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Subject: Climate Change

1. Global Warming and Issues
2. All about Pollution

  • How global warming affect forecasting?

    Why in the News?

    The record warming of 2023-2024 is offering a clearer view of the impacts of global warming. The range of extreme events experienced globally has spanned from deadly heatwaves to devastating cyclones and floods, as well as droughts and wildfires.

    Impact of Warming on Predictability:

    • Increased Variability: The record warming of 2023-2024 highlights the unpredictability of climate systems under global warming, complicating forecasts for natural phenomena like El Niño, monsoons, and hurricanes.
    • Natural Variability: Warming may extend the timescale of natural decadal variability, making it harder to distinguish between short-term fluctuations and long-term trends in climate behaviour.
    • Model Limitations: Despite advances, climate models are imperfect in capturing changes in dominant climate modes due to warming, leading to inconsistencies in predicting events like monsoon trends.

    Types of Climate Models to forecast the weather: 

    1. General Circulation Models (GCMs): These models simulate the physics of the climate system by representing the interactions between the atmosphere, oceans, land, and ice. They divide the Earth into a three-dimensional grid and calculate climate variables like temperature and humidity in each grid cell.
    2. Earth System Models (ESMs): An advanced subset of GCMs that includes biogeochemical cycles, allowing them to simulate interactions between climate and ecological processes, such as carbon and nitrogen cycles.
    3. Regional Climate Models (RCMs): These focus on smaller geographic areas to provide more detailed climate projections by using outputs from GCMs as inputs for localized simulations.
    4. Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs): These combine climate science with socioeconomic factors to analyze how human activities influence climate change and to project future emissions scenarios.

    Challenges in Forecasting Extreme Weather:

    • Inconsistent Predictions: Predictions for extreme weather events in 2023, such as the monsoon and hurricane seasons, were less accurate, revealing the limitations of current models and observational networks.
    • Unforeseen Factors: Unanticipated contributions, like the impact of the Hunga Tonga volcano or wildfire-induced CO2 emissions, exacerbated warming in ways models failed to predict, illustrating the unpredictability of new factors.
    • Censorship Concerns: The rapid response required from social media platforms to act on content flagged as misleading within 36 hours created concerns about censorship and freedom of expression.

    Future of Weather Prediction Models:

    • Need for Model Improvements: There is ongoing work to refine models and incorporate the latest technologies, including AI and machine learning, to improve weather prediction accuracy at hyperlocal scales.
    • Natural Modes and Uncertainty: The predictability of natural modes (El Niño, La Niña, IOD) may decrease with relentless warming, making future climate forecasts increasingly uncertain.
    • Short-Term Focus: A shift toward short-term predictions (up to a decade or two) may offer more reliable projections due to the inherent difficulty in predicting long-term scenarios under continuous global warming.

    Way forward: 

    • Enhanced Climate Models: Invest in improving climate models with cutting-edge technologies like AI, machine learning, and advanced sensors to increase the accuracy of short-term forecasts and better capture the impact of natural variability under warming.
    • Localized Early Warning Systems: Develop robust, hyperlocal early warning systems to better prepare for extreme weather events, focusing on disaster management and reducing vulnerabilities in high-risk communities.

  • A climate crisis agenda remains urgent

    Why in the News?

    Although voters voiced concerns about the climate crisis, it was overlooked during the Lok Sabha election campaign.

    2023 Climate Targets of Indian Government

    • Renewable Energy Goals: India aims to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity by 2030, with a target for 50% of its total energy needs to come from renewable sources.
    • Emissions Goals: The updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) set a goal to reduce emissions intensity of GDP by 45% compared to 2005 levels by 2030.
    • Carbon Sink Targets: India plans to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5–3 billion metric tons of CO2 equivalent through enhanced forest and tree cover by 2030.
    • Net Zero Commitment: Aiming for net zero emissions by 2070, India has committed to significant reductions in projected emissions, including a pledge to reduce one billion tonnes of emissions from now until 2030.
      • As of late 2023, India has already achieved a cumulative electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources at approximately 43.81%, ahead of its initial targets.

    Why is addressing the climate crisis an urgent priority for policymakers and the global community?

