Teenaged climate
change activist Greta Thunberg’s historic address at the UN climate summit has
sparked a global youth movement to fight climate change. Her stern remarks at
opening of the summit have certainly shaken the world leaders when she said
that they’ve let down her entire generation by not acting on climate change.
How do environmentalists view the young activist’s concern for impacts of
climate change on young generation? Where do we go from here?
Anju Grover for
Indian Currents
spoke to
Professor Madhav Gadgil who headed an
environmental research commission appointed by the Ministry of Environment and
Forests of India.
The Western Ghats
Ecology Experts Panel report, also known as the ‘Gadgil report’, had
highlighted the ecological sensitivity of the Western Ghats. Published in 2011,
the report was outright rejected by the Centre and the state governments
including Kerala.
IC: What are your
comments on Greta Thunberg at UN Climate summit where she accused world leaders
of betraying her generation by failing to tackle greenhouse gas emissions and
challenged them for committing such a blunder?
Professor Madhav
Gadgil:
It is a welcome move. These are very vital issues and certainly young people
are bound to be concerned. I am happy that concerns are being raised. People,
who are responsible for such conditions, are taking note of what she said.
IC:
Swedish teen's message to these world
leaders that we will be watching you, has literally questions these leaders of
not doing anything on climate improvement.
This is a very
reasonable accusation levelled by her.
IC: Greta further hit
out at these leaders for stealing her dreams and childhood with your empty
words. People are suffering, people are dying, entire ecosystems are
collapsing. According to her this is the beginning of mass extinction, and all
one can talk about is the money and fairy tales of eternal economic
growth," your views.
It is very
appropriate on her part to hit out at these leaders.
IC:
Have things really improved across the world after
2015 Paris summit?
A few European
countries have taken steps to deal with climate change. Most of Scandinavian
countries like Denmark, Sweden and Norway are taking serious actions. Rest of
the world has not taken any serious action to deal with climate change. India
is also in this list.
IC: Nearly eight
years ago, you had warned about the impending natural disasters threatening
coastal states, unless critical steps were taken to conserve the ecologically
fragile Western Ghats. You had
suggested
shifting from large-scale cultivation of single commercial crops on steep
slopes, which was leading to soil erosion and increased run-off, and
controlling massive encroachment and deforestation in the catchment areas of
major rivers. Look at what happened in these states as they faced monsoon fury
with floods and landslides killing hundreds across Kerala, Karnataka and
Maharashtra.
It is beyond doubt that
they deliberately ignored recommendations the Gadgil commission. The
Maharashtra government has presented distorted facts of the commission's
report. I had pointed to the then Forest minister about the attempts to mislead
the people by misrepresenting findings of the Commission. The most glaring
example is stone quarries plundering Western Ghats. In Kerala, it has become
very serious because of the construction of port. Rock quarries are
flourishing. Agriculture has been badly affected and people have resorted to
protests. The Commission had found that a vast majority of quarries were
illegal as no permission had been taken from local authorities to operate them.
The state government allowed quarries to function 50 metres away from
residential areas. . Owners of quarries are making huge profits. The state
government has not taken steps and the situation is worsening in Kerala. The
commission had recommended protecting the resources with the help of local
governments and people, but those recommendations were outright rejected. Quarrying
is a major reason for the mudslides and landslides.
IC: India, US and
China are among the largest greenhouse gas emitters in the world. Why has India
not done enough to curb emissions?
Coal and oil lobbies
are very powerful in India. It appears that these lobbyists work in close
coordination with those in power. In Goa, tons of coal is being uploaded at the
Mormugao Port Trust for transportation to factories in Karnataka. People of
Vasco have been opposing the movement of coal through their areas as it has
increased pollution hurt their health their land and their livelihood.
The global warming
has another important component in the form of black carbon particles which not
only increase temperature but also changes the pattern of rainfall. The landslide
in Kerala could have happened due to black carbon particles.
IC: Under Paris
climate agreement, countries are expected to commit by 2020 to more aggressive
climate plans, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs), than those
they set in 2015 when the agreement was signed. However, many countries are
struggling to meet their (already weak) targets, and global greenhouse gas
emissions are still rising. Your views.
A few European
countries have taken action while others have done little on the ground.
IC: Mitigation
efforts, which address the causes, do have an immediate economic cost. The
developed countries appear unwilling to accept differentiated responsibilities.
Your views.
The US and UK are the
rogue countries which are not willing to make mitigation efforts. While other
developed countries like Norway, Sweden and Germany are making efforts.
IC: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi said that the world’s climate change ambitions must be
higher.
He also pledged that India would
increase its renewable energy production capacity for 175 gigawatts to 450
gigawatts by 2022. For comparison, India has about 330 gigawatts of total
installed power capacity. Do you think these steps should be sufficient?
While building solar
power plants, the ground reality should not be ignored. The local community
must be involved and empowered. Kochi airport, for instance, is a solar powered
airport which has been constructed without analysing environmental consequences.
Villagers have protested and even broke solar panels of the power project at
Kochi airport.
The Gadgil commission
had suggested that 140,000 kilometres of the Western Ghats be classified in
three zones as per the requirement of environmental protection in the areas. In
some areas, it recommended for strong restrictions on mining and quarrying, use
of land for non-forest purposes, construction of high rises etc. In Goa, mining
has destroyed the environment in many ways. Following hue and cry, the Shah
Commission had probed into illegal activities in mining.
The report had clearly stated that there has
been no regulation of mining from the part of government machinery. The report
said that illegal mining had destroyed water resources, agriculture and bio-
diversity of Goa. Those in the mining business made huge money.
IC:
How has been the journey from 2015 Paris
summit till now?
There are some
countries who are taking definite action…but things are worsening in other countries.
In India, no proper action has been taken on the climate change issue.
IC: What about ban on
single use plastic products from October 2?
It is a welcome step.
It can surely be implemented throughout the country. Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim have been
implementing it.
(Published
on 30th September 2019, Volume XXXI, Issue 40)
