Renewable energy resources today are expensive because there is less market demand – remember we were forced to create a demand for coal but with alternatives today we have a choice, writes Haritima Bahuguna.
The 40-year-old climate regime is a topic of global importance today as we witness changing seasons, growing climate extremes, biological and functional changes in species, and also subsequent impacts to international trade patterns at different parts of the world.
These signs are no longer just warning bells.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report and other scientific reports have been consistently underlining the need for immediate climate action but, despite a well-established international agreement, publicly signed by delegates from 190+ nations in Paris, the latest IPCC report AR6 projects high possibility of crossing the 1.5-degree warming limit or ‘the Paris goal’ within the next two decades. Further, AR6 corroborates with informed evidence, that anthropogenic emissions mainly from the fossil industry are primarily responsible for this unprecedented change in Earth’s climate system. Yet in the much-awaited COP26 some world leaders were seen proudly committing to full fossil ban or ‘net-zero’, as it sounds more impactful to attract masses, by 2070.
The question that crossed my mind after COP26 was, how can these world leaders, most of whom would possibly retire by 2070, so confidently claim to save the masses from the harmful impacts of climate change through a 4 decade long future goal, when scientific evidence unambiguously reflects how humans brought this unprecedented change within 4 decades? How is it justified to the under-40 masses and their upcoming generations which constitute 63.1% of the total world population today? Will they have to continue living with this Climate catastrophe till the time they become incapable of fighting it? And then I thought, how can these masses still be quiet and complacent?
A Science Museum boycott will be held this Friday 12 November from 1 to 3 pm (UK Time) at the Science Museum in London.
These thoughts took me back to the words of Thomas Babington Macaulay, who said “Half-knowledge is worse than ignorance”. Though I do not agree with all his ideologies, I believe Macaulay back in the 19th century did figure that providing ‘half knowledge’ about a subject can be used to keep the masses happy.
Today two centuries hence, we general populace/the common man) see ourselves tangled between multiple narratives meticulously constructed over this half knowledge ideology, mostly by the capitalistic society whose primary goal is to enhance private interests.
I, therefore, urge the masses to equip themselves with complete knowledge of subjects, many people across the globe want us to be complacent with this half knowledge. Some of such ‘trustworthy’ organisations portray their love for the environment in the form of greenwashing.
Fossil magnates like Shell, Adani, BP and EQUINOR are collaborating with London’s Science Museum in hosting events showcasing a green world and a shimmery future while they continue to be among the top greenhouse gas emitters.
A Science Museum boycott will be held this Friday 12 November from 1 to 3 pm (UK Time) at the Science Museum in London.
Do join if you can.
Renewable energy resources today are expensive because there is less market demand – remember we were forced to create a demand for coal but with alternatives today we have a choice.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the editorial views or position of NRI Affairs.
