Plant trees and avoid AC, fridge & plastic. Your children will remember you for making this Earth livable.
Sadhak Vineet
We are made up of earth, water, air. So lets save them to save ourselves. Spend your maximum time in contact with earth, air and water. Use earthen fridge, earthen pitcher, earthen utensils, etc. (मिट्टी का घड़ा, मिट्टी का फ्रिज, मिट्टी के बर्तन, इत्यादि). Perform daily or weekly yajna (यज्ञ) to release medicated vapours into your environment. We find direct commandments of Lord Krishna in this regard:
यज्ञों के द्वारा प्रसन्न होकर देवता तुम्हें भी प्रसन्न करेंगे और इस तरह मनुष्यों तथा देवताओं के मध्य सहयोग से सबों को सम्पन्नता प्राप्त होगी |
सारे प्राणी अन्न पर आश्रित हैं, जो वर्षा से उत्पन्न होता है | वर्षा यज्ञ सम्पन्न करने से होती है और यज्ञ नियत कर्मों से उत्पन्न होता है |
हे प्रिय अर्जुन! जो मानव जीवन में इस प्रकार वेदों द्वारा स्थापित यज्ञ-चक्र का पालन नहीं करता वह निश्चय ही पापमय जीवन व्यतीत करता है | ऐसा व्यक्ति केवल इन्द्रियों की तुष्टि के लिए व्यर्थ ही जीवित रहता है |
So let us inculcate this habit of performing daily Yajna (or at least weekend yajna). VIPRA has created a Yagna Hall of Fame database by cataloguing people/households who perform daily or weekend-yagna. You can get yourself registered or catalogued by visiting the above link. The top 10 yagya-performers during the period ज्येष्ठ अमावस्या 2079 से मार्गशीर्ष अमावस्या 2079 (i.e during 30.05.2022 to 23.11.2022) will get facilitated by the Union Environment Minister or by a Geeta Manishi or both on the day of Gita Jayanti i.e on मार्गशीर्ष शुक्ल एकादशी 2079 (03.12.2022). Another top 10 yagya performers during the period one day after मार्गशीर्ष अमावस्या 2079 and one day before ज्येष्ठ अमावस्या 2080 (i.e during 24.11.2022 to 19.05.2023) will be facilitated by the Union Environment Minister or by a Geeta Manishi or both on the World Environment Day (05.06.2023).
Why should we not use AC, Fridge, etc.? Because AC and Fridge are like demon-machines having disastrous impact on environment. Their manufacturing process, their daily use and their dependence on electricity – all three stages are grossly un-friendly to the cause of Environment. The people using AC and Fridge cause a huge damage to others.
Then how to remain cool in sweltering heat? Well, there are alternate methods to stay cool. For example, we can use traditional desert coolers, earthen fridge, cool technology houses & buildings, etc. Now you may say that these traditional methods of staying cool are rather painstaking and may not work always, for example, a water cooler becomes less effective during rainy season! Well, if a bit of tolerance on our part can save others (including our next generation) from damage, then it is worth it. Even Lord Krishna says in Gita that summers and winters are to be tolerated!! The tendency to negate the existence of summers and winters by using air conditioning, is contrary to the spirit of Gita. If we truly respect our scriptures like Gita and if we truly have faith in Lord Krishna, then our best guide is Gita.
The key takeaway from the following shlok of Gita is that we must tolerate a bit of heat and cold, rather than resorting to quick fix solutions which are harmful for the entire life on earth.
मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाः। आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत ।। गीता 2.14।।
हे कुन्तीनन्दन! इन्द्रियोंके जो विषय (जड पदार्थ) हैं, वो तो शीत (अनुकूलता) और उष्ण (प्रतिकूलता) – के द्वारा सुख और दुःख देनेवाले हैं तथा आने-जानेवाले और अनित्य हैं। हे भरतवंशोद्भव अर्जुन! उनको तुम सहन करो।
What can we borrow from Gita about Environment protection? Well, at least two shlokas said by Lord Krishna have direct relevance to the cause of Environment.
