BLOG (COP 27)
Dr. Arvind Kumar*
Hence, it’s a Hobson’s choice to initiate a paradigm shift in agricultural development approaches and practices through regional collaboration, rekindling of development models, mainstreaming neglected traditional wise and spotlighting climate finance and technology transfer at Climate change conference COP27 Egypt to mitigate the effects of climate change and make agriculture sustainable.
South Asia has faced the brunt of extreme weather in the recent years – with the recent floods in Bangladesh and Pakistan and heat waves in India jointly impacting the region and its stability. This bout with hostile climate conditions is not new for the region. In fact, more than half of all South Asians – or 750 million people across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka – were impacted by one or more climate-related disasters in the last 20 years, according to the World Bank.
Researchers suggests that the Global South will suffer the most from climate change, and that South Asia will be one of the hardest hit regions. Climate change is predicted to displace 62 million South Asian people by 2050, according to research from ActionAid International and Climate Action Network South Asia.
South Asia is one of the regions of the world most vulnerable to climate change impacts. Agriculture which much of South Asia’s population depends on for a living is particularly vulnerable; estimates show that 10%-50% of the region’s crop production could be lost by the end of the century due to global warming.
Climatic variability explains almost 60% of yield variability and thus a crucial factor influencing food production and farmers’ income. Climate change influences the start and length of growing seasons, and the duration and magnitude of heat and water stress in agricultural production systems. Growth acceleration due to higher average temperature results in less radiation interception and less biomass production. Besides, above-optimal temperatures directly harm crop physiological processes. A recent analysis demonstrates the effect of climate change in the production and yield of four major crops globally, i.e., maize, rice, wheat, and soybean. Crop yield studies focusing on India have found that global warming has reduced wheat yield by 5.2% from 1981 to 2009, despite adaptation.
Besides its impact on crop yields and production, climate change also affects the natural resources, primarily land and water that are fundamental to agricultural production. Water availability is expected to decline due to climate change, while agricultural water consumption is predicted to increase by 19% in 2050 (UN-Water 2013). For instance, growing reliance of Indian farmers on groundwater to cope with climate-induced drought has led to a rapid decline in the groundwater table, and it may worsen further due to increased climatic variability in future.
The IPCC has highlighted that future agricultural growth will be impacted by climate change. This phenomenon leads to increase in frequency and intensity of extreme events. Though India has achieved ‘self-sufficiency’ in food grains production through Green Revolution, it brought a host of environmental challenges (e.g., loss of soil fertility, water logging, ground and surface water pollution, intensified pests, and diseases) and socioeconomic problems (e.g., increased farm input prices, regional disparity). In addition to all these, climate change has added a new dimension to the existing problems by posing a significant threat to Indian agriculture in general and food security in particular. India is also identified as one of the highly vulnerable countries to climate change (INCCA, 2010).
Currently, South Asia is home to more than a quarter of the world’s hungry and undernourished people and will likely meet to double its food production to feed its burgeoning population, expected to reach 2068 billion by 2050. Before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the South Asian economy was the world’s fastest growing, but the pandemic now poses challenges. Those include progress reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, and achieving both growth and sustainability in agriculture.
March was the hottest month on record in India since 1907. The high temperature has disproportionately affected farmers with little shelter from heat and whose crops have wilted in the scorching sun. Hence, it’s a Hobson’s choice to initiate a paradigm shift in agricultural development approaches and practices through regional collaboration, rekindling of development models, mainstreaming neglected traditional wise and spotlighting climate finance and technology transfer at Climate change conference COP27 Egypt to mitigate the effects of climate change and make agriculture sustainable.
The Food and agriculture organization (FAO) defines Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) as an approach that helps guide actions needed to transform and reorient agricultural systems to effectively support development and ensure food security in a changing climate.
Foreseeing the future risks of climate change, the Government of India is implementing the National Mission of Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) one of the 8 missions under National Action Plan for Climate Change. Simultaneously, the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yoajana envisages “Per Drop More Crop”, which is promoting micro drip irrigation. There is also a push for cluster based organic farming through the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana. The aim of these programmes is to extensively leverage adaptation of climate smart practices and technologies.
Millions of South Asians who are repositories of ecological grasp for instance Padma Shri, Rahibai Soma Popere, fondly known as “Beej Mata” a tribal farmer who established a nursery of hyacinth bean seedlings, rice, vegetables and bean landraces (i.e. indigenous seeds). Why not deploy them to boost regional resilience? Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a key part of climate solutions launched a global initiative ‘Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE)’ movement wherein he advocates an environment conscious lifestyle that focuses on ‘mindful and deliberate utilization’ instead of ‘mindless and destructive consumption’. However to effectuate this, conventional ways of building huge infrastructure is not economically viable anymore.
Throughout the world, climate change adaptation policies supported by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have provided significant sources of funding and technical support to developing countries. Yet often the adaptation responses proposed belie complex political realities, particularly in politically unstable contexts, where power and politics shape adaptation outcomes.
India has been central to the international climate order since the beginning of the climate change negotiations in 1992, especially in creating norms such as the Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR, 1992). The forthcoming COP27 is an opportunity to highlight the issues of concern, how we are following them, how are we trying to assess where the ‘landing zones’ could be and the forgotten promise by wealthy nations of $100 billion annually in climate finance.
The narrative so far in the build up to COP27, however, has been skewed towards climate mitigation, wherein all countries are expected to make drastic efforts to cut emissions. But India argues that this goes against the UNFCCCs Common but Differentiated Responsibilities- Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC); and also in Article 4 of the Paris Agreement, consideration is given to global Net Zero and not individual net zero and therefore, calls on developed nations to do net negative on mitigation by 2050 rather than just net zero.
So, why weaker nations battling multi-dimensional poverty, should be the one’s taking responsibility of the wealthy?
With agriculture and food systems contributing over one-third of greenhouse gas emissions, there are many complex challenges to overcome but also huge opportunities. Transforming the world’s food systems could generate $4.5 trillion annually in new economic activity and help to create a net zero, nature positive world, while also ensuring social justice and food security.
At the previous COP in Glasgow, policy makers took the first steps towards recognizing the critical role of food and agriculture in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At COP27, the Egyptian presidency should advance this agenda and put new visions on how food systems will operate in the future, and the central role of farmers, and small scale agriculture as positive agents of change. Business as usual is not an option!
*President, India Water Foundation