    • The Paris Agreement includes a commitment for developed countries to mobilize $100 billion per year by 2020 to support climate action in developing countries. This target was extended until 2025, with new financial goals.
      • The next five years are crucial for India’s climate action to meet its ambitious 2030 targets, as the Roadmap for 2025 Climate Change Funds are about to end.
    • India’s heavy dependence on coal, with clean energy contributing only 22% of the electricity mix, underscores the need for an urgent transition.
    • Immediate attention is required to manage heat stress, improve air quality, handle waste, and enhance energy efficiency.

    What specific actions or policies can be implemented?

    • Enhanced Carbon Markets: Launching the ‘India Carbon Market’ in 2026 aims to help achieve Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and could become the world’s largest emissions trading system by 2030.
    • Mitigating Pollutants: Focus on reducing CO2 and short-lived superpollutants like methane, black carbon, and hydrofluorocarbons, which have significant short-term warming effects.
      • Integrating specific treaties into the Paris Agreement, similar to the Montreal Protocol, with a new treaty targeting methane reductions by 2030 would be helpful.
    • Financial Incentives: Developing financial mechanisms and nuanced carbon trading approaches to encourage faster climate action and effective pollutant management.

    What challenges or barriers exist in the implementation of a comprehensive climate crisis agenda?

    • Governance and Coordination: Need for a Constitutional nodal authority to ensure coordinated climate action across various government levels and stakeholders.
    • Economic and Social Factors: Rising temperatures and associated crises like unemployment and high living costs contribute to public disengagement from climate issues.
    • Political and Voter Engagement: The 2024 Lok Sabha election’s lack of focus on climate issues highlights the challenge of integrating climate action into mainstream political agendas and addressing voter concerns.

    Way forward: 

    • Create a Constitutional Nodal Authority: Form a central body with the authority to oversee, coordinate, and enforce climate policies across various government levels, ensuring effective and unified action.
    • Prioritize Climate Issues in Political Platforms: Make climate action a central theme in political campaigns and public discussions to boost awareness, engagement, and support for climate policies and initiatives.

    Mains PYQ:

    Q ‘Climate change’ is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change? (UPSC IAS/2017)

  • Post-glacial ecosystems could help slow down climate change – Study

    Why in the News?

    The retreat of glaciers is one of the most visible indicators of climate change, but it also creates new ecosystems that could play a role in mitigating its effects, according to a global study titled ‘The Development of Terrestrial Ecosystems Emerging After Glacier Retreat’ published in “Nature”.

    How are Glaciers Formed?

    • Glaciers form when snowfall accumulates over time in a particular area where temperatures are consistently cold enough for snow to remain year-round.
    • Over the years, the weight of accumulating snow compresses the lower layers, turning them into firn (a dense snowpack). Further compression transforms firn into ice.
    • Once thick enough, glaciers begin to move under the force of gravity, flowing slowly like rivers of ice. The glacier’s movement is driven by the internal deformation of the ice and sliding at its base, leading to the formation of crevasses and other glacial features.

    What is Glacier Retreat?

    • Glacier retreat refers to the process where glaciers lose mass due to melting and insufficient snowfall to replenish their ice. This phenomenon is accelerated by climate change, leading to rising sea levels and altered water supplies. 
    • As global temperatures rise, glaciers shrink more rapidly, which impacts ecosystems and human communities that rely on glacial meltwater for drinking, agriculture, and hydropower.

    Key Highlights of the Recent Study

    The recent study titled “The Development of Terrestrial Ecosystems Emerging After Glacier Retreat,” published in Nature, presents several significant findings:

    • Ecosystem Development: The study indicates that while glacier retreat is a clear sign of climate change, it also leads to the emergence of new ecosystems that can mitigate climate change effects because of it can enhance carbon capture and storage through biogeochemical processes.
    • Microbial Colonization: Following glacier retreat, microorganisms such as bacteria and algae are the first to colonize the barren landscapes, which helps in soil formation.
      • Within a decade, hardy plants like lichens and grasses establish themselves, further enriching the soil and enabling more complex life forms to thrive.
    • Management Importance:  The study emphasizes that with appropriate strategies to manage it because, these areas can quickly develop, providing habitats for species threatened by climate change and contributing to biodiversity conservation.
    • Water Regulation: In regions like the Himalayas, post-glacial ecosystems are vital for regulating water availability, impacting rivers that support millions of people.
    • Potential for Discoveries: The biodiversity in these areas may lead to new agricultural and medicinal discoveries, highlighting the ecological benefits of protecting and studying these ecosystems

    Way forward: 

    • Ecosystem Management: Implement strategies for managing emerging post-glacial ecosystems to enhance their carbon capture potential and biodiversity conservation, supporting climate change mitigation efforts.
    • Research and Conservation: Prioritize research on these ecosystems, particularly in regions like the Himalayas, to safeguard water resources and explore potential agricultural and medicinal discoveries, benefiting both the environment and local economies.