Science say about being a responsible citizen? It says that a citizen using a Mitti fridge instead of electricity-run fridge, a Cooler instead of an AC, an earthen pitcher (घड़ा) instead of chilled bottles, not only lives according to the commandment of Lord Krishna in Gita shlok 2/14, but actually reduces Carbon footprint on this earth! He also does a great service to local craftsmen who get business due to purchase of environment-friendly products and who are saved the tyranny of going to faraway places and serve in sub-human conditions in MNCs for making a product which ultimately increase carbon footprint and which is antithetical to nature and environment.
You can contribute your bit by replacing your home appliances with following products which are not only environment friendly but also preserve the traditional knowledge of craftsmen.
Fun Facts: There is Hollywood movie called “Gravity”. It is a 2013 science fiction thriller film starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney as American astronauts who get stranded in space after destruction of their Space shuttle and they attempt to return to Earth.
ARTICLES
HOW INDIA COULD SOON HAVE DAYS SO HOT IT WILL IMPACT WORK
Op-ed / April 25, 2022 / By Chandra Bhushan
This article originally appeared on ToI
We have entered a new age of heat extremes. Concrete and glass-heavy urban buildings are a major hazard
India is searing. Large parts of the country are in the grips of unbearable heat and heatwaves. March this year was the hottest March on record, and March-April has witnessed a record number of heatwaves. Delhi has recorded eight heatwave days in April so far, and the maximum temperature in parts of the city has already hit 43-45°C, which is 5-7°C above normal. As a result, schools in the capital are struggling to maintain regular timings, and workers engaged in manual labour have practically stopped working during the daytime.
But it is not supposed to be like this in March and April; we should expect such heat in May and June – the year’s hottest months. So, is this a freak year? Is this temperature anomaly unexpected? The answer is no.
Both temperatures and heatwaves have been increasing perceptibly since the 1980s. Each of the last four decades has been progressively warmer than the decade that preceded it. The past decade (2011-20) was the hottest since records began in 1901, and 11 out of 15 warmest years were between 2007 and 2021. Likewise, the heatwave days have also increased every decade since 1980. In addition, the hotspots of intense heatwaves have expanded. They now engulf a large part of the country, hitting areas that were not prone to extreme heat events in the past, like Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
In fact, there has been an alarming increase in severe heatwaves in southern India. The problem is that south India also experiences high humidity. This means that during the pre-monsoon period, when the humidity is usually high, a heatwave could push the “wet-bulb” temperature (that measures the combined effect of temperature and humidity) beyond 35°C, which few humans can tolerate for a long time because their bodies can’t cool themselves.
According to the latest IPCC report, the intensity and frequency of heatwaves will increase with every increment of warming. For instance, at 1.5°C of global warming (we are at 1.1°C presently), there will be more severe heatwaves and longer warm seasons; at 2°C, “deadly” heatwaves would frequently cross the limits of human survivability.
The report also points out that the Indian subcontinent will be hardest hit by deadly heatwaves. In a worst-case scenario, the number of “climatically stressful” workdays (when workers will have difficulty working outside) will increase to 250 per year.
This means that for 8-9 months a year, there will be a severe impact on worker output, which will have a high cost on the economy. In essence, the IPCC reports point to heatwaves becoming a major calamity in the coming years. The question is, what can we do about this?
- First and foremost, mitigation is the best adaptation. Limiting warming to 1.5°C will restrict the number, extent and severity of heat extremes. While the 1.5°C target is becoming challenging every passing year, the latest IPCC report shows we have a small window of opportunity to meet this goal with rapid, deep and immediate GHG emission reductions in all sectors.
The good news, as the IPCC report points out, is that several mitigation options, notably solar and wind energy, energy efficiency, the greening of urban infrastructure, demand-side management, improved forest and land management, and reduced food waste are cost-effective and are good for development and jobs.
- Second, the urban heat island effect increases the severity of heatwaves. City centres are now a few degrees warmer than the hinterlands because of the large amounts of heat emitted from our buildings, roads, factories and cars. For example, while air conditioning cools inside, it throws heat outside, increasing the outside temperature.
