The India Climate Observatory

Commentary, action and research on climate and development in India

Promote India’s transition to a low-carbon society

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Promote India’s transition to a low-carbon society

  • Each one of us can do practical things to help our country move to a more sustainable, low-carbon society. For example, we can

    • Switch from conventional bulbs to compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs;

    • Buy certified low-energy appliances instead of resource-intensive ones

    • Promote public transport, walking and cycling as alternatives to the private car

    • Demand more renewable energy from safe, green sources such as wind and solar, instead of coal-fired power plants

    • Ask our city and town leaders to plan our cities with climate change in mind – and ensure that the public participates in such processes

    • Ask our political leaders to set clear targets and timetables for India’s transition to a low-carbon society

    • Reduce use of plastics

    • Buy local products as far as possible

    • Reduce, recycle, reuse

    • Switch off electrical appliances when not in use

    • Switch from paper transactions to e-transactions wherever possible

    • Conserve water

    • Print only if you must

    • Climate Challenge India will help you be a ‘part of the change’!

    • Also check out our Cool Carbon Product Watch for the latest in low-carbon products.

 

 

Help vulnerable communities adapt to climate change in whatever way I can

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Help vulnerable communities adapt to climate change in whatever way I can

India as a whole is extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Within India, however, some communities will be more affected than others. For example, poor people dependent on resources such as forests, fisheries and agriculture for their livelihoods will be disproportionately affected. We must ensure that the weakest sections of our society are protected through the development of mechanisms such as crop-insurance schemes and coastal defences

Determine my carbon footprint and reduce it

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Determine my carbon footprint and reduce it 

Every day, we use electricity, run the car, heat water and cook food. When we do these things, we inevitably release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

We can measure the amount of greenhouse gases each of us releases into the atmosphere, by using a carbon calculator. A carbon footprint is a measure of how much greenhouse gases each of us (or each company/organisation/nation) produces. It is measured in tonnes of carbon-dioxide equivalent (CO2e).

Go carbon neutral: when you do something to remove or cancel the greenhouse gases you added into the atmopshere, you have a net zero carbon footprint, or are ‘carbon neutral’. This is also called ‘carbon offsetting’.

You can also be carbon positive: by emitting less greenhouse gases than you offset, you can go carbon positive, and take out more greenhouse gases than you contribute.

Use CSM’s carbon foorprint calculator to measure your impact on the climate.

How do I reduce my carbon footprint? Small changes in our daily lives can collectively make big differences. Act today to make a difference. Check CCI’s Climate Saving Tips to start making a difference today!

Remember: every individual’s action counts!

Climate Change Primer

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Here is a primer on climate change – basic reading if you will. Once you have understood the basics, you will be able to explore climate change in greater depth. India Climate Portal will be glad to help you learn about climate change, take action, and reduce your impact.

EARTH’S CHANGING CLIMATE

Throughout Earth’s history, the climate has changed over long periods of time (thousands or millions of years). In the last 650,000 years there have been seven cycles of glacial advance and retreat. These changes have been gradual, and attributed to small changes in the amount of energy the earth received from the sun1.

About seven thousand years ago, the last ice age ended, marking the beginning of the modern climate era and of human civilization1. Earlier in our history, humans hunted and gathered food, roaming over vast areas of the planet. Gradually, we learned to grow our food in one location or other, and started to settle down. With the progress of agriculture, use of advanced tools and assured food supply, our population grew. Soon we started producing cloth, machinery, and living together in villages, towns and cities. The Industrial Revolution got underway and coal (a fossil fuel) was burned to generate energy. Prosperity started to increase.

As prosperity increased, lifestyles changed, and we started using more and more machinery to do our work. We soon discovered petroleum (or crude oil), invented many ways of processing it and producing several products from it (petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, LPG and most of our primary energy sources). We started to use petroleum and coal for a sizeable proportion of our work; from running industrial machines, to transporting ourselves, paving roads, packaging goods and generating electricity. Today, our modern civilization depends on industrial activities, which use large quantities of energy; and our biggest source of energy is fossil fuels.

