SLII TASK 3

SUBMITTED BY: Prasoon Kumar Gupta

SUMMER INTERN TRAINEE

Q1). What exactly is climate change? What causes climate change to happen? Is
climate change a part of a natural cycle?
Solution
A variation in a location's typical weather is referred to as climate change.
Climate change is a term that refers to changes in the Earth's climate. This might be
due to a shift in the Earth's normal temperature. It might also be a shift in where rain
and snow fall on Earth.
In just a few hours, the weather may shift drastically. Climate change can take hundreds
of years or maybe eons.
Climate change is mostly caused by human activities. People use fossil fuels and
transform forestland to agricultural land. People have been burning more fossil fuels
and converting thousands of acres from forests to farming since the beginning of the
Industrial Revolution.
Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is produced when fossil fuels are burned. Because it
generates a "greenhouse effect," it is called a greenhouse gas. The planet is warmed by
the greenhouse effect, much as a greenhouse is warmed by its surroundings.
Human-induced climate change plays most significant role in temperature hike.
Planet Earth has undergone periods of greater and lesser warmth over its 4.5-billion-
year existence. Variations in Earth's orbit around the sun have dictated these changing
temperatures over many thousands of years. While longer distances to the sun have
resulted in colder cycles, shorter distances to the sun have resulted in warming.
Looking at how temperatures have changed over time, scientists observed a much
faster rate of planetary warming from the 1980s than had previously been recorded by
measuring of ice cores, tree rings and corals.
Our planet has warmed faster in the past century than at any time since the end of the
last ice age.
Only 1% of the study articles evaluated (by John Cook, a researcher from Australia's
Monash University's Climate Change Communication Research Hub, as well as
American, British, and Canadian scholars) dismissed the concept of human influence on
our climate. While 66.4 percent of the abstracts did not take a stand on the
anthropogenic element, 32.6 percent did. A closer examination of the latter number
indicated a 97.1 percent agreement on the existence of human-caused climate change.
Critics, on the other hand, blasted the findings, claiming that just around a third of the
articles evaluated contributed to the 97.1 percent consensus. They claimed that most
people had not expressed a view.
This causes a little confusion, and it took time to conclude that “Human activities were
really influencing the Climate”.
(https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1029/1999GL900070)
(https://science.sciencemag.org/content/339/6124/1198.abstract)

Q2). According to you, is climate change real or is the data being manipulated to create
a hoax? Please provide constructive arguments to your acceptance or denial of climate
change. How does climate change affect human survival?
Solution
Some people believe it’s a part of a conspiracy that climate is even changing or
consider to be a part of natural cycle. Some denies the fact just by saying” Climate
change isn’t that bad; life will find a way” these are just those “Jurassic Park quotes”
that are the basis of their supporting ideas. The fact is that the rate of climate change is
real and putting huge ecological stress on our environments.
Life on Earth appears to have evolved to enduring a changing environment to some
extent, and this is proof that climate change is occurring; however, our own personal
experience with climate over our lifetimes, as well as scientific data, also demonstrates
that climate change is occurring.
It is for sure that climate is changing and in support following are the factors that hold it
true:
 Global temperature rise
 Shrinking ice sheets
 Melting of Glaciers
 Increase in Ocean levels
 Melting of Permafrost causing release of dormant microbes
 Global average rise of temperature 1.1oC
 Increase in average rainfall.
 Prolong drought periods.
 Annual cyclone count
 Extension of some Species
 Ocean Acidification:
Etc.
Human health is at danger because of climate change. These hazards will rise to
catastrophic levels in future decades if global climate change continues at its current
rate. The poor and low-income populations across the world take the burden of climate
change's negative consequences, since they are more vulnerable to environmental
determinants of health, wealth, and other factors.
The three main categories of health risks are:
 direct-acting effects (e.g., heat waves, amplified air pollution, and physical
weather disasters),
 impacts mediated by climate-related changes in ecological systems and
relationships (e.g., crop yields, mosquito ecology, and marine productivity)
 more diffuse (indirect) consequences (e.g., poverty, displacement, and disease
transmission).
There are other impacts too like:
 Psychological impacts
 Spread of infectious diseases.
 Water scarcity
 Migration of costal population etc.

