Article:
A new study by ‘The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change’ draws attention to the positive implications for global health if nations adopt climate plans in line with the Paris Agreement. The agreement’s objective is to limit global warming to significantly below 2°C.
The collaboration includes international and multidisciplinary researchers that annually assess global health developments concerning climate change. Their studies also independently evaluate the progress of commitments made by governments worldwide under the Paris Agreement.
Representative Nations in the Study
The study models nine countries that account for 50% of the world population and 70% of the world’s emissions – namely, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, South Africa, the UK and the US.
Key Findings
The research presented three different scenarios: continuing along the current path, enhancing efforts to meet the Paris goals, and a more ambitious scenario that prioritises health while addressing climate change. Placing significant emphasis on health can present an opportunity to raise ambition and realise associated health benefits.
By 2040, millions of lives could be saved annually if the Paris Agreement targets are met. The annual estimated lives saved across the nine countries stand at 6.4 million due to improved diets, 1.6 million from cleaner air, and 2.1 million owing to increased exercise.
In India’s context, adherence to its commitments could save approximately 430,000 lives due to cleaner air and 1.741 million lives thanks to better diets.
Paris Agreement Overview
Adopted at the Paris climate conference (COP21) in December 2015, the Paris Agreement is the first universal, legally binding global climate change deal. The agreement aims to keep global temperatures “well below” 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial times and further limit to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Its long-term goal is net-zero global emissions. Countries are expected to reduce global emissions from their peak levels as soon as possible. The agreement stipulates that developed country Parties will assist developing country Parties with respect to both mitigation and adaptation.
Challenges with Implementing the Agreement
Implementation of the agreement has been sluggish, with nations being slow to update their contributions to reduce emissions for 2025-2030, although several have recently announced net-zero emission targets. There have been doubts over the credibility of countries’ plans and policies to meet this target.
The IPCC 1.5 degrees report suggests that global CO2 emissions must fall by 45% from the 2010 levels by 2030, but the current contributions are not on track for such a decrease. Another challenge has been the withdrawal of the USA from the Paris deal in 2020, which has affected states’ confidence in climate cooperation.
India’s Emission Scenario
According to a United Nations Report, India’s per capita emissions are 60% lower than the global average. The emissions in the country grew 1.4% in 2019 – much lower than its average annual growth of 3.3% over the previous decade.
India’s INDC, to be achieved primarily, by 2030, has the following goals: To reduce the emissions intensity of the GDP by about a third, non-fossil fuel sources to account for 40% of electricity installed capacity, and an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by the year 2030.
India’s Measures to Control Emissions
India has implemented various measures to check emissions. These include the Bharat Stage (BS) VI Norms emission control standards, the National Solar Mission for promoting ecologically sustainable growth, and the National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy 2018 aimed at promoting large grid-connected wind-solar photovoltaic (PV) hybrid systems for optimal and efficient utilization of wind and solar resources.