To combat outside heat, we are installing more and more ACs, thereby unleashing a vicious cycle of spiralling heat island effect. We can break this cycle only by building cities that cool themselves. This means more open spaces, green areas and water bodies, and more energy-efficient green buildings. This leads to the third point.
We are building hothouses and not habitable buildings. Most modern buildings are built with too much concrete, glass and poor shading and ventilation, making them prone to overheating. Even the affordable houses that the government is building for the poor under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana are not habitable on certain days of the year because they are too hot to live in.
Many of these affordable houses will become uninhabitable as the number of days with high temperatures increases due to global warming. Therefore, our building bye-laws, urban planning guidelines and construction technologies must be radically changed to adapt to the rising heat.
- Lastly, India needs a new heat code. Many regions of the country now experience wet-bulb temperatures exceeding 31°C during certain parts of the year, which is dangerous for manual labour. However, we are not declaring such days as heatwaves because our guidelines are based on dry bulb temperature. Therefore, we need a heat code that outlines the criteria for declaring heatwaves based on wet-bulb temperature. It should also prescribe SOPs for heatwave emergencies, such as work-hour limits and relief measures in public places and hospitals.
Heatwave is theoretical discomfort for some of us who move from an airconditioned home to an air-conditioned car to an air-conditioned office. But it is a matter of life and death for a poor person dependent on manual labour and living in a hothouse in an urban slum or a village. India, therefore, needs a heat action plan that saves the majority from hot extremes.
The writer is CEO, International Forum for Environment Sustainability and Technology
COAL CONSUMPTION IN INDIA: WE ARE ALREADY LATE ON FAIR GREEN TRANSITION
Op-ed / April 29, 2022 / By
This article originally appeared on Financial Express
There is no contradiction between increasing coal consumption in India and implementing a just transition in the coal districts and states.
On March 28, 2022, an extremely important and unstarred question was asked by Priyanka Chaturvedi, member, Rajya Sabha, which was replied to by Pralhad Joshi, Union minister of coal. It is at the heart of the energy transition debate in India. The question is whether India should start planning and implementing a just energy transition now or wait until coal consumption starts declining? It is a fundamental question, and I will quote it verbatim:
Priyanka Chaturvedi:Will the Minister of Coal be pleased to state:
(a) whether Government has prepared any roadmap for districts having a coal-centric economy such as Korba, etc. in light of country’s commitment towards energy transition?
(b) whether in such districts (coal-centric economy) closure of mines and industries will have severe socio-economic consequences, major being unemployment for the unskilled workers?
(c) whether Government has initiated any scalable steps to reduce the dependency of other economic sectors such as agriculture, forestry, manufacturing and service for their growth in these districts? and (d) if so, the details thereof?
Pralhad Joshi: (a) & (b): In India, energy transition away from coal is not happening in foreseeable future. Although there will be push for renewable/non-fossil-based energy, but share of coal in the energy basket is going to remain significant in years ahead. Coal demand in the country is yet to peak. The draft Economic Survey 2021-22 projects coal demand in the range of 1.3-1.5 billion tonnes by 2030, an increase of 63 per cent from the current demand. Thus, as of now there is no scenario of energy transition away from coal affecting any stakeholders involved in coal mining. (c) & (d): Does not arise in view of above.
The minister’s reply was correct that India’s coal demand is growing, and will continue to grow, at least in this decade. But his response that the energy transition in the country is not affecting any stakeholders involved in coal mining needs further examination.
There should be no doubt that an energy transition, propelled mainly by the Centre’s ambitious renewable energy targets, is underway in the country. These targets have real implications for coal consumption. For example, if the latest targets—installing 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity and meeting 50% of the country’s electricity requirement from renewables—materialises, then coal consumption in the power sector will peak by 2030 and significantly decline over the next two decades. Modelling studies show that India’s electricity sector can be coal-free by 2050, with little impact on growth or jobs.
But it is important to understand that the need to develop a just transition roadmap for coal-dependent districts and states is tied not just to the national coal demand scenario. It is, in fact, more related to the sub-national situation, as the reality of coal mining in states and districts differs from the national picture. In other words, while coal will continue to meet a significant, but declining, proportion of India’s energy demand in the next two-three decades, in many districts of the country, most coal mines will close much earlier, leading to socio-economic disruptions. This will happen due to two reasons. First, a majority of coal mines in the country are loss-making and on the verge of closure. While these loss-making mines are spread across India, most of them are concentrated in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal. In Jharkhand, for example, of the 146 mines run by the Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) and Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), 103 mines are loss-making.
