ACCELERATING
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

The tropics, a region encircling the Earth's equator, have long been perceived as lush rainforests with exotic animals and unchanging weather. However, they are also often associated with poverty, unstable governments, and environmental destruction. A new report, "The State of the Tropics," provides a deeper and more nuanced understanding of this diverse region.

Changing Perceptions

Historically, the tropics were misunderstood, with Aristotle even claiming that no civilization could thrive there. The report calls for a shift in perspective, urging recognition of the tropics from within and embracing local wisdom and experience. Compiled by 12 institutions, this comprehensive 400-page report delves into demographics, health, science, economics, biodiversity, and climate change..

Population Growth

Currently, the tropics are home to 40% of the world's population and 55% of children under five. Population growth is particularly rapid in Africa. By 2050, over half of the global population and 67% of young children will reside in the tropics. The region is expected to add 3 billion people by the end of the century, necessitating a rethinking of global priorities in aid, development, research, and education.

Economic and Social Challenges

A booming population drives increased demand for food, water, and resources. Tropical economies are growing 20% faster than those in temperate regions but still house two-thirds of the world's extreme poverty. While extreme poverty has decreased in Southeast Asia and Central America, it has doubled in Central and Southern Africa since the 1980s. Despite these challenges, there have been improvements, including a decline in undernourishment, rising life expectancy, and reduced maternal and child mortality.

Health Issues

The tropics face unique health challenges, with diseases like dengue fever and malaria remaining significant threats. These diseases are rarely found in temperate regions but are major health concerns in tropical countries.

Land and Environmental Struggles

Growing populations and consumption have led to land-use clashes. Indigenous groups struggle to maintain control over their lands as corporations seek resources for agriculture, livestock, and commodities. Conservationists are working to preserve vital ecosystems, as the tropics host 80% of Earth's terrestrial biodiversity and 95% of mangrove and coral reef biodiversity. Unfortunately, forest loss continues, especially in Oceania.

Oceanic Pressures

Marine resources in the tropics, including coral reefs and mangroves, face unprecedented pressures. Overfishing and destructive practices have depleted species. Mangroves, crucial for coastal protection and carbon storage, are being rapidly destroyed for aquaculture and development. Climate change and ocean acidification further threaten these ecosystems.

Future Challenges

Climate change poses significant challenges for the tropics, including extreme weather, rising seas, and changing precipitation patterns. These changes could impact agriculture and increase the number of refugees and regional conflicts. The tropics are expanding into temperate zones, which will have implications for water resource management and agricultural systems.

Conclusion

The future of the tropics is one of rising influence and wealth, alongside ongoing struggles with poverty, hunger, health standards, biodiversity, climate change, and resource conservation. The report emphasizes the importance of sustainable development and conservation to safeguard resources for future generations. The tropics hold great potential and influence, making it crucial to address these challenges thoughtfully and effectively.

As the global crisis is looming over the world, even developing countries are doing their share tocut down carbon emissions. At the 26th climate summit (COP-26) in Glasgow-UK, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India announced that it will become a carbon-neutral nation by 2070.

Achieving net-zero will mean a balance between the greenhouse gases produced and eliminated from the atmosphere. Being the 3rd most carbon emitter in the world, it is the first time India has set targets and strategies on an international platform to counter the climate crisis.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared the following 5-point strategy that will ultimately make India Net Zero by 2070:

• India will get the non-fossil energy capacity to 500 gigawatts by 2030. Currently, the non-fossil energy capacity is 136 gigawatts.
• India’s 50% energy consumption will come from renewable energy.
• It has set to reduce 1 billion tonnes of carbon emission by 2030
• By 2030, India will reduce the carbon intensity by 45%
• And finally, by 2070, India will achieve its net-zero target.

India’s action to counter the global crisis

India is the third most emitter of greenhouse gases in the world. However, it is important to note that there's a stark difference between India’s emissions as compared to the other top polluters. India nearly emits 3 gigatonnes every year, while US and China emit 5 gigatonnes and 14 gigatonnes, respectively.

In addition, India has the lowest per capita emission of 1.9 metric tonnes and contributes to 7% of world pollution even when it makes up 17% of the world population. Realistically speaking, India has a higher chance of reaching the net-zero goal before the US, EU and China.

