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New horizons: On COP30 in Brazil

Developing countries must take the lead in addressing the climate crisis

The 30th edition of the Conference of Parties (COP) has begun in Brazil’s Belém. Coming 10 years after the historic Paris Agreement, when all signatory members of the United Nations Framework Convention (सम्मेलन) on Climate Change (UNFCCC) committed to a common goal of keeping temperatures below 2°C and “as far as possible below 1.5C”, this would have been an ideal platform to take stock of the achievements so far and ramp up ambition. Instead, there is a visible sense of disarray (अव्यवस्था). The United States has, yet again, withdrawn from the Paris Agreement (though not the UNFCCC) and from 2017, this break seems decisively more hostile. Wielding threats on tariffs and brinkmanship (The practice of pushing a dangerous situation or confrontation to the limit of safety in order to achieve the most advantageous outcome), the U.S. Administration seems actively committed to derail (पटरी से उतारना) steps toward emission cuts, newer ways to fund adaptation and adopting clean technology. For instance, it has played a major role in recent months in scuttling (तेज़ी से भागना) a resolution by members of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) into transitioning the shipping industry away from fossil fuel use. Following Bill Gates’s shift from being a vocal advocate of curbing (नियंत्रण) emissions to one who no longer sees climate change as an existential threat, Mr. Trump announced it as a “vindication (दोषमुक्ति, औचित्य सिद्ध होना)” of his position. There is a case that the U.S.’s isolationist (अलगाववादी) policy is of diminishing relevance in an era when global investments in clean energy outpace (आगे निकल जाना) fossil fuel investment and that businesses globally have seen the writing on the wall. But as the IMO example states, the U.S.’s abilities as a destabilising force remain formidable (Inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable). That must be at the back of negotiators’ minds when they began the 12-day deliberative sprint.

This COP is one of ‘implementation’, as the Brazil Presidency has emphasised. While the world’s collective action is far short of what the Paris goals require, there is palpable (स्पष्ट) optimism that the tenor of discussions from now on will visibly shift toward ironing out financial mechanisms for adaptation, preserving forests and strengthening carbon credit markets. It is likely that there will be a renewed discussion on how to make the United Nations’ multilateral process more effective at delivering decisive outcomes and, perhaps, a debate on the creation of a ‘climate council’, as Brazil proposed earlier this year. All of this promises fresh energy and verve to a process that has come to be seen as ineffective in addressing the climate crisis. However, this is also an opportunity for the large developing economies — India, China, Brazil, and South Africa in particular — to stake claim to leadership. This might require a greater display of ambition and recalibration of past positions, particularly on financial contributions. Sans fireworks, India must begin an internal dialogue to place itself favourably for this nebulous (अस्पष्ट) future.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Convention (Noun)

Hindi Meaning – सम्मेलन
English Meaning – A way in which something is usually done; a large meeting or conference; an agreement between states.

2.Disarray (Noun)

Hindi Meaning – अव्यवस्था
English Meaning – A state of disorganization or untidiness; to throw into a state of disorder.

3.Derail (Verb)

Hindi Meaning – पटरी से उतारना
English Meaning – To cause (a train or trolley car) to leave its tracks; to obstruct the progress of (a plan or process).

4.Scuttle (Verb)

Hindi Meaning – तेज़ी से भागना
English Meaning – To run with short, quick steps; to sink (a ship) deliberately; to abandon or destroy a plan or project.

5.Curb (Noun)

Hindi Meaning – नियंत्रण
English Meaning – A check or restraint on something; to restrain or keep in check.

6.Vindication (Noun)

Hindi Meaning – दोषमुक्ति, औचित्य सिद्ध होना
English Meaning – The action of clearing someone of blame or suspicion; proof that someone or something is right, reasonable, or justified.

7.Isolationist (Noun)

Hindi Meaning – अलगाववादी
English Meaning – A person who believes that their country should not be involved in the affairs of other nations.

8.Outpace (Verb)

Hindi Meaning – आगे निकल जाना
English Meaning – To go faster than; to exceed in speed or development.

9.Palpable (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning – स्पष्ट
English Meaning – (Of a feeling or atmosphere) so intense as to be almost touched or felt; easily perceptible; tangible.

10.Nebulous (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning – अस्पष्ट
English Meaning – In the form of a cloud or haze; hazy; (of a concept) unclear, vague, or ill-defined.

11.Brinkmanship (Noun)

English Meaning – The practice of pushing a dangerous situation or confrontation to the limit of safety in order to achieve the most advantageous outcome.

12.Formidable (Adjective)

English Meaning – Inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable.