COP30 at Belem, Brazil—Saving our Planet from further Catastrophes
Dr. A. K. Merchant*
“The world is moving in the right direction but at the wrong speed,” these words from the opening speech of the President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, at COP30 on Day 1 reminds me of a story in Greek mythology. The beauty of Cassandra, the daughter of King Priam, caught the eye of the archer-god Apollo, who bestowed upon her the gift of prophecy but later placed a curse upon her that no one would ever heed her predictions. However, despite Cassandra’s accurate foresight of the destruction of Troy, her predictions were met with disbelief. Much the same is the case with predictions of climate scientists. No issue is more illustrative of Cassandra’s curse than global climate crises.
Climate change is real, beyond any doubt. It is a reality that is impacting the planet as never before. We are in the midst of the worst forms of climate emergencies: heat waves, hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones juxtaposed with the maximum number of earthquakes in a given year and the occasional volcanic eruptions. The comity of nations has failed in their collective endeavour to keep global warming under 1.5oC, the lower limit of the 2015 Paris Agreement, with 2025 reported to be on track among the hottest years on record.
Right now, at Belem, Brazil at COP30 (10-21 November), heads of states, heads of governments or their accredited representatives are grappling with how an agreement could be made to raise the USD 1.3 trillion a year, settle trade disputes, or verify national promises on emission cuts. While the non-governmental organizations representing civil society, acutely aware of the doomsday scenarios that climate scientists have projected in the immediate future, are pleading for a positive outcome of the wide-ranging debates.
The planet is hardly recognizable or comparable to the one that existed in 1850-1900 ~ the pre-industrial period ~ when the climate was still without the perceptible influence of greenhouse gases (GHGs that include long-lived compounds like CO2, N2O and some fluorinated gases) released from fossil fuels consumption. Since then, humans have played a dominant role in driving climate change, triggering extreme weather events, altering the pattern of seasons and causing sea level rises, creating a situation akin to a self-inflicted death sentence.
In the words of Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, “international cooperation is straining under pressures unseen in our lifetimes.” He told the assembled delegates that “this COP must ignite a decade of acceleration and delivery.” Widespread system transformations are being implemented as a result of the previous COPs such as huge increase of renewable sources of energy, green buildings, Electric Vehicles for transport on land and other sectors and yet due to continuing wars and conflicts and enormous consumption of precious resources by the military industrial complex we are lagging behind to achieve the target of 1.5oC.
COP28 and COP29 showed that reducing fossil fuel use in the energy sector, demand management and energy efficiency in the industrial sector and adopting principles of ‘sufficiency’ and efficiency in the construction of buildings are fraught with grave challenges because the global south is disadvantaged by the rich countries that push for an outcome at COP30 on the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).
From the perspective of the Bahá’i Faith, “consensus around global objectives, such as the COPs or the Agenda 2030—Sustainable Development Goals, could be more robustly translated into action by framing consultation around common recognition that every country still has much to learn about integrating the imperatives of both sustainability and development. Some countries have secured high levels of material development for many of their citizens, but exert a disproportionate ecological impact in terms of resources consumed and waste generated. Others have a much more sustainable ecological footprint, but remain in need of significant material development to meet the basic needs of their citizens. The goal for each nation must be working toward the well-being for all populations through means that ensure sustainable and harmonious relationships with the natural environment. Centering this universal goal would provide an important point of unity around which consensus can be translated into collective, purposeful action.”
Any sensible person can clearly understand that global warming, as well as ozonosphere depletion, nuclear winter, acid rain, and other global environmental problems, old and new, have a global character. The GHG molecule does not know about political boundaries. It has never heard of passports. It has no brain, so it does not understand national sovereignty. It is just blown by the winds, moved by the air and ocean circulation. The planet itself is a unit. Therefore, humans cannot continue mindless growth in technology and the still more uncertain impact of Artificial Intelligence, with widespread negligence about the consequences of these technologies. It is well within human power to ensure that technology remains subservient and harnessed for the benefit of everyone on earth.
When Bahá’u’lláh proclaimed: “The earth is but one country, and humankind its citizens”, he ushered in for all of humanity a seminal moment of hope and potential. Through a collective will, the foundations for a better world can and must be laid in order to avoid further catastrophe. It would be the next chapter in the shared story of humankind toward a just and harmonious future.
Mindful of the vision of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, delivered India’s National Statement urging Developed Countries to demonstrate greater climate ambition and honour their commitments stating: “Developed countries must reach net zero far earlier than current target dates and deliver new, additional, and concessional climate finance at a scale of trillions, not billions”. He further stressed the need for affordable, accessible climate technology and stated that climate technology must be free from restrictive intellectual property barriers.
It is true that India has demonstrated successfully that development and environmental stewardship can advance in tandem. India’s emission intensity has declined by over 36% since 2005, and non-fossil sources now account for more than half of its total electric power installed capacity (currently around 256 GW), an NDC target achieved five years ahead of its 2030 goal. Another noteworthy achievement has been India’s global leadership through initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance and Global Biofuel Alliance. He further underscored the momentum created by the Nuclear Mission and Green Hydrogen Mission in advancing India’s path to Net Zero by 2070. In line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement regarding conservation and development of carbon sinks and reservoirs, the Minister reported that over 2 billion plants were planted under the community led initiative in just sixteen months; a testament to the power of collective climate actions. Such actions reaffirm India’s commitment and all its concerned citizens must be encouraged to promote sustainability and climate justice. “Let the next decade be one of implementation, resilience and shared responsibility”, the Minister appealed.
*The writer is a social worker, independent researcher, & member of the Bahá’i Community of India.