    Mains PYQ:

    Q Bring out the relationship between the shrinking Himalayan glaciers and the symptoms of climate change in the Indian sub-continent. (UPSC IAS/2014)

  • Madeira River in Amazon’s State of Brazil

    Why in the News?

    Communities near Brazil’s Madeira River in the Amazon rainforest are experiencing record low water levels due to a severe drought.

    About Madeira River

    Details
    Formation Formed by the confluence of the Mamore and Beni rivers at Villa Bella, Bolivia.

    Meets the Amazon River 145 km east of Manaus, Brazil.
    Length 3,352 km from the upper reaches of the Mamore.
    Geographic Path Flows along the Bolivia-Brazil border for 100 km, then through Rondonia and Amazonas states in Brazil.
    Navigability Navigable by seagoing vessels for 1,300 km upstream until Cachoeira de Santo Antonio.
    Climate Varies from arid to humid, with the river overflowing during the rainy season, submerging nearby forests.
    Historical Inhabitants Traditionally inhabited by indigenous communities and mestizos; later joined by farmers and ranchers.
    Name Origin Named “Madeira” (Portuguese for “Wood River“), previously called the Cuyari River.

     

    PYQ:

    [2020] Consider the following pairs?

    River: Flows into

    1. Mekong: Andaman sea

    2. Thames: Irish Sea

    3. Volga: Caspian Sea

    4. Zambezi: Indian Ocean

    Which of the pairs above is/are correctly matched?

    (a) 1 and 2 only

    (b) 3 only

    (c) 3 and 4 only

    (d) None of the above/More than one of the above

  • Methane’s Contribution in Climate Change

    Why in the News?

    The European Union introduced a new regulation in May 2024 requiring fossil fuel companies to routinely measure, report, and reduce methane emissions.

    About Methane Emissions:

    Details
    Nature Colorless, Odourless.

    Considered a short-lived climate pollutant due to its shorter atmospheric lifetime compared to CO2.
    Global Warming Potential (GWP) 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a short term.
    GWP100: 28 (over 100 years)Accounts for approximately 30% of global warming.
    Atmospheric Lifetime Breaks down in about 12 years; shorter-lived compared to CO2.
    Major Sources – Cattle farming: 32% of human-caused methane emissions (includes manure and enteric fermentation)
    – Landfills: Approximately 20%
    – Wastewater treatment: Around 8%
    – Rice cultivation: About 10%
    – Industrial processes: Varied but significant
    Natural Non-Human Sources Includes wetlands and permafrost, which release methane through natural processes.
    Impact Compared to CO2 Traps 84 times as much heat as CO2 over a 20-year period.
    CO2 has a longer-term warming effect but is less potent.
    Key Initiatives Global Methane Pledge: Launched at UN COP26, signed by over 90 countries, led by the US and EU.

    India did not sign.

     

    PYQ:

    [2019] Consider the following:

    1. Carbon monoxide
    2. Methane
    3. Ozone
    4. Sulphur dioxide

    Which of the above are released into atmosphere due to the burning of crop/biomass residue?

    (a) 1 and 2 only

    (b) 2, 3 and 4 only

    (c) 1 and 4 only

    (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

  • Cold War nuke tests light up a bug in present-day climate models  

    Why in the News?

    A new calculation suggests that climate models might be overestimating how long plants keep carbon before releasing it as per the recent study published in Science by an international research team.

    Study by an International Team of Researchers:

    • A recent study published in Science by an international research team suggests that plants absorb more CO2 from the atmosphere than previously thought but release it back into their surroundings sooner than expected.
    • Researchers utilized climate models to analyze the impact of radiocarbon (carbon-14) from nuclear bomb tests on the carbon cycle. They tracked changes in radiocarbon levels in the atmosphere and how it was absorbed by plants during photosynthesis.
    • The study estimates that plants store around 80 billion tonnes of carbon per year, primarily in leaves and finer roots, which is higher than previous estimates of 43-76 billion tonnes. This indicates that plants may be cycling carbon through the atmosphere and soil more rapidly than previously thought.

