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Sustainability Is The Key To Beat Climate Change

By Marianne de Nazareth

06 February, 2015
Countercurrents.org

" I play action hero in my films, but Dr Pachauri plays action hero on the ground," said Arnold Schwarzenegger, famous Hollywood action star at the landmark 15th Delhi Sustainable Development Summit 2015 (DSDS) where Heads of State, and Nobel Laureates converged to find solutions for some of the key issues that need mitigation measures, if our planet can sustain itself in the future.

Schwarzenegger complimented Mr Pachauri on his lighting a billion lights programme in Africa. He was in awe of Mr Modi's work over the years as Chief Minister of Gujarat which he called " the California of India." He spoke about Mr Modi's campaign to cover all the canals with solar panels and he said" I hope and dream that he continues with this environmental mentality." Anything can be accomplished if you have the will he said and in California the present Governor plans to "outrageously" reduce the use of fuel by 50% which will happen.

Schwarzenegger Former Governor, California, is an ardent supporter of sustainable development in his home state of California and is the Founding Chair, R20 – Regions of Climate Change. This flagship event of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) provided a unique platform to further the developmental discourse on the theme this year, ‘Sustainable Development Goals and Dealing with Climate Change’. The DSDS 2015 assumes significance as the post-2015 development agenda is being finalized -- the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is expected to adopt the new set of goals in September 2015 and the climate negotiations (Conference of Parties – CoP21) will be held Paris later this year.

" Brazil, Australia, Germany, the US and Norway have created more jobs with pushing sustainable energy than fossil fuels ever did. With Prime minister Modi India can push for a solar revolution," he said with conviction.

Dr R K Pachauri, Director-General, TERI, said: “ We at TERI believe that the best minds need to come together to find solutions for our planet. The IPCC reports have proved beyond doubt that if we don’t take immediate measures, the future will be catastrophic. Emissions by any country affects the entire globe . But climate change also offers an opportunity of co-benefits – investing in clean and affordable energy sources like solar and wind power can curb greenhouse gas emissions, and clean transportation systems such as trains and cycling can reduce air pollution woes and improve public health. Clearly the world needs to come together to work towards mitigation.

Mr Prakash Javadekar, Hon’ble Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, India said, “ All countries are at different stages of development and oil prices still continue to rise. This is changing the game on fossil fuels and India has plans to reach a 100 thousand megawatt target on solar power generation and this we are doing of our own violation and not through any pressures. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that we are suffering due to the pressures created by climate change. We have already taken the clean energy path – and want to walk the clean energy path.”

Interestingly Mr Suresh Prabhu, Hon’ble Minister for Railways, India also took a positive stand saying, “ The world needs to work towards the common goal of fighting Climate Change. As Lord Nicholas Stern has said the problem is staring at us and food security, energy security is going to be the new game changer. If we delay action, the repercussions will be disastrous. We need to find a unified solution to tackle climate change innovatively. We need to move towards a low carbon economy and this has the potential to create new employment opportunities.”

His excellency Mr Laurent Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, France, & Former Prime Minister, France, & President, COP 21, said: “2015 will be a decisive milestone for climate change and sustainable development. The scientific community has done its job. Now governments and the corporate sector must play its part. If you accept climate disruption, then there will be a development disruption.”

“DSDS is the foremost forum to deliberate on critical environmental and developmental problems. Having been part of every edition of the DSDS, I can say the journey has been fascinating,” said Dr Annapurna Vancheswaran, Director, Sustainable Development Outreach Division, TERI

What came out very strongly from the conference which had hundreds of businessmen present is that developing countries can still look at a development trajectory without having to compromise the planet by using fossil fuels. Green is the way to go and clearly it is a win- win situation for all.

And in the words of Mahatma Gandhi," a small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history," said Mr Pachauri. And that is what the world needs today to combat the frightening spectre of Climate Change, which seems to be casting its shadow across the globe.

(Marianne de Nazareth: Freelance Science and Environment Journalist, adjunct faculty, St. Joseph's College of Media Studies, Bangalore and registered PhD scholar with the Madurai Kamaraj University)

 





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