar Mission was one of the missions under the NAPCC.

B) It has also announced the National Green Hydrogen Mission. This demonstrates Indias strong commitment to the energy transition plan.

How can election season present an opportunity to ensure climate justice?

1) The concerns expressed in WMO report should alarm all political parties to take climate change as an important election issue. It is possible that people may wholeheartedly welcome such stands taken by political parties.

2) Political parties can commit themselves to enhancing public awareness on climate change and spelling out mitigatory steps to reduce global warming.

3) It is possible to have political differences in approaching climate change issues, but this will provide voters an opportunity to assess these views and make an informed decision.

4) In order to be counted as a true world power in the Amrit Kaal,Indian political parties can demonstrate strong commitment to the principle of climate justice and make this an important political issue.

All political parties are presenting their ideas to shape India’s economic prosperity and the well-being of its people. However, without addressing the issue of a climate change action plan, this idea of prosperity would be incomplete.

Question for practice

How can political party’s trigger collective action to raise awareness about climate justice?