    Study from the Relics of the Cold War:

    • The nuclear bomb tests conducted during the Cold War inadvertently provided scientists with valuable data for climate research.
      • The tests released significant amounts of radiocarbon into the atmosphere, allowing researchers to study its movement and absorption by vegetation.
    • The presence of radiocarbon in the atmosphere serves as a marker for understanding carbon dynamics.
      • The study analyzed the radiocarbon levels before and after the 1963 Limited Test Ban Treaty, which halted atmospheric nuclear testing, providing insights into how carbon is cycled between the atmosphere and vegetation.
    • The study highlights that many climate models have not incorporated radiocarbon data, which could lead to inaccuracies in predicting carbon cycling and its impact on climate change.
      • Only one model, the Community Earth System Model 2, has accounted for radiocarbon, but it predicted lower absorption levels than the study found.

    How the Whole System is Cycling Faster?

    • Accelerated Carbon Exchange: The researchers concluded that the entire carbon cycle is operating faster than previously understood.
      • This means that while plants absorb more CO2, they also release it back into the atmosphere more quickly, leading to a more dynamic and less stable carbon storage system.
    • Implications for Climate Mitigation: The findings suggest that strategies relying on plant carbon sequestration to offset fossil fuel emissions may need to be reevaluated.
      • If plants are releasing carbon sooner than expected, the potential for mitigating climate change through natural carbon sinks could be less effective than previously thought.

    Way forward: 

    • Incorporate Radiocarbon Data: Integrate radiocarbon data into existing and future climate models to more accurately predict carbon cycling and the role of vegetation in carbon sequestration. This will lead to more reliable forecasts of climate change impacts and inform better policy decisions.
    • Develop Dynamic Carbon Cycle Models: Improve models to account for the faster carbon cycling observed, ensuring they reflect the actual pace at which carbon is absorbed and released by plants. This will help in refining strategies for climate mitigation.

  • Why A23a is spinning in its place?

    Why in the News?

    • A23a, the world’s largest iceberg, has recently started spinning in place after drifting away from Antarctica in 2020.
      • Now it is near South Orkney Islands, about northeast of the Antarctic Peninsula.

    What is A23a?

    • A23a is an iceberg, about 3,855 square kilometers in area, which is 5 times the size of New York City.
    • It was originally part of an even larger iceberg called A23.
    • It broke off from the Filchner Ice Shelf in Antarctica in 1986.

    What is happening with A23a?

    • It is now trapped over a seamount, and is spinning slowly in place.
    • It is completing a full spin approximately in 24 days.
    • Reason behind the spinning: Icebergs spin in Iceberg Alley because they get pulled by the strong Antarctic Circumpolar Current, moving into warmer waters where they melt.

    Implications

    • A23a’s melting does not contribute to global sea level rise since it is already floating.
    • Its extended stay in this vortex could impact marine life in the area, especially plankton and other organisms in the food chain.
    • The situation also provides a unique opportunity for scientists to study how such large icebergs behave in the ocean.

    PYQ:

    [2021] With reference to the water on the planet Earth, consider the following statements:

    1. The amount of water in the rivers and lakes is more than the amount of groundwater.

    2. The amount of water in polar ice caps and glaciers is more than the amount of groundwater.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

     

    [2021] How do the melting of the Arctic ice and glaciers of the Antarctic differently affect the weather patterns and human activities on the Earth? Explain. 
  • [9th August 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: A moment for just transition litigation to take wing

    [9th August 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: A moment for just transition litigation to take wing

    PYQ Relevance:

    Mains:

    Q1 “Policy contradictions among various competing sectors and stakeholders have resulted in inadequate ‘protection and prevention of degradation to the environment.” Comment with relevant illustrations. (UPSC IAS/2018) 

    Q2 Environmental Impact Assessment studies are increasingly undertaken before a project is cleared by the Government. Discuss the environmental impacts of coal-fired thermal plants located at coal pitheads. (UPSC IAS/2014) 

    Note4Students: 

    Prelims: What is just a transition concept?;

    Mains: Advantages of a just transition framing;

    Mentor comments:  In April 2024, the Supreme Court of India delivered a significant judgment in the case of “M.K. Ranjitsinh and Others vs Union of India.” The two-judge bench, comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta, ruled on the matter concerning the rights of wildlife and environmental protection. The court emphasized the importance of safeguarding natural habitats while balancing developmental needs, thereby reinforcing the legal framework aimed at preserving biodiversity and ecological integrity in India. This ruling reflects the judiciary’s commitment to environmental justice and sustainable development practices.

