Way forward
Climate Change
•Melting of glaciers
•Rise in sea-levels
•Flash floods
•Increase in intensity of extreme weather events such as heat waves, tornadoes, hurricanes and
heavy rainfall
•Severe droughts
•Endangerment of species
•Loss of biodiversity
•Decrease in agricultural yields,
Climate change adds to the existing burden of the people living below the poverty line.
•Widespread vector-borne diseases
•Acidification of oceans
•Death of coral reefs.
Impact of Climate Change – Global Context
The impact of climate change can be observed globally through melting of glaciers,
ocean acidification, unseasonal rains, heat waves etc
Climate change poses threat to food security across the globe
Increase in the number of cases of health concerns such as Asthama, Malaria,
Dengue, Diarrhea etc
Unbalanced ecosystems and extinction of species
Negative impact on the local economy of a particular region
Impact of Climate Change – Indian Context
Climate change aggravates causes of poverty and inequality. Both can obstruct
achievement of sustainable global development.
Climate change has direct and immediate impact on people below the poverty line.
This makes poverty reduction more difficult.
It pulls away resources that allow proper functionality of livelihood, health,
environment, etc.
Ignoring the impacts of climate change leads to a lack of direction to address the
socio-economic and environmental concerns.
Challenges to the Alignment of Climate Change
and Poverty
Shortage of funds
Climate change and poverty policies run parallel and not in convergence with each
other
Climate change can push 45 million Indians into poverty in the next 15 years.
Drop in crop yields lead to rise in cost of food. Globally, rise in food prices affected 100
million people in 2008 and 44 million people in 2010-11.
Global warming of 2 degrees could increase the number of people at risk from malaria
by 5% and diarrhea by 10%.
Increased occurrence and intensity of natural hazards such as droughts, river flooding
and heat waves.
Over the last two decades the sea levels has risen to over 8 inches
Poverty Scenario in India
The World Bank estimates that in the absence of climate change, 189 million Indians
will be living below the poverty line (i.e. on less than $1.9 or INR 127 a day) by 2030.
Climate change could push this number to as high as 234 million.
In 2012, India accounted to have the largest number of people below the poverty line in
any country.
India'spoverty rate is one of the lowest among countries with largest number of people
below the poverty line.
Despitethe rising inequality and acceleration post 1991 a downward trend in poverty
measures has been observed since 1970.
Majority of the population below the poverty line belong to the discriminated sections
of society.
Population Classification
Total
Populatio
n
Total 1,02,86,10,328 1,21,05,69,573 100.0 100.0 17.7
Rural 74,23,02,537 83,34,63,448 100.0 100.0 12.3
Urban 28,63,07,791 37,71,06,125 100.0 100.0 31.7
Schedule
d Castes
Total 16,66,35,700 20,13,78,086 16.2 16.6 20.8
Rural 13,30,10,878 15,38,50,562 17.9 18.5 15.7
Urban 3,36,24,822 4,75,27,524 11.7 12.6 41.3
Source: Primary Census Abstract for Total population, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, 2011
Schedule Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India
d Tribes
Concentration - SCs & STs
Poverty Ratio for Social Groups
Inrural areas, STs exhibit highest level of poverty (47.4%), followed by SCs (42.3%) and
OBCs (31.9%), against 33.8% for all classes.
In urban areas, SCs have HCR of 34.1% followed by STs (30.4%) and OBCs (24.3%)
against 20.9% for all classes.
In rural Bihar and Chhattisgarh, nearly two-third of SCs and STs are poor whereas, in
states such as Manipur, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh the poverty ratio for these groups is
more than half.
