UNEP report on how climate crisis is impacting displacement, global conflicts, declining health

By Shankar Sharma*

A recent report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), titled "A Global Foresight Report on Planetary Health and Human Wellbeing," warrants urgent attention from our country’s developmental perspective. The findings, detailed in the report, should be a source of significant concern not only globally but especially for our nation, which has a vast population and limited natural resources.

The UNEP report highlights that the world is now confronting a different reality compared to just ten years ago. While some issues remain unchanged, the rapid pace of transformation—fuelled by technological advancements, frequent natural disasters, and a volatile geopolitical climate—has created a new environment where nations can be destabilized more easily and frequently.

The report points to a "triple planetary crisis" encompassing climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, all of which exacerbate ongoing human crises, including territorial conflicts, displacement, and declining health.

This report is crucial for our leaders to consider. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres underscored the urgency of addressing these challenges during World Environment Day in June 2024, stating: "The battle to secure the planet's future will be won or lost in the next 18 months." Timely and effective action on climate change is imperative, and India's target for net zero emissions by 2070 has been criticized as woefully inadequate.

The report delivers several key messages that our country must heed:

We may have entered an era of "Polycrisis," characterized by overlapping crises that amplify and synchronize global challenges, including resource competition and social inequities, presenting severe environmental consequences.
Despite efforts to tackle the environmental crisis, degradation continues. Essential factors driving this decline include increased resource extraction and fossil fuel consumption, leading to extreme weather events and biodiversity loss. Projections indicate a potentially catastrophic temperature rise by 2100, compounded by risks such as ancient microbes being released from thawing permafrost.
The growing demand for critical minerals needed for net zero targets—alongside digital transformation—introduces new tensions affecting both planetary health and human wellbeing. This increasing demand could quadruple by 2040, leading to greater pressures on ecosystems and vulnerable communities.
While artificial intelligence presents opportunities for growth, it also poses environmental challenges. Effective governance should incorporate environmental considerations and encourage sustainable practices within the AI sector.
Rising armed conflicts are contributing to environmental degradation that will have long-lasting consequences, including pollution and resource scarcity that disproportionately impact vulnerable communities.
Forced displacement, currently affecting one in every 69 people worldwide, leaves an environmental footprint and strains recovery efforts—significantly affecting public health and sanitation in various nations.
Addressing these shifts requires a new social contract focused on inclusivity, engagement with diverse stakeholders, and redefining success beyond GDP metrics.
Agile and adaptive governance can help accelerate progress on climate and biodiversity targets, allowing for shorter-term goals that adapt to the changing landscape.
To enhance governance, accessible data and knowledge must be integrated, supporting better decision-making and effective responses to environmental changes.
Embracing foresight is critical to making informed decisions that lead to a sustainable future, preventing the repetition of harmful past choices.

Monitoring emerging risks and trends will help harness positive changes and mitigate negative impacts. In light of our country's large population and its vulnerable segments, along with the pressing strain on natural resources—evidenced by deteriorating health indicators due to pollution and declining freshwater sources—urgent discussions are essential regarding the UNEP findings.

With a growing number of high-impact projects requiring land and water resources all sectors, we must critically review these developments and explore alternative approaches. Specifically, in the electric power sector, the proposed expansion of traditional energy sources could have devastating environmental impacts. Plans, such as the proposed addition of nuclear reactors and the expansion of hydro capacity, could exacerbate current environmental challenges.

Therefore, the implications of these choices should be reassessed to prioritize sustainability. It would be a tragedy if officials at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and NITI Aayog are unaware of the alarming UNEP findings and fail to address these pressing concerns with our leadership.

---

*Power & Climate Policy Analyst. This article is based on the author's representation to the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog, New Delhi

Comments

Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan raises concerns over Jharkhand Adivasis' plight in Assam, BJP policies

By Our Representative The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan (Save Democracy Campaign) has issued a pressing call to protect Adivasi rights in Jharkhand, highlighting serious concerns over the treatment of Jharkhandi Adivasis in Assam. During a press conference in Ranchi on November 9, representatives from Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh criticized the current approach of BJP-led governments in these states, arguing it has exacerbated Adivasi struggles for rights, land, and cultural preservation.