The progress in building renewable energy infrastructure looks promising. As per Invest India, over the past 5 years, solar capacity has increased from 6.7 GW to 40 GW in 2021. Wind capacity has also increased by 2.2 times since 2017.

India is all set to open the largest renewable energy park of 4750 MW in Gujarat. Besides, PM Narendra Modi’s upcoming plans to reduce India's coal dependency by not setting up any more coal energy plants and decarbonising Indian Railways by 2030 is a start in the right direction.

A challenge that lies ahead

The most obvious challenge for India is to secure climate finance. As a developing country, India depends on the developed countries to provide the finance for the formulation of new technologies and methods to reduce its coal dependency.

In the COP-26, PM Modi demanded the rich countries make 1 trillion USD available as soon as possible. Unfortunately, these countries already have many unmet promises regarding climate finance.

To conclude, the goal to become Net Zero will not be a cakewalk for any developing nation. However, it will become extremely challenging for developing countries to create groundbreaking technologies without the needed financial assistance.

Hence, the way forward to achieving the collective goal is for rich countries to take charge and lead the way. As they will be able to bear the heavy initial research & development costs, developed nations are more likely to create innovative decarbonisation technologies.

India will also have to change its energy infrastructure. Some strategies will even require lifestyle changes from its citizens. However, with strategizing and global support, India will surely complete its promises successfully.

Carbon emissions can be controlled in so many ways on any given level; be it organizational, industrial, or else; but only so many ways you can use to reach the desired threshold to enjoy the sweet zone of not needing any other organization to cancel out your exceeded margin. Carbon credits (the credits which an organization has that allow them a certain amount of carbon emission in a year) are used by either sticking to the emission allowances or providing funding for sustainable projects that actually create green energy.

If the equilibrium has to be maintained, this is commonly executed & achieved through an exchange, referred to as Carbon Financing. An annual payment cycle is started to fund your company’s project partner, be it public, private, NGO, etc for the greenhouse gases emission reductions created once the project is fully operational.

Carbon financing is a great way to boost the financial viability of cutting-edge projects to give them a longer life & less government interference. It can also generate an added revenue stream and gives an opportunity for the effective transfer of technologies, expertise & knowledge. It provides a medium of leveraging new public & private investments so that the investment kitty inflate & can help in projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions allowing all to contribute.

But to leverage carbon financing to your advantage, organizations have to first file for a certification called CER (Certified Emissions Reduction Certificate) and get the audit done to pass for it.

A Certified Emissions Reduction Certificate, or a CER, is provided by the United Nations to member nations for averting one tonne of CO2 emissions by taking measures suitable for the environment. Countries with economies, both traditional & developed (as defined in the Kyoto Protocol) use CERs to help them reach their emission goals. These countries are able to reach their targets and are easily able to set future goals as it makes the endeavor of reducing greenhouse gases emissions more achievable.

Carbon Financing is a way to help organizations and help them out with their slab of emissions, at same the time for the government to be a watchdog over how much they are using or misusing the resources and abusing the limits they have to adhere to

Here are some facts regarding Climate Finance:

1) The UNFCCC, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement call for financial assistance from countries with more financial resources to those that are less endowed and more vulnerable. (Drishti IAS - https://bit.ly/2Wy0CEb )

2) Under the Climate Change Action Plan for 2016-2020, the World Bank Group laid out a plan to increase climate finance from 21% to 28 % of the Bank’s total budget and has surpassed these targets for the second year in a row (Source – World Bank https://bit.ly/3kCj9aI)

3) The largest source of climate financing in India is public funding, which is routed through budgetary allocation and several funds and schemes related to climate change established by the Government of India such as National Clean Energy Fund (NCEF) and National Adaptation Fund (NAF). (Drishti IAS - https://bit.ly/2Wy0CEb )

It's necessary for the environment to have people who are taking care of it and helping it rest in the safest of embraces. The continuous industrial development and growth of infrastructure, new machines, and technology taking over the physical human efforts account for almost all the emissions. With this change, comes our responsibility to control or rather change altogether for the sake of this planet. Fortunately, or unfortunately, we can just do the former i.e. tending towards our responsibility to control.