Over the years, we have been burning fossil fuels at faster and faster rates. When we do this, different kinds of gases and particles are released into the atmosphere. These are called emissions, and are gases like carbon dioxide and methane. These gases allow sunlight to enter, but block the heat from escaping: much like a greenhouse, causing a natural greenhouse effect.

However, here’s the catch!

Since 1751, roughly 351 billion tons of carbon dioxide (and other ‘greenhouse gases’), have been released into the atmosphere. Half of these emissions have occurred since the mid 1970s2, and the primary source of these emissions has been fossil fuels.

Global Fossil Fuel Carbon Emissions

Source: Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Centre

Today, there are more of these gases in the atmosphere than ever before, and emissions of carbon dioxide are accelerating. Since these gases trap heat, the Earth’s atmosphere is getting overloaded with these gases. We are also cutting and burning the earth’s natural sinks of carbon – the world’s tropical forests – at an estimated rate of 13 million hectares per year (deforestation). This is causing the Earth to warm in response1.

HOW DO WE KNOW?

We know that there is an overload of emissions in the Earth’s system from measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide: CO2 levels are higher today than at anytime in the past 650,000 years1!

Source: NOAA; NASA

WHY SHOULD WE CARE?

A result of so much carbon dioxide is a heating of the earth, or ‘global warming’. In effect, our climate is changing.

Scientists have found many serious changes in Earth’s environment. There is also little doubt that human beings are the cause of this current warming trend.

Global average surface temperatures: 1880 to 2005

Source: State of the World report 2009

  
Since the 1800s, which marked the beginning of Industrialization (see graph), temperatures have risen steadily. This rise correlates directly to the increase in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere.

Average global atmospheric temperatures have increased by 0.74 degrees Celsius in the past 100 years.

Depending on how much and how soon emissions are reduced, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts an additional 1.8- 4.0 degrees Celsius rise in temperature.

Massive ice sheets cover both Greenland and the Antarctic.

Source: NASA

In a study undertaken by NASA, scientists confirm that these ice sheets are losing much more ice to the sea than they are gaining from snow fall. This changes how much water will stay locked in ice and snow, and increases the sea level. Greenland lost 150 to 250 cubic kilometers (36 to 60 cubic miles) of ice per year between 2002 and 2006, while Antarctica (image below) lost about 152 cubic kilometers (36 cubic miles) of ice between 2002 and 2005.

The major store-houses of water – the ice caps and glaciers are receding. Snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere, permafrost extent, and Northern sea ice are decreasing4. There is also enlargement and increased number of glacial lakes and instability in permafrost regions4, owing to which buildings are collapsing.

Below is an image of meltwater from Greenland’s ice sheets

Source: www.redorbit.com

Global sea levels rose about 17 cm in the last 100 years. In the last ten years, the rate of increase per year has nearly doubled, from a rate of change of 2 mm per year, to 3.4 mm per year.

The graphs below show the rate of change of sea level.

Source: NASA

The rate at which land ice is being lost is shown in the illustration to the left. Areas where melt occurred for longer periods of time is shown in red. Each year, ice extent has decreased by 36-60 cubic miles in Greenland.

The extent of arctic sea ice has decreased by 38% as compared to 1979 to 2000 levels, as shown by the illustration on the right.

Source: NASA

Precipitation and evaporation patterns over the oceans have changed. We know this from increased salinity near the equator, and decreased salinity at higher latitudes4.

Biological systems are strongly affected by climate change3. In the terrestrial systems, there is evidence of earlier timing of spring events, leaf unfolding, bird migration and egg-laying; and a poleward and upward shift in ranges in plant and animal species. In marine and freshwater systems, the ranges and abundance of algae, plankton and fish are changing, and increasing evidence of impacts on coral reefs4

WHAT IS THE CAUSE?

