A Deeply Unequal Change

India has been facing climate change as other countries in the region. A new academic paper published by Harvard University argues that over 200 million Indians will face extreme heat until 2030. India’s adaptation policies are deeply unequal and do not lay credence to the inequality that climate change brings to a society. India must use market mechanisms to deal with climate change and other environmental problems. Using government measures as its choice might not work in the long-run. The involvement of private sector should be considered more important and salient when it comes to mitigation and adaptation measures as laid out by the government. India, along with other countries in the region have been facing dire heat; although it’s not new, as summer weather in India and other tropical countries of the region are not mildly hot. The weather usually reaches extreme proportion in the summer months. India must pay attention to the deeply unequal argument that has been laid on its doorstep by the new findings. The climate change should not lead to climate inequality.

India must pay attention to the needs of the economy and at the same time curb its carbon emissions. Attributing summer heat to climate change might not be a very wise idea, although climate inequality ought to be treated with seriousness of political intent. Better adaptation measures must be prepared with the aid of the private sector and India must lay a robust policy framework to deal with deeply unequal nature of climate change. India is a developing economy and like most developing economies relies on fossil fuels for its consumption needs. India must bring about a change in its climate policy and induct private sector and scientific principles in order to control and eventually reduce climate change. The climate change can play havoc in the future in many countries; however going by the estimates of IPCC, India too can suffer mildly. India should be given the opportunity to deal with its climate problems and bring about a change in its economy. More environmentally-friendly products would be one way of coming to terms with India’s climate change problems. India’s private sector must be encouraged to become environmentally friendly. India with its growing population has not done a lot on the environmental front, and has been one of the largest emitter of greenhouse gases. India’s government must pay heed to the new findings of the paper, and work in tandem with the private sector in order to bring about a culmination of its climate problems. India’s government must use market mechanisms as they are most efficient and bring about a change for the better.

Yuvraj Saharan

Capital Report