Understanding Climate Change in India

 

Climate change is a phenomenon that leads to long-term shifts in temperature, precipitation, and weather patterns across the globe. The primary drivers of climate change are human activities like- burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and improper waste management. Climate change causes extreme weather patterns and unchecked plastic pollution just worsens the problem by clogging rivers and degrading soil quality. Plastic waste not only litters rivers but also suffocates wildlife, and contributes to environmental degradation.

Every year, millions of tons of single-use plastic is generated, with only a small fraction actually getting recycled. Poorly managed landfills are another significant contributor to massive methane emissions, accelerating global warming. Climate change mitigation goes hand-in-hand with the need to tackle plastic pollution. By adopting sustainable practices, promoting waste recycling and implementing effective policy changes, India can combat the climate crisis and work toward a cleaner, more resilient future for generations to come.

Climate change and global warming exacerbate not just environmental challenges but also negatively impact society and the economy.

1. Societal Effects: Climate change hits the most vulnerable sections of our society, the hardest. It severely affects rural communities, daily-wage laborers, and waste workers whose contribution to the crisis is limited. Climate change-induced rising temperatures and water scarcity have caused rampant livelihoods disruption and displacement. Case-in-point - "Environment Over Caste" campaign sheds light on waste workers like Deepak, who are often marginalized in society. While they play a critical role in tackling plastic pollution and waste recycling, societal biases and lack of recognition hinder their progress. Climate change worsens this inequity. Extreme heat, pollution, and unpredictable weather make waste collection more hazardous and challenging.

  2.  Environmental Effects: A significant contributor to climate change is the waste management crisis. A lack of good waste management practices in the population along with lack of proper infrastructure - has made landfills and garbage vulnerable points a very common sight across India. The lack of source segregation, which leads to mixed waste in landfills, has contributed unprecedented levels of methane into the atmosphere, which is a very potent greenhouse gas. Case-in-point - In the valley city of Dehradun, unmanaged waste is choking the lush beauty of the city. 

At Waste Warriors, we are committed towards climate change mitigation through the setting-up of waste management systems and community activation. This success story from the "Our Journey Toward a Waste-Free World" campaign proves that local solutions can address global challenges. Plastic pollution is another significant contributor to climate change. From its production to its disposal, plastics significantly contribute to climate change. Rivers like the Ganges, lifelines for millions, are clogged with plastics that harm ecosystems and marine life.

3.  Economic Consequences: The costs of inaction with respect to climate change mitigation has far-reaching consequences for the Indian economy. Climate change in India disrupts industries, livelihoods, and infrastructure, with agriculture being the hardest hit. Erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, and rising temperatures reduce crop yields, directly affecting farmers' incomes. Natural disasters like floods and cyclones destroy infrastructure, causing economic losses worth billions and increasing public spending on recovery efforts.

A crisis as complex as climate change, requires us to build innovations that cater to systemic loopholes that have caused the problem in the first place. For example- in the field of Solid Waste Management, we at Waste Warriors, are evolving systemic solutions in consultation with the community to ensure that the solutions cater to the needs of the community and make them self-reliant in practicing proper waste management, providing them opportunities for economic transformation and environmental conservation.

Climate change is one of the biggest global challenges, which demands collective action. We believe that by empowering communities, breaking stigmas, and promoting innovative solutions, India can lead the fight against climate change. Our collective efforts can go a long way in ensuring that waste is dramatically reduced, and methane emissions are cut-down.

As we move forward in the battle against global warming, let’s remember the words of one of our warriors on the ground: “Change begins with small steps, but every step matters.”

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