Scientists have identified the kinds of human activities that are contributing to climate change.

The major sectors that emit greenhouse gases are energy supply, industry, deforestation, agriculture, transport, and waste incineration.

Adapted from: IPCC report 2007

These activities release three major greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. Carbon dioxide is the largest contributor to climate change, as you can see from the chart below.

Adapted from: IPCC report 2007

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS?

The expected impacts of an unstable climate and rising sea levels are increased droughts, decreased availability of drinking water, displaced populations, salinisation of soil and freshwater, massive extinctions of wildlife, decreased forest cover, coral bleaching, reduced crop yields, increased epidemics and increased intensity of tropical storms.

People living below the poverty line and dependent on land-based (agriculture) and marine occupations (fisheries) are likely to be the most seriously affected.

As you can see, these consequences don’t affect just others. It affects ALL of us in some way or other.

WHO IS TO IMPROVE THINGS?

We! That’s who.

YOU can be a very important part of the efforts to reduce climate change. You can become a leader of efforts at different levels. Here are some links that will help you learn more about climate change.

References: 1. California Institute of Technology, NASA: http://climate.jpl.nasa.gov/; 2. Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Centre: http://cdiac.ornl.gov/; 3. State of the World report 2009; 4. IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, Summary

Community Home

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BE the voice of climate change in India

SHARE stories, ideas, pictures, videos on climate action

ACCESS the latest news, views and publications

LEARN about climate change, who’s who and who’s doing their bit

SPREAD the word

… and lots more

Privacy Policy

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Privacy Policy

CSM upholds your right to privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information.

Our Privacy Policy relates to our use of any personal information you provide us through our website. This can consist of information such as your name, e-mail address, postal address, telephone or mobile number or date of birth. We will never sell, rent, or loan email addresses or telephone numbers or any identifiable information contained in our mailing list to any third party. Any information that you have given us is securely held.

Should you have any queries regarding the same please e-mail us at cci@csmworld.org.

Thank you.

Useful Website

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Useful Websites

The World Watch Institute

The Sierra Club

Indian Youth for Climate Network

World Wildlife Fund India

The Climate Project India

The Climate Project

Carbon Neutral

Carbon Zero

One World South Asia

What’s with the climate

Ministry of Environment and Forests

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

Natcom India

Bureau of Energy Efficiency

Centre for Science and Environment

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited

Greenpeace

Global Environmental System Group

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

World Resources Institute

The Pew Centre on Global Climate Change

India water portal

climate change

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Climate Change

WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE? Have you noticed too?
The climate is changing, our seasons are more irregular, and somehow, floods, droughts and hurricanes are becoming all the more common.

Our climate is changing, and the main reason is human activities that result in heat-trapping gases being pumped into the atmosphere.

As we burn more and more fossil fuels, which we do when we drive cars, use concrete to construct towering buildings, use thermal powered electricity or fly in planes, we emit more and more of these heat-trapping gases. Another major cause for our changing climate is land use change such as deforestation, most severe in Indonesia and Brazil, countries with some of the largest remaining stands of tropical rainforest. More…

An overwhelming body of scientific evidence (1), which is difficult to ignore any more, indicates that the Earth’s climate is changing, that our planet is getting hotter, and that the situation is more serious than previously assessed. More…

Never before has the world at large confronted such a complex and far-reaching crisis – therefore, global collective action is of utmost importance. More…

Do you feel overwhelmed? Do you think the problem is so huge that your contribution as an individual will make little difference?

Is there a problem?
Yes. Compelling scientific evidence tells us that there is.

Since the industrial period (mid 1800’s), the concentration of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping or ‘greenhouse’ gases in the atmosphere has increased. Carbon dioxide levels have risen by almost 35% and methane levels have nearly doubled (from 1). From a fairly constant 280 parts per million (ppm) of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) in 1750 to 430 ppm CO2e in 2005 and still rising, we have reached a stage where we have far exceeded the natural range of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over the last 65,000 years (2).

