Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Return to action: On moving ahead after Baku

Return to action: On moving ahead after Baku

The world must move beyond empty rhetoric (बयानबाजी, भाषण कला) on climate change

After two extra nights of extended negotiations (बातचीत, समझौता) in Baku, countries finally gave up on bridging their differences and settled on a “roadmap” that has left nearly all developing countries frustrated, developed nations relieved and the planet, still on a perilous (खतरनाक, जोखिमपूर्ण) path. Officially, the CoP Presidency may claim progress. The text, which was passed early in the morning, included a commitment to triple public finance for developing countries, raising the goal from $100 billion annually to $300 billion by 2035. In addition, countries pledged to work to scale finance from public and private sources to $1.3 trillion per year by 2035. In the world of international negotiations, it is common for countries to bring maximalist demands — asking for the most optimistic (आशावादी) outcomes — only to settle for these being scaled back. However, in this case, the gap between what was demanded and agreed upon is striking: the $300 billion figure represents just 20% of the original demand. While $300 billion a year is no small sum, other meaningful concessions (रियायत, छूट) would have made its impact far greater. For example, if the funds were predominantly (मुख्यतः, अधिकतर) public finance, facilitating the affordable transfer of technology from developed to developing countries, or supporting investments in infrastructure that could help vulnerable (असुरक्षित, कमज़ोर) populations in the Global South adapt to climate change. Unfortunately, none was included.

Despite decades of scientific progress in developed countries that have rigorously (कठोरता से, सख्ती से) outlined the threat posed by rising carbon emissions, these nations have repeatedly backtracked (पीछे हटना, पलटना) on their responsibility to support meaningful climate solutions. Moreover, many have failed to discourage developing countries from pursuing fossil-fuel-based development. This shift is likely a reflection of broader geopolitical changes — such as the decline of the globalised world order — and a reduction in public support and political will in the West. As a result, climate action has increasingly been framed within the logic of market competition rather than global solidarity (एकजुटता, एकता). The recent CoP talks revealed that climate negotiations are now entangled with trade conflicts. In this year’s talks, wordplay and political posturing often took precedence (प्राथमिकता, पहले आनेवाला) over meaningful action. It is possible that next year, there will be a repeat of the drama surrounding the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, especially with the impending return of a Trump presidency. Next year’s CoP, in Brazil, will be a symbolic return to the country that hosted the 1992 Earth Summit, where the world first recognised that action, not just talk, was needed to tackle global challenges. As the climate crisis grows more urgent, it is time for the world to revisit that commitment and move beyond empty promises to real, transformative (परिवर्तनकारी, रूपांतरकारी) action.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Negotiation (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - बातचीत, समझौता
English Meaning - The process of discussing something to reach an agreement.

2.Rhetoric (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - बयानबाजी, भाषण कला
English Meaning - The art of persuasive speaking or writing.

3.Perilous (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - खतरनाक, जोखिमपूर्ण
English Meaning - Full of danger or risk.

4.Optimistic (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - आशावादी
English Meaning - Having a positive and hopeful attitude towards the future.

5.Concession (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - रियायत, छूट
English Meaning - A thing that is granted in response to demands.

6.Predominantly (Adverb)

Hindi Meaning - मुख्यतः, अधिकतर
English Meaning - Mainly; for the most part.

7.Vulnerable (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - असुरक्षित, कमज़ोर
English Meaning - Open to harm or attack.

8.Rigorously (Adverb)

Hindi Meaning - कठोरता से, सख्ती से
English Meaning - In a strict, thorough, or detailed manner.

9.Backtrack (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - पीछे हटना, पलटना
English Meaning - To reverse or undo a decision or course of action.

10.Solidarity (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - एकजुटता, एकता
English Meaning - Unity or agreement among individuals with a common interest.

11.Precedence (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्राथमिकता, पहले आनेवाला
English Meaning - The condition of being considered more important than others.

12.Transformative (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - परिवर्तनकारी, रूपांतरकारी
English Meaning - Causing a marked change in someone or something.