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.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are also known as the Global Goals. These were adopted by the United Nations, in 2015. A universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, & ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

Sustainable Development goals are The 17 SDGs are integrated - They recognize that action in one area will affect outcomes in others and that development must balance social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

The 17 SDGs are:

1. No Poverty,
2. Zero Hunger,
3. Good Health and Well-being,
4. Quality Education,
5. Gender Equality,
6. Clean Water and Sanitation,
7. Affordable and Clean Energy,
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth,
9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure,
10. Reducing Inequality,
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities,
12. Responsible Consumption and Production,
13. Climate Action,
14. Life Below Water,
15. Life On Land,
16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions,
17. Partnerships for the Goals.

All countries have committed to prioritizing progress for all those who're the furthest & behind. The SDGs are designed to help with and end poverty, remove hunger, control AIDS, set the right ideals to end discrimination against women & girls.

Though all the goals are broad & interdependent, two years later, on 6 July 2017; the SDGs were made more “workable” & "actionable" by a UN Resolution which was adopted by the General Assembly. The resolution identifies specific targets for each goal to be achieved, along with indicators that will be used to measure progress towards each target. While the rest of the target years lie between 2020-2030; for others, the end date is not yet provided.

The thought, the creativity, the know-how, the technology & the financial resources from all of society is necessary to achieve the SDGs in every context. Only with everyone’s support, we can begin to think of a better tomorrow. Deeply analyzed progress charts & presentations for all the SDGs are published in the form of reports by the United Nations Secretary-General on their official channels. The most recent one is from April 2020.

Along with that, there is also a widespread consensus is that: The progress on all of the SDGs will be stalled if Women's Empowerment & Gender Equality are not prioritized, & treated holistically with all intentions to take them forward. The SDGs are a sign to policymakers as well as private sector executives and board members to work towards gender equality and women empowerment harder as the rest of the other SGDs have deadlines and we will probably miss them if these two prioritized ones don’t get momentum & begin to see some change.

Implementation of the SDGs started worldwide in 2016. This process can also be called "Localizing the SDGs" for the people and territories. For eg; Individual people, universities, governments, institutions & organizations of all kinds work are working separately but one or more goals at the same time which aligns the collective growth in the same direction.

SDGs provide us the framework through which we can move ahead into a more peaceful, prosperous, equal for all, green future. And each country has a role to play in achieving them.

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.