Outrageous and unseasonal climate events affected 10 months of 2024. This preceded the countries on the planet meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan, to talk about the environmental emergency. The weather in India today shows a similar trend. Before the last leg of the rainstorm, it seemed like 52 degrees in Guwahati.
Assam and portions of other northeastern states were hit by a phenomenal intensity wave in September. This wave claimed several lives and forced schools to close. Though in a similar period, nearby West Bengal endured the worst part of flooding in six regions. Keep in mind, all through January, there was not a piece of snow in Gulmarg and other places in Kashmir.
This was trailed by a repulsive summer. It saw a record number of heatwaves and heat-related deaths across the country. Leh, a cold desert, was excessively hot for trips to take off. Delhi‘s intensity file touched 53°C. Additionally, it recorded the longest heatwave, which lasted over a month (May 14-June 21).
Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai self-destructed on a stormy day. Brilliant urban communities like Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Kota, Nashik, and Surat also faced destruction. The misfortune in Wayanad, Kerala, and other avalanches in Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand should act as a wake-up call. It reminds us that severe weather conditions are a cruel reality.
What’s more, not just India, Australia experienced its hottest winter at 41.6°C. Bandar-e Mahshahr, Iran, reported a record of 66.7°C in August. The weather in India today and other incidents globally are dreary reminders. They show we are drifting further into an environmental disaster.
The world experienced another global record of intense heat for 14 months, from June 2023 to July 2024. During this period, the world’s average temperature reached or exceeded 1.5°C above the pre-industrial era. Probably, the mean global temperature in 2024-2028 will surpass 1.5°C. This undermines the 2015 Paris Agreement vow to keep temperatures from rising more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Petroleum products are toxic to the climate. To remain below 1.5°C warming, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions need to be cut by 43% by 2030. However, another failed climate meeting suggests this seems unlikely now. India rejected the $300-billion climate finance target set by developed countries. They called it an optical illusion.
At the same gathering, Haitham Al Ghais is the Secretary General of the Association of Oil Trading Nations (OPEC). He stated that unrefined petroleum and natural gas were “gifts from God”. A concrete plan to reduce emissions didn’t emerge. This might never happen as Donald Trump returns to the White House in 2025. Trump is likely to accelerate petroleum production and withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement.
Global climate talks began in 1991, yet GHG emissions and global temperatures have been rising faster than ever. Even as the weather in India today becomes more extreme, GHG emissions are currently at an all-time high. There are no signs of slowing as governments jump from one summit to another globally.
Furthermore, no single climate, biodiversity, or sustainability target has been met. Only the goalposts keep changing with new language and timelines. An analysis of 1,500 environmental policies (active between 1998 and 2022) shows they have done almost nothing. They have not prevented the acceleration of the climate crisis. The irony is that there is much talk about clean energy and getting rid of petroleum products. Meanwhile, the climate crisis is unfolding rapidly.
This year, domestic coal production rose by 5.79%, and imports were up by 2.2%. Additionally, the country’s renewable power capacity crossed 200 GW, targeting 500 GW by 2030. However, according to Czech-Canadian scientist Vaclav Smil, energy changes take decades, not just years. The commitments of accelerated energy transitions in large economies will have extended acknowledgment.
This is due to technical and infrastructural goals and unforeseen economic issues. India’s role will be examined at a three-day Oil and Gas Exhibition in December. This role pertains to future global oil and gas markets. The event will take place in Delhi. Furthermore, energy demand is projected to double by 2050.
Climate scientists are losing hope. No one thinks limiting warming to 1.5°C is possible. It’s time to focus on smaller, more tangible mitigation targets. For example, the weather in India today informs discussions on reducing global food waste, responsible for 10% of GHGs. Moreover, managing urban waste is crucial. By 2050, 60% of India’s population will reside in cities.
Thus, climate-resilient design and environmental sustainability in public infrastructure must be emphasized. At the time the Baku talks occurred, the Green Building Congress in Bengaluru slipped under the news radar. These events where green policy for infrastructure is discussed deserve more attention. This is important if we want a climate-resilient future.
Pursuing net zero won’t help. AI and other technologies that we hope will ease our climate pains are energy consumers. At present, energy is rarely green. For example, the growth of solar and wind energy demands more mining. This involves lithium, cobalt, copper, silver, nickel, and other minerals, resulting in a large carbon footprint. This also depletes wood cover, affecting the planet’s carbon absorption capacity. Against this setting, can we surely say we will live to see 2070? This is the year India hopes to become net zero.