Source: Press Note on Poverty Estimates, 2009-10 - GOI, Planning Commission, March 2012
Poverty Percentage Among Social Groups
Poverty Percentage Among Social Groups
70
Rural
60
Urban
60
50
50
40
40
30
30
20
20
10
10
0 0
SC OBC ST Others All Population SC OBC ST Others All Population
Reverse discrimination
It can be utilized as a tool to fight poverty and global warming by focusing on methods
of environment conservation and risk mitigation of climate change
The National Action Plan on Climate Change identifies measures that promote
development objectives
Mission focused on
mitigation
National Solar Mission 20,000 MW of solar power Ministry of new & INR 87.95
by 2020 renewable energy
National Mission for Conservation and Ministry of Science and INR 16.95
Sustaining Himalayan adaptation practices, Technology
Ecosystem glacial monitoring
National Mission for Drought proofing, risk Ministry of Agriculture INR 1080
Sustainable Agriculture management, agriculture
research
National Mission on Vulnerability assessment, Ministry of Science and INR 9.5
Strategic Knowledge for research and observation, Technology
Climate Change data management
India announced its National Action Plan on Climate Change on June 30, 2008. While
launching the Plan, former Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh had said:
"Our people have a right to economic and social development and to discard the ignominy
of widespread poverty. For this we need rapid economic growth. But I also believe that
ecologically sustainable development need not be in contradiction to achieving our
growth objectives.”
India with its Energy Conservation Act has identified nine energy intensive sectors,
namely, Iron & Steel, Cement, Power, Paper and Pulp, Chlor-Alkalis, Aluminium, Textiles
and Railways. Government and Industry are working together to work towards raising
efficiency levels significantly.
Launched International Solar Alliance for mutual cooperation among 121 countries.
India announced its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions i.e. reducing its
emission intensity of its GDP by 33-35% by 2030.
National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change with budgetary provision of INR 350 crore
and National Clean Energy Fund which is supported by cess on coal.
Climate Change Initiatives By Industry
Tata group incorporated climate change in the Tata Code of Conduct by focusing on low
carbon footprint, sustainability projects, etc. Tata Power has invested INR 240 crore in
solar power installations while TCS spent INR 35.97 crore in incorporating green building
concepts.
Companies like Nestle, Philips, Unilever and Infosys have committed to use 100%
renewable energy for all their operations.
Yes Bank is the first bank to issue green bonds which would be exclusively used to finance
climate-friendly business initiatives.
Major Indian auto makers such as Tata Motors, Mahindra and Maruti Suzuki have come
together to invest in and develop components and systems for electric and hybrid vehicles.
Franchise India in collaboration with Singapore based investment company, SingEx held a
'Clean & Green India' conclave to chalk out avenues to manage Indian waste.
Contd...
Tata group has acquired Welspun India and will be working towards enhancing their
capacities through renewables.
Over 100 Indian companies including DMRC, ITC Limited, Mahindra and Mahindra and
Tata Group launched a “Corporate Vision on Climate Change” that includes the best
sustainable practices at the Paris COP 21 Climate Summit.
Ambuja Cement, Tata Power and Wipro are increasingly deploying renewables.
In 2009, PepsiCo India announced 15 global goals and commitments to guide our work
to protect the Earth's natural resources through innovation and more efficient use of land,
energy, water and packaging in their operations.
What Can Be Done?
Climate change provides a safety net for the people below the poverty line while
ensuring a conducive environment
Holisticplan to target climate change and poverty through affirmative action and CSR.
Corporations can fund green initiatives targeting SC/ST communities.
Focus not only on people below poverty line but also on the one who are vulnerable to
fall into the category.
Create awareness and share information of processes and systems that address the
problems of the local communities.
Contd...
Create wealth from waste, replenish water, responsible use of natural resources, green
innovations, etc.
Investments in research for climate friendly solutions which will help the industry
thereby creating jobs for the discriminated sections that will help address both poverty
and climate change
The Way Forward
Ensuring lower per capita emissions in comparison with other developed and developing countries.
Primary focus on adaptation with specific niches for mitigation
Collaborative research in future low-carbon technologies
Facilitating forestry, drought proofing, crop improvement, crop insurance etc
All the policies related to climate change must be communicated to the people living below the poverty
line for them to take advantage
Climate-informed development needs to be complemented with targeted adaptation interventions and
a more robust safety net system for the poor
Develop models to understand and determine the number of people being pushed in poverty due to
climate change
Emphasis on continuous technological improvements through up gradation of their systems and
processes, regular monitoring of various performance parameters as well as capacity building of the local
communities
How Can Corporations Help?
Direct CSR funds through discriminated sections towards green initiatives such as Climate
Smart Agriculture, Solar powered irrigation projects, water conservation etc
Create employment opportunities and provide social safety nets for the discriminated
sections of society
Develop products and services with social benefits involving green technologies
Conduct research, provide financial support to develop green and advanced technologies
Soumitro Chakraborty
CEO, Fiinovation