Overall, 75% of Coal India Limited’s (CIL) production and almost all profits come from just 35 large mines; the remaining mines are low-producing and largely unprofitable. These loss-making mines collectively produce less than 10% coal, employ 40-45% of the workforce, and incurred an aggregated loss of Rs 16,000 crores in 2018-19—about the same as the company’s annual net profit. Going ahead, CIL plans to reach 1 billion tonnes of coal production primarily from “50-odd high-yielding mining projects” and close unprofitable mines. This potentially means shutting down 300-odd mines. But all these mines need to be closed with proper closure and socio-economic transition plans. In other words, just transition plans need to be developed urgently for all these loss-making mines and regions to ensure that hundreds of thousands of formal and informal workers and millions of people dependent on these mines are provided timely alternatives.
Second, coal reserves are also getting exhausted in big coal-producing districts. Take the case of Korba, India’s largest coal-producing district. Nearly 95% of Korba’s coal comes from just three large open cast mines, which will exhaust its resources by 2040-45. The rest of the mines are already on the verge of closure. So, in the next 20 years, Korba, which is entirely dependent on coal for jobs and growth, will have to look for alternatives. But Korba is not unique; similar situations exist in many other coal districts. These mining districts will need a just transition plan to avoid sudden economic disruption and social upheaval.
So, there is no contradiction between increasing coal consumption till 2030 and implementing a just transition plan in the coal districts and states. In fact, we are already late in the process. Experiences around the world show that a planned energy transition takes time. For example, Germany’s Ruhr valley started implementing transition in the 1960s and closed its last coal mine in 2018. So, it took six decades for Ruhr to implement a just transition, but the result is for everyone to see. Today, Ruhr is a hub of green industries and service sector jobs.
We must also start planning and implementing a just transition in many Ruhrs in India and not wait for coal consumption to decline. Early planning will help these districts and states to invest in infrastructure and attract businesses, create alternative jobs, prepare the future workforce, and simultaneously substitute and diversify their source of revenue. The choice is in our hands – either we can start planning for this transition and secure a just outcome for everyone, or we can wait and watch till disruptions and chaos start.
THE REAL MAINSTREAM: IPCC’s CLIMATE SPEAK IS ALL GREEK TO THE MASSES
Op-ed / March 16, 2022 / By
This article originally appeared on Financial Express
The climate watcher has produced nothing for the general public, except for a press release and a set of headlines.
Scientists are good at science but bad at communicating it to the masses. This is precisely why the gap between the scientific understanding of the climate crisis and policy responses widens. The latest Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) report is a classic example of ineffective communication. Published a few weeks back, it is considered the most comprehensive report on impacts, adaptation and vulnerability, but the presentation leaves much to desire.
The IPCC reports cater to a small set of people. For example, it is 3675 pages long (which very few outside the climate science community would ever read completely) with a 35 page summary. The summary, targeting policymakers, has been written in a complicated way and requires a person with high scientific knowledge to grasp its essence. Besides, IPCC has produced nothing for the general public except for a press release and a set of headlines.
While one can understand the trepidation of the scientific community for generalisation, it is precisely what is needed to get mass support for climate action. Therefore, it is high time that IPCC publishes and disseminates its findings in a way that most can understand and act on. I have attempted to convert the 35-page summary into ten key findings and put it in simple language. I hope that the IPCC would do better than this.
1. The climate crisis is far worse than previously predicted: The impacts on ecology, economy and human well-being are far worse than expected, and adapting to the crisis will be more difficult than anticipated.
2. It is destroying nature: Climate change has already caused substantial damage and increasingly irreversible losses to the biodiversity on land and oceans, including the extinction of hundreds of species. Approximately half of the species assessed globally have shifted polewards or to higher elevations to cope with increasing heat. Further temperature increases will irreversibly damage warm-water coral reefs, coastal wetlands, rainforests, and polar and mountain ecosystems and cause massive extinction of species dependent on these ecosystems.