Q3). Do all scientists really agree on climate change? What are some arguments
against climate change being real and what is your take about them?
Solution
Yes, 97 percent of active climate scientists agree that people are to blame for global
warming and climate change. Most of the world's major research organizations,
including international and US science academies, etc., many other respected scientific
groups, have made public statements expressing their concerns.
Statement on Climate Change from 18 Scientific Associations that it is real (can be read
here).
For years, experts have busted the arguments of peoples that says, “climate change is
just a hoax”, only to see them reappear a few months later with some other illogical
theory. Here are some of those statements:
 Climate change is part of a natural cycle: Yes, there are natural cycles. But
simply look at the annual average of worldwide land surface temperature. From
1910 to 2010 it has steadily increased, and we can say it is a after effect of
industrial revolution.
 Climate change is not that bad; life will find a way: Think of the noble oak
tree, if you will. In the past, if its environment became too hot, a tree would of
 simply drop its acorns a few meters north each winter, and over hundreds of
years move 50 miles north where it was cooler. The problem is that now, with
humans having urbanized so much of the environment, that acorn will likely hit
concrete before reaching its promised land.
 It is cold outside in winters: The terms "weather" and "climate" are not
interchangeable. Climate is characterized by long-term patterns and weather
averages, whereas weather varies from day to day. So just because it is chilly
outside right now doesn't mean global warming isn't taking place. The previous
five years have been the warmest on record.
 There is no scientific consensus: The problem is that society gets climate
information from the media, not from scientists. And the media, in an effort to
seem unbiased, often line up one climate scientist against one denier to debate
their point.
 And this is the best one “The big conspiracy.”: Whether it's scientists lying to
get huge research funding, the illuminati, or aliens, there a plenty of bizarre
conspiracy theories explaining why climate change studies can't be trusted. But
beyond ridiculous is the idea of nearly every scientist in the world trying to keep
one big secret. People seem to misunderstand the economics. For one, if there
was a scientific basis for denying climate change, don’t you think scientists would
be running to BP, Shell and every other coal-burning corporation for big money
research grants?
(https://www.hull.ac.uk/special/blog/why-people-still-believe-climate-change-is-fake-and-
why-we-know-theyre-wrong)

Q4) Should both the developed as well as developing countries maintain the same
approach to tackling climate change and reaching net-zero? Can developing countries
afford to lower their climate emissions and at the same time pull people out of poverty?
Give your views.
Solution
Developed Countries Are Responsible for 79 Percent of Historical Carbon Emissions.
Whereas
Developing Countries Are Responsible for 63 Percent of Current Carbon Emissions.
Data for comparison is given below:
 Historical data Current Data

We can see that that the major culprit is already developed countries but still we cannot
afford to fight over this topic that “now it is time for us to develop so we will create
pollution” we can use the technologies from already developed countries and can create
a better place. “According to me both the developed and developing countries should at
least try to tackle the climate change with same approach and relaxation should be
given to developing countries to prioritize poverty decline and other important aspect for
betterment of people”.
However, there are real physical limits to how much overall emissions the atmosphere
can tolerate while still staying within the Paris Agreement's agreed-upon temperature
targets. Major polluters (such as the United States, the European Union, and China)
should at the very least achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050, otherwise the
calculations will be difficult to figure out regardless of what other nations do. Given that
the largest economies have an outsized influence in shaping the trajectory of global
emissions, major emitters should aim to attain net-zero emissions considerably sooner.
“poor and middle-income countries already account for just over half of total carbon
emissions.” And this percentage will only rise as developing countries grow. All citizens
earn a living wage and climate catastrophe is averted requires breaking the link
between economic growth and increasing carbon emissions in developing countries.
Today, most developing countries that decrease their poverty rates also have increased
rates of carbon emissions.
So, Developing countries cannot completely lower their carbon emissions and at the
same time pull people out of poverty, so planning should be done to minimize the
damage.
Q5). What is your country's stand on climate change and achieving net-zero? Do you
believe your country can reach its net-zero emissions target by the scheduled timeline?
Solution
India has made considerable progress in its efforts towards decoupling economic
growth from greenhouse gas emissions. According to the third Biennial Report
submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
in February 2021, India’s emission intensity of gross domestic product (GDP) has
reduced by 24 per cent between 2005 and 2016, thereby achieving its voluntary goal to
reduce the emission intensity of GDP by 20-25 per cent from 2005 levels, earlier than
the target year of 2020.
India increased its goal in its nationally determined contributions (NDC) in 2015,
pledging to lower its GDP emission intensity by 33-35 percent below 2005 levels by
2030. India's proportion of non-fossil fuel-based energy resources in installed power
production capacity has already surpassed 38%, above the NDC target of 40% by 2030.
It also set a goal of attaining 175 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2022,
which was later increased to 450 gigawatts by 2030.
The above ambitious mitigation efforts are well-recognized, But the key question is
whether India can announce a long-term target such as net zero emissions by 2050.
“Yes, India will participate in the summit called by US. But I have not heard any plans of
announcing a net zero emissions target. It requires complete transformation and could
derail our development plans as a developing country.
India cannot take on net zero target at the moment,” said a senior official of the
environment ministry, on condition of anonymity. In reply to a question in Rajya Sabha
on India’s stand with respect to global carbon space. India continues to uphold the need
for equitable access to carbon space as among the key principles guiding
implementation of the Paris Agreement, as well as the achievement of the larger goal of
sustainable development in keeping with the needs and aspirations of its people.
So, the developed nations must play their role in providing the requisite financial and
technical support to India and other developing counterparts. They also must lead by
example and those having the means should strive for an accelerated target for net zero
instead of looking for a common mid-century timeline for all.
Q6). One of the ideas to reach 'net-zero' is carbon capture and storage. What exactly is
carbon capture and storage and what role can it play in tackling climate change? Are
there any carbon capture and storage projects going on in your country?
Solution