These seemingly small increases have a dramatic effect on climate and weather, ecosystems and river flow.

Parallel to the increase in greenhouse gas levels, global temperatures over the past 30 years have steadily increased by 0.2 degrees C each decade. In effect, there has already been a near 1 degree C rise in global average temperatures since around 1900 (2).

Experts believe that a 2 degrees C of warming represents a tipping point – beyond which far more serious impacts than damage to coral reefs and agricultural systems can be expected.

Measurements from 1850 show:

  • The global average air and ocean temperatures have increased
  • There is widespread melting of snow and ice
  • Rising global average sea level


Source: IPCC report 2007

Heating effects are strongly visible in the melting of snow, ice, glaciers and permafrost, rising global mean sea levels and extreme weather.

These images, taken by NASA satellites in 1979 and in 2005, show the minimum concentration of Arctic sea ice in both these years. In 2005, the extent of sea ice dropped to the lowest extent in recorded satellite history – 2.05 million sq. miles (5).


Source: NASA

‘The warming of the climate system is unequivocal’ – IPCC report 2007

All scientific evidence gathered indicates a strong likelihood that unabated and continued emissions will only mean that the world will experience a radical transformation of its climate (Stern Review). If we continue to emit greenhouse gases at the current rate, average global temperatures could rise by 2 to 3 degrees C within the next fifty years.

What will climate change do?
Irrespective of CO2 being released in India or Siberia, the effects are felt all over the world. In effect, climate change is a global problem that will affect every one of us. Changes in our climate system threatens the basic requirements of people around the world – access to food, water, use of land and issues of health and environment (1).

  • Melting glaciers: including India’s ‘water towers’ – the Himalayan glaciers – pose the very serious threat of our perennial rivers – the Sapta Sindhu – drying up.
  • Ocean acidification – affecting marine ecosystems and fish stocks
  • Declining crop yields in the face of rising populations
  • Rising sea levels – millions of ‘environmental refugees’, salt water invasion of fertile agricultural soil.

Risks and impacts
Even if all emissions stopped today, the time lag necessary for climate stabilization would mean global temperatures would continue to rise for the next 30 to 50 years. Hence, over the next few decades, we face unavoidable economic costs. We also face several economic and climatic impacts, as well as risks.

Where does India stand?
India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, growing at an almost breakneck pace, guzzling coal, gas and oil in large quantities (4) while doing so. We are also the fifth largest emitter of GHG’s in the world. With nearly a quarter of our billion plus population below the poverty line, the government is pursuing an ambitious development agenda modeled on the West.

Apart from being a major contributor to the problem in the future, India as a developing country, cannot afford to take as many risks and economic backlashes as industrialized nations can.

We would face:

  • Erratic monsoon patterns – a serious threat to rainfed agriculture, peninsular rivers and power supply
  • Rising sea levels – along one of the longest and densely populated coastlines in the world, a 1-metre rise in sea levels could displace millions
  • More floods and drought – exacerbating water shortages and declines in crop yield
  • Receding Himalayan glaciers

How can we solve climate change?
Immediate action is of essence. To prevent the planet from warming by more than 2 degrees C, concentrations of GHG’s must not exceed 450 ppm of CO2 equivalent.

This might seem a huge task, but the good news is that solutions that will take us towards a low carbon future already exist (3).

  • Global collective action that emphasizes necessary and urgent action
  • International agreements, legally binding and time-bound targets to regulate and stabilize emissions
  • Policy reform that can catalyse action for climate change
  • Emission reduction in every economic and political sector.

Action is essential. But action now is more desirable, and more cost effective than action in the future (2).

References

  1. IPCC
  2. Stern Review
  3. Design to Win
  4. Imagining India
  5. http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/environment/arcticice_decline.html
  6. Earth Policy Insitute
  7. International Energy Agency