3. Climate change is harming human health, peace, and wealth: It has adversely affected physical and mental health. People have died worldwide due to extreme heat, flooding, and other extreme weather events. In addition, the incidence of climate-related food and water-borne and vector-borne diseases has increased. Cardiovascular and respiratory distress have also increased due to wildfire smoke, atmospheric dust, and aeroallergens.
Climate change is also making the poor poorer. For example, outdoor labour productivity, on which the poor depend for income, has reduced due to higher temperatures. Similarly, economic damages from climate change are prominent in agriculture, forestry, fishery, energy, and tourism, which provides the most employment.
Lastly, it is worsening humanitarian crises by driving displacement in all regions. Besides, evidence is emerging that global warming might be contributing to conflicts by creating a scarcity of water and fertile land.
4. India will be affected the worst: Not every region will get equally impacted. Countries with poverty, governance challenges, limited access to essential services and resources, violent conflict, and high levels of climate-sensitive livelihoods such as smallholder farmers, pastoralists, and fishing communities, will be the worst affected. Approximately 3.3 to 3.6 billion people live in highly vulnerable regions to climate change; a significant proportion of them are in India.
5. Cities are hotspots: Rapidly growing cities of Asia and Africa that house large concentrations of poor people are especially vulnerable. Increasing temperature and poor development practices, like creating concrete jungles and encroachment of forests and water bodies, will increase heatwaves and flooding.
6. We are rapidly approaching the point of no-return: Climate change impacts and risks are becoming increasingly complex and challenging to manage. Multiple climate hazards will coincide, and multiple climatic and non-climatic risks will interact, creating unmanageable situations. Some losses are already irreversible, such as species extinction. Others are approaching the point of no return, such as the impacts on freshwater due to the retreat of glaciers.
7. Mitigation is the best adaptation: With temperatures rising, the inevitable losses will increase. For example, in the coastal ecosystems, the risk of biodiversity loss ranges from moderate and very high by 1.5°C warming but rises to high to very high by 3°C. So, keeping the temperature below 1.5°C by reducing emissions is the best way to save ourselves.
8. Good development practices mean good adaptation: Unsustainable land use, deforestation, biodiversity-loss, and pollution lower the capacities of ecosystems and societies to adapt to climate change. Eliminating unsustainable practices will significantly help adapt to the climate crisis. For instance, enhancing natural water retention in cities by restoring wetlands and rivers, creating no-build zones, etc., will lower flood risk. Similarly, on-farm water management like rainwater harvesting, soil moisture conservation, and efficient irrigation will improve productivity and reduce vulnerability.
9. Leaving nature alone will save us: Safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystems is fundamental to climate-resilient development. Globally, less than 15% of the land, 21% of the freshwater, and 8% of the ocean are protected areas. However, we will have to conserve approximately 30-50% of these areas to maintain the resilience of ecosystem services.
10. Unequivocal political commitment is a must: Implementing climate actions requires considerable upfront investments, while many benefits will only become visible later. To make such investments, unequivocal political commitment and farsighted planning are essential. In addition, new institutional frameworks, policies, and instruments will be required to set clear goals, define responsibilities and obligations, and coordinate amongst various actors.
Besides, governments alone cannot solve this problem; the role of businesses and civil society is equally critical. Raising public awareness and building social movements are essential for greater public and political commitment. Companies will have to play a greater role in reducing emissions and investing in adaptation. The report essentially says if the climate crisis is not a clear and present danger, nothing else is.
