Climate crisis: India’s battle and its legislations being an au…

Changes in environmental conditions of the earth have now challenged life on Earth. From last century, adverse human activities in various forms have resulted in a shortage of water, depletion of the ozone layer, rising sea levels, shrinking of glaciers, and most importantly creating a heap of problems related to pollution. Although elemental changes can be negotiated through natural factors including tectonic plate movements, volcanic eruptions, and the geographical location of an area, not the reasons related to human activities that super cede all.

ADVERSITIES AT ITS PEAK

A very recent observation of Sundarban drowning in plastic is a serious problem. A 2019 report by the Centre for international environmental laws showed that by 2050, 5.6 tons of carbon dioxide is emitted due to plastic which shows how adversely plastic has entered into our lives and now seems to engulf the purity of our environment. The increasing temperature at the poles results in slowed movements of storms in mid-latitudes. So storms linger at a specific place. Thus, recent incidents of supercyclones in India are signs of global warming and climate change subsequently. When there was a flood in Germany, one of the most developed countries in Europe, despite having adequate resources and advanced infrastructure both at structural and organizational levels seemed no different from its struggle with nature. According to various reports, urbanization and quality of living are responsible for 25% of the emission. Also according to IPCC (International Panel for Climate Change), the 26th COP Confederation of Parties’ global surface temperature is now higher by 1.07 degrees. The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world. The IPCC report also indicated that the global mean sea levels will continue to rise even in the lowest emissions scenarios because of the warming of the ocean, as well as the melting of glaciers and ice sheets. For India, which has a coastline of over 7,500 kilometers, this is a serious concern, especially for those living near the coastlines.

CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS AT PRESENT

In India, Part IV of the constitution, (Art 48A-Directive Principles of State Policies) stipulates that the State shall protect and improve the environment and safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country. Under Part IVA (Art 51A-Fundamental Duties) of the constitution, there is a duty for every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, the Environment Protection Act, 1986, the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, etc are also enacted to supervise the policies.

Jharkhand, a state rich in minerals and natural resources, is the state’s very existence. The presence of various tribes such as Oraon, Munda, etc lives symbiotically with nature through various, nature-centric rituals and festivals like Sarhul and Karma where trees are worshiped. Also, Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board implements the provisions of these Acts and Rules in the State.

ROAD AHEAD

According to the PAHAL scheme that covered 291 districts, only 48% of rural households used LPG that too partially. We can move to solar cookers and other alternatives instead of drudgery that causes indoor pollution affecting health along with the environment. Governments must take concrete steps to put the 1.5°C limits into practice. Cycling must be encouraged among youths and awareness programs must be held at educational premises. A Disaster readiness planning and preparation policy is to be implemented more seriously so that more measures can be brought to light.

CONCLUSION

A Dutch mantra that says–live with ‘water’, build with ‘nature’, and make room for ‘rivers’ seems urgently important. Society must draw attention to a balance between environment and diversity. Loss of environment and diversity will lead to hopeless development where the entire natural system will collapse. The zero-emission policy is the current need, otherwise permanent and irreversible consequences seem to wait which is even more dangerous than COVID.