    Let’s learn!

    __

    Why in the News? 

    • In April 2024, the Supreme Court of India, in the case of “M.K. Ranjitsinh and Others vs Union of India”, acknowledged a human right to be free from the adverse effects of climate change. 
    • This landmark decision has generated considerable discussion, with varying opinions. For some, it represents a significant advancement in climate action, while others contend that it inadequately safeguards endangered biodiversity.

    Key points as per judgement: 

    • Recognition of Human Rights Against Climate Change: The Supreme Court’s judgement recognized a human right against the adverse impacts of climate change, marking a significant step in the realm of environmental jurisprudence in India.
    • Concept of Just Transition: The judgement emphasized the importance of framing climate action through the lens of “just transition.”  
    • Inclusion of the Non-Human Environment: A significant aspect of the judgement was the consideration of introducing the non-human environment, such as biodiversity and ecosystems, as a subject within the concept of just transition.  
    • Mixed Reactions: The decision has sparked diverse opinions. While it is seen as a victory for climate action, some critics argue that it has not sufficiently protected endangered biodiversity, especially species like the Great Indian Bustard.

    What is just a transition concept? 

    • The concept of just transition refers to a framework aimed at ensuring that the shift from a high-carbon economy to a low-carbon economy is equitable and inclusive, addressing the social, economic, and environmental impacts of this transition.

    Advantages of a just transition framing

    • Equitable Climate Action: Framing the case within a just transition context allows the court to promote equitable and inclusive climate action. It shifts the narrative from viewing decarbonisation and biodiversity protection as adversarial to recognising their interdependence.
      • This approach can prevent the marginalisation of biodiversity interests, ensuring that the burdens of climate action are shared fairly among all stakeholders, including affected communities and ecosystems.
    • Expansion of Just Transition Concept: The case provides a unique opportunity to broaden the just transition framework by incorporating the non-human environment, specifically the Great Indian Bustard, as an affected entity.
      • This inclusion can help develop jurisprudence that recognizes the rights of nature and expands the understanding of just transition beyond human communities, aligning with emerging eco-centric legal principles.
    • Catalyst for Research and Awareness: Introducing the just transition concept in this case can stimulate much-needed research on just transition litigation in India, an area that remains underexplored.
      • By mapping existing cases and integrating them into the broader discourse on just transitions, the court can contribute to filling gaps in knowledge and understanding of how climate justice can be effectively achieved in the context of renewable energy projects.

    Way forward: 

    • Developing a Comprehensive Legal Framework for Just Transition: The Supreme Court should advocate for the creation of a robust legal framework that explicitly incorporates the principles of just transition. This framework should provide clear guidelines for ensuring that climate action, particularly decarbonisation efforts, is inclusive and fair to all stakeholders, including vulnerable communities and ecosystems.  
    • Establishing a Multidisciplinary Task Force for Monitoring and Implementation: The Court could recommend the formation of a multidisciplinary task force comprising experts in environmental law, social justice, economics, and biodiversity conservation.  

  • Underwater mapping reveals insights into melting of ice shelves    

    Why in the News?

    New research has documented previously unseen shapes at the base of a West Antarctic ice shelf.  

    Base of a West Antarctic Ice Shelf

    • Basal Melt Dynamics: The base of West Antarctic ice shelves, including the Dotson Ice Shelf, experiences basal melt driven by warm ocean water. This process leads to thinning and hollows out cavities beneath the ice, reducing structural support for the grounded ice above.
    • Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) Research: Recent research utilized an AUV equipped with multibeam sonar to explore the topography of the basal melt cavity beneath the Dotson Ice Shelf, revealing previously unquantified melt mechanisms and unique formations at the ice shelf’s base.
      • Warm salty water, which is transported through ocean currents, significantly contributes to the melting of ice shelves. This bottom-up melting is critical to understanding the dynamics of ice loss and its implications for global sea level rise.
      • The AUV discovered tear-shaped indents and other unique shapes at the base of the ice shelf, indicating diverse melting patterns influenced by the flow of warm water.