हीटवेव और बाढ़ झेलने को तैयार रहें शहर
Op-ed / March 9, 2022 / By
This article originally appeared on NBT
इंटरगवर्नमेंटल पैनल ऑन क्लाइमेट चेंज (आईपीसीसी) सन 1988 में इसलिए बना, ताकि वह समय-समय पर जलवायु परिवर्तन के बारे में दुनिया के शीर्ष नेताओं को साइंटिफिक नजरिया दे सके। पिछले 34 सालों में आईपीसीसी ने पांच रिपोर्ट जारी की हैं और अब वह छठी रिपोर्ट पब्लिश कर रहा है। इस रिपोर्ट का दूसरा हिस्सा कुछ दिन पहले आया है, जिसकी इन दिनों काफी चर्चा हो रही है। चर्चा इसलिए क्योंकि इसे जलवायु परिवर्तन के प्रभावों और अनुकूलन पर सबसे व्यापक रिपोर्ट माना जा रहा है। इस लेख में हम इस रिपोर्ट से निकली दस जरूरी चीजों पर चर्चा करेंगे।
यह कैसा विकास
आईपीसीसी की छठी रिपोर्ट का पहला निष्कर्ष यह है कि जलवायु परिवर्तन का प्रभाव पिछली पांच रिपोर्टों में बताई चेतावनियों से कहीं ज्यादा है और संकट के अनुकूल हो पाना हमारी सोच से भी अधिक कठिन होगा। दूसरी खोज यह है कि जलवायु परिवर्तन अब प्रकृति का विनाश कर रहा है। जमीन या समुद्र में जो जीव-जंतु या पेड़-पौधे हैं, उन्हें इतना ज्यादा नुकसान हो चुका है कि कहीं-कहीं तो इसकी भरपाई ही नहीं हो सकती। सैकड़ों विलुप्त जीव-जंतु अब कभी वापस नहीं आएंगे। रिपोर्ट कहती है कि अगर तापमान 1.5 डिग्री से ज्यादा बढ़ा तो ऐसी चीजें होंगी, जिन्हें हम सैकड़ों सालों में भी ठीक नहीं कर पाएंगे। समुद्र में मूंगों की चट्टानें खराब हो जाएंगी। सुंदरवन जैसी जगहें बर्बाद हो जाएंगी। हमारे नॉर्थ-ईस्ट और वेस्टर्न घाट पर जो वर्षा वन हैं, वे तबाह हो जाएंगे। हिमालय के ग्लेशियर और इको सिस्टम ऐसे खराब होंगे कि फिर कभी रिकवर नहीं कर पाएंगे।
तीसरा निष्कर्ष यह है कि जलवायु परिवर्तन अब इंसानों की सेहत, शांति और संपदा पर प्रभाव डाल रहा है। इसने दुनिया भर में लोगों के शारीरिक और कुछ क्षेत्रों में मानसिक स्वास्थ्य पर प्रतिकूल प्रभाव डाला है। जल जनित और वेक्टर जनित रोगों की घटनाओं में वृद्धि हुई है। हृदय और सांस की बीमारियां भी बढ़ गई हैं। अत्यधिक गर्मी, बाढ़ और अन्य चरम मौसम की घटनाओं के कारण दुनिया भर में लोगों की मौतें हो रही हैं। जलवायु परिवर्तन गरीब को और गरीब बना रहा है। घर के बाहर मेहनत-मजदूरी करना गरीब की जीविका है। भीषण गर्मी ने उनके काम के घंटे घटा दिए हैं, जो आगे और भी कम होंगे और उसी हिसाब से उनकी आय घटती जाएगी। इसी तरह, जलवायु परिवर्तन से सबसे ज्यादा आर्थिक नुकसान कृषि, वानिकी, मत्स्य पालन, ऊर्जा और पर्यटन में होगा, जो गरीबों को सबसे अधिक रोजगार देता है। इसके साथ ही जलवायु परिवर्तन सभी क्षेत्रों में विस्थापन को बढ़ावा देकर मानवीय संकट को बढ़ा रहा है। धीरे-धीरे ऐसे सबूत सामने आ रहे हैं कि ग्लोबल वॉर्मिंग पानी और उपजाऊ भूमि जैसे संसाधनों की कमी पैदा करके संघर्षों में इजाफा कर सकती है।
