The Conversation - JEFFREY D. SACHS, DIRECTOR OF CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

AS PERILS OF CLIMATE CHANGE BECOME INCREASINGLY APPARENT, IT IS TIME FOR AFFECTED COUNTRIES AND REGIONS TO JOIN THE BATTLE AGAINST THIS HUMAN-INDUCED CRISIS, SAYS JEFFREY D. SACHS, ECONOMICS PROFESSOR WHO IS ALSO SDG (SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS) ADVOCATE FOR U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES AND PRESIDENT OF UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS NETWORK. SACHS, AN EXPERT ON POVERTY ALLEVIATION, FINANCIAL CRISES AND ECONOMIC REFORMS, BELIEVES INDIA, ALONG WITH CHINA AND OTHER BRICS NATIONS BRAZIL, RUSSIA AND SOUTH AFRICA, SHOULD LEAD THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE.

- JOE C. MATHEW.

CLIMATE CRISIS IN INDIA

Climate change is real. Are our measures adequate? What needs to be done?

We have been sleepwalking with the climate crisis for decades. We are already well above 1.2 degree celsius than the pre-industrial era. It will very likely exceed 1.5 degree celsius within a decade. This is very serious. The Framework Convention On Climate Change 1 was signed 31 years ago but never implemented properly. No government should have doubt how serious this is going to be for disruption in daily life of countless number of people. India will be very deeply affected because temperatures are reaching unbelievable and unlivable levels 2 . I believe India knows this requires a dramatic change in energy systems as fast as possible, and on behalf of India’s vulnerable population, the entire world has to make a move now, quickly.

India is going solar but has not given up coal. There are others who are thinking of returning to coal, even if temporarily. These decisions are driven by practical compulsions. How will this help?