Promoting love or instilling hate and fear: Why is RSS seeking a meeting with Rahul Gandhi?

By Ram Puniyani* India's anti-colonial struggle was marked by a diverse range of social movements, one of the most significant being Hindu-Muslim unity and the emergence of a unified Indian identity among people of all religions. The nationalist, anti-colonial movement championed this unity, best embodied by Mahatma Gandhi, who ultimately gave his life for this cause. Gandhi once wrote, “The union that we want is not a patched-up thing but a union of hearts... Swaraj (self-rule) for India must be an impossible dream without an indissoluble union between the Hindus and Muslims of India. It must not be a mere truce... It must be a partnership between equals, each respecting the religion of the other.”

Right-arm fast bowler who helped West Indies shape arguably greatest Test team in cricket history

By Harsh Thakor* Malcolm Marshall redefined what it meant to be a right-arm fast bowler, challenging the traditional laws of biomechanics with his unique skill. As we remember his 25th death anniversary on November 4th, we reflect on the legacy he left behind after his untimely death from colon cancer. For a significant part of his career, Marshall was considered one of the fastest and most formidable bowlers in the world, helping to shape the West Indies into arguably the greatest Test team in cricket history.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Andhra team joins Gandhians to protest against 'bulldozer action' in Varanasi

By Rosamma Thomas* November 1 marked the 52nd day of the 100-day relay fast at the satyagraha site of Rajghat in Varanasi, seeking the restoration of the 12 acres of land to the Sarva Seva Sangh, the Gandhian organization that was evicted from the banks of the river. Twelve buildings were demolished as the site was abruptly taken over by the government after “bulldozer” action in August 2023, even as the matter was pending in court.

Will Bangladesh go Egypt way, where military ruler is in power for a decade?

By Vijay Prashad* The day after former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka, I was on the phone with a friend who had spent some time on the streets that day. He told me about the atmosphere in Dhaka, how people with little previous political experience had joined in the large protests alongside the students—who seemed to be leading the agitation. I asked him about the political infrastructure of the students and about their political orientation. He said that the protests seemed well-organized and that the students had escalated their demands from an end to certain quotas for government jobs to an end to the government of Sheikh Hasina. Even hours before she left the country, it did not seem that this would be the outcome.

Will Left victory in Sri Lanka deliver economic sovereignty plan, go beyond 'tired' IMF agenda?

By Atul Chandra, Vijay Prashad* On September 22, 2024, the Sri Lankan election authority announced that Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won the presidential election. Dissanayake, who has been the leader of the left-wing JVP since 2014, defeated 37 other candidates, including the incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP) and his closest challenger Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

Green Revolution’s reliance on chemical fertilizers, pesticides contributing to Punjab's health crisis

By Bharat Dogra, Jagmohan Singh* Punjab was once synonymous with robust health, particularly in its rural areas, where farmers were known for their strength and vitality. However, in recent years, reports from these villages tell a different story, with rising cases of serious health issues, including cancer. What led to this decline? The answer lies largely in the erosion of good nutrition, once a hallmark of Punjabi village life. The health of a population is closely tied to its nutrition, and Punjab's reputation as a provider of high-quality nutrition has suffered greatly. The loss of biodiversity in agriculture has led to a decrease in the variety and quality of crops, resulting in poorer nutrition. Pulses, a key source of protein, have seen a steep decline in cultivation due to the disruption of traditional farming practices by the Green Revolution. This has had a detrimental effect on both soil and human health. Although pulses are still available in the market, they are exp

Tributes paid to pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, who 'dodged' police for 60 yrs

By Harsh Thakor* Jagjit Singh Sohal, known as Comrade Sharma, a pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, passed away on October 20 at the age of 96. Committed to the Naxalite cause and a prominent Maoist leader, Sohal, who succeeded Charu Majumdar, played hide and seek with the police for almost six decades. He was cremated in Patiala.

Search This Blog