The technique of capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2) before it is released into
the atmosphere is known as carbon capture and storage (CCS). The technique can
collect up to 90% of CO2 produced by burning fossil fuels in power plants and industrial
operations like cement manufacturing.
Once the CO2 has been captured, it is compressed into liquid state and transported by
pipeline, ship or road tanker. CO2 can then be pumped underground, usually at depths
of 1km or more, to be stored into depleted oil and gas reservoirs, coalbeds, or deep
saline aquifers, where the geology is suitable.
CO2 could also be used to produce commercially marketable products. The most well-
established form of CO2 utilization is enhanced oil recovery (EOR), where CO2 is
injected into oil and gas reservoirs to increase their extraction. Other forms of CO2
utilization are still under investigation. These include using CO2 in concrete or plastic
materials or converting it into biomass – for example, by feeding CO2 to algae, which
are then harvested and processed into biofuel or ethanol.
CO2 can be captured using different methods. The main ones are:
 post-combustion
 pre-combustion
 oxyfuel
(read here for description of these methods)
India’s largest industrial carbon capture and utilization project
Indian Oil aims to capture carbon dioxide from hydrogen generation units at its Koyali
refinery in the Indian state of Gujarat for enhanced oil recovery at the nearby Gandhar
oilfield. Indian Oil Corp. has chosen U.S.-based Dastur International as the leading
partner to conduct design and feasibility studies for an industrial carbon capture and
utilization project at the Koyali refinery in the Indian state of Gujarat, with a capacity of
13.7 million tons per year. (Update from February 18, 2021)
Also, a small-scale CCS plant is already operational in India. A plant at the industrial
port of Thoothukudi is capturing CO2 from its own coal-powered boiler and using it to
make baking soda. It will lock up 60,000 tons of CO2 a year.
Q7). When did the global talks on climate change begin? Which are the major events
associated with international climate negotiations and how many of these events have
met their intended outcome?
Solution
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) hosted the First World Climate
Conference in Geneva from the 12th to the 23rd of February 1979. It was one of the first
big international climate change conferences. In essence, it is a scientific gathering.
The World Climate Program and the World Climate Research Program were
established because of the Conference. It also led to the establishment of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) by the World Meteorological
Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in 1988.
At the 1992 Rio Summit, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) was approved.
It was approved by 197 Parties (196 States and the European Union) and went into
force in 1994. Its goal is to keep greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere
stable at a level that prevents severe human climate change.
The Kyoto Protocol of 2005 was the first legally binding climate pact, having been
adopted in 1997 and coming into force in 2005. It established a mechanism to track
nations' progress and required rich countries to cut emissions by an average of 5%
below 1990 levels. The pact, however, does not require emerging nations to act,
including big carbon emitters China and India. The US signed the deal in 1998, but it
was never approved, and it later revoked its signature.
Paris Agreement. 2015, The Paris Agreement, the most major global climate
agreement to date, requires all nations to make promises to reduce emissions.
Governments established targets, known as nationally determined contributions, with
the goal of keeping world average temperatures below 1.5°C (2.7°F) and preventing
global average temperature rises of more than 2°C (3.6°F) over preindustrial levels. In
the second half of the century, it also intends to achieve worldwide net-zero emissions,
in which the quantity of greenhouse gases released equals the amount removed from
the atmosphere.