चौथा निष्कर्ष है कि इससे भारत जैसे देश सबसे बुरी तरह प्रभावित होंगे। जलवायु परिवर्तन का प्रभाव हर जगह समान नहीं होगा। सबसे ज्यादा प्रभाव वहां होगा, जहां गरीबी और शासन की चुनौतियां हैं, छोटे किसान ज्यादा हैं, लोगों की आवश्यक सेवाओं और संसाधनों तक पहुंच कम है। रिपोर्ट कहती है कि विश्व के 330 से 360 करोड़ लोग जलवायु परिवर्तन से अत्यधिक प्रभावित क्षेत्रों में रहते हैं। भारत को लेकर अलग से इसमें कोई आंकड़ा नहीं दिया गया है, लेकिन साफ दिख रहा है कि भारत सबसे बुरी तरह से प्रभावित है।
रिपोर्ट का पांचवां बिंदु यह है कि अफ्रीका और एशिया में तेजी से विकसित होते शहरों में हीटवेव और बाढ़ की समस्या बढ़ेगी, पीने के पानी की कमी होगी। छठी खोज यह है कि अब हम वहां पहुंच रहे हैं, जहां से वापसी मुश्किल है। अब जलवायु परिवर्तन इतना जटिल हो चुका है कि उसे सही कर पाना कठिन होता जा रहा है। जलवायु से जुड़े कई खतरे एक साथ आएंगे। कई जलवायु और गैर-जलवायु जोखिम आपस में क्रिया-प्रतिक्रिया करेंगे, जिससे असहनीय स्थिति पैदा होगी। उदाहरण के लिए, भारत के विभिन्न हिस्सों में बाढ़, सूखा, जंगल की आग और गर्मी की लहरें जैसी स्थिति एक साथ आ सकती हैं, जो जटिल समस्याएं पैदा करेंगी।
सातवां यह कि ग्रीन हाउस गैसों को कम करना ही बेहतर रास्ता है। क्योंकि तापमान अगर डेढ़ डिग्री तक बढ़ा, तो फिर जो कुछ भी सामने आएगा, उसे हम मैनेज नहीं कर पाएंगे। आठवां निष्कर्ष अच्छी विकास प्रथाओं के बारे में है। रिपोर्ट का कहना है कि मुश्किल इसलिए भी आ रही है क्योंकि हमारी नीतियां और उनका क्रियान्वयन टिकाऊ नहीं है। जितना चाहते हैं, जमीन घेर लेते हैं, पानी या कोयला निकाल लेते हैं, जंगल काट डालते हैं। प्रदूषण अलग बढ़ा रहे हैं। इसकी जगह हमें अच्छी विकास प्रथाएं लागू करनी होंगी। जैसे कि शहर में बाढ़ कम करनी है तो शहर के ताल-तलैया और नदियां पुनर्जीवित करिए। शहर में ऐसी जगहें हों, जहां कोई निर्माण ना हो। गांवों में भी सूखा कम करना है तो वर्षा जल संचयन और मिट्टी की नमी सहेजनी होगी।
नौंवी और इस रिपोर्ट की सबसे महत्वपूर्ण बात यह है कि अब आप प्रकृति को अकेला छोड़ दीजिए, इसी में आपकी भलाई है। अभी विश्व में हम लगभग 15 फीसदी जमीन, 21 फीसदी मीठे पानी के स्रोत और 8 फीसदी समुद्र संरक्षण करते हैं। रिपोर्ट का कहना है कि बचने के लिए अब हमें 30 से 50 फीसदी जमीन, फ्रेश वॉटर और समुद्र को छोड़ देना पड़ेगा। एक समय भारत में भी नो गो एरिया की बात हो रही थी कि वहां इंसान नहीं घुसेगा। अब ऐसे ही इलाके और बढ़ाने होंगे।
सब जुड़ेंगे, तभी बचेंगे
दसवां और आखिरी बिंदु यह है बिना राजनीतिक इच्छाशक्ति के हम इस समस्या को हल नहीं कर सकते। अब किंतु-परंतु या सवाल का समय नहीं है। नए कानून बनाने पड़ेंगे, नई नीतियां भी, ताकि सब मिलजुल कर काम कर सकें। कंपनियों और सिविल सोसायटी का बहुत बड़ा रोल होगा, क्योंकि अब ये सिर्फ सरकारों के बस की बात नहीं। सब लोग जुड़ेंगे, तभी जलवायु परिवर्तन के प्रभाव कुछ कम हो सकते हैं।
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