    About the Dotson Ice Shelf (DIS) in Amundsen Sea

    • Dotson Ice Shelf is part of the West Antarctic ice sheet and is located next to Thwaites Glacier in the Amundsen Sea.
    • Thwaites Glacier is considered to have a potentially large impact on future sea level rise due to its size and location.

    Reasons behind ocean warming

    • Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Since the Industrial Revolution, human activities such as burning fossil fuels have significantly increased greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. These gases trap heat, leading to global warming.
    • Heat Absorption: The oceans have absorbed more than 93% of the excess heat from greenhouse gas emissions since the 1970s. This resulted in an average increase in ocean temperature of about 1°F (0.6°C) over the past century.
    • Impact of El Niño: The El Niño weather pattern, characterized by the abnormal warming of surface waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, contributes to both ocean warming and rising global surface temperatures.

    International Efforts and Agreements

    • The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was signed by 166 countries in 1992, acknowledging humanity’s role in climate change.
    • The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, sets the international community the goal of limiting global warming to “well below” 2°C in this century.
    • The Green Climate Fund, established in 2010, aims to help developing countries adopt initiatives to combat climate change and deforestation

    Way forward: 

    • Enhanced Global Commitments: Nations need to reinforce their commitments under international agreements like the Paris Agreement. This includes setting more ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adhering to these goals through stringent policies and regulations.
    • Funding and Technology Transfer: Developed countries should increase financial contributions to climate funds such as the Green Climate Fund to support mitigation and adaptation efforts in developing countries.

    Mains Question for practice: 

    Q Bring out the relationship between the shrinking Himalayan glaciers and the symptoms of climate change in the Indian sub-continent. (2014)

  • What is South Africa’s new law on climate change?   

    Why in the news?

    President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a law imposing mandatory emission curbs on large industries and requiring climate adaptation plans to meet South Africa’s Paris Agreement commitments.

    Features of the Law:

    • Mandatory Emission Curbs: The legislation imposes mandatory limits on emissions from large, fossil-fuel-heavy industries.
    • Climate-Adaptation Plans: It requires towns and villages to develop and implement climate-adaptation plans.
    • Emissions Reduction Commitments: The law aims to help South Africa meet its emissions reduction commitments under the Paris Agreement.

    Significance of this law: 

    • Data-Driven Approach: The law is based on emissions data and trends, such as the decrease from 512 Mt CO2e in 2017 to 405 Mt CO2e in 2022 will help in sustained efforts in emission reduction.
    • Reduction in Emissions: The law aims to significantly reduce South Africa’s greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with the Paris Agreement. This is a crucial step for South Africa’s status as one of the top 15 GHG emitters globally.
    • Transition from Coal: South Africa relies heavily on coal for electricity generation. The bill’s mandatory curbs on emissions from large, fossil-fuel-heavy industries are a critical step towards reducing dependence on coal and shifting towards cleaner energy sources.

    Does India have an omnibus legislation on climate change?

    • No Comprehensive Legislation: India does not have a comprehensive, omnibus legislation specifically addressing climate change.
    • Climate Change in Existing Acts: Climate change is addressed within multiple existing Acts and subordinate legislation, such as the Environmental Protection Act, Forest Conservation Act, Energy Conservation Act, and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.
    • Private Member’s Bill: A Private Member’s Bill called the Council on Climate Change Bill was proposed by Rajya Sabha parliamentarian Priyanka Chaturvedi in 2022, which aimed to establish a Council to advise the Union government on climate change matters, but there has been no significant progress on this bill.
    • Supreme Court Ruling: The Supreme Court recognized the “right against the adverse effects of climate change” and highlighted the need for comprehensive climate change legislation, linking the impact of climate change to citizens’ rights of liberty, life, and equality.

    Way forward: 

    • Comprehensive Legislation and Institutional Framework: India should work towards enacting comprehensive climate change legislation that integrates and harmonizes existing laws related to environmental protection, energy conservation, and pollution control.
    • Enhanced Research and Implementation Support: Need to invest in extensive scientific research to evaluate the efficacy and potential impacts of transitioning to low-carbon and renewable energy sources.

    Mains PYQ: 

    Q Climate change is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change? (2017)