What are some international agreements and initiatives aimed at mitigating climate change, and what are the challenges in implementing them?
Land degradation is defined as a negative trend in land condition, caused by direct or indirect human induced processes, including anthropogenic climate change, expressed as long-term reduction or loss of at least one of the following: biological productivity, ecological integrity, or value to humanRead more
Land degradation is defined as a negative trend in land condition, caused by direct or indirect human induced processes, including anthropogenic climate change, expressed as long-term reduction or loss of at least one of the following: biological productivity, ecological integrity, or value to humans. Desertification, on the other hand, refers to the land degradation within dryland regions (arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid regions), which turns fertile land into a desert. As per the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India, around 29.7% of India’s total geographical area underwent land degradation during 2018-19. Impacts of land degradation and desertification
- Agricultural production decreases with soil degradation which in turn affects agricultural income leading to associated deprivations in health, education, and living standards.
- It reduces the land’s ability to store water resulting in water scarcity, which affects production potential of the industrial sector as well as household work.
- Loss of livelihood and other benefits associated with productive land forces people to migrate to other areas in search of economic opportunities. The influx of climate migrants in other areas lead to societal tensions owing to limited resources.
- Negative health outcomes and diseases are also observed in regions as it creates ground for zoonotic disease, water and foodborne diseases and respiratory diseases. Moreover, there are higher threats of malnutrition from reduced food and water supplies.
- It affects tourism potential of the region owing to loss of scenic beauty and ecosystem services.
National level initiatives
- India is a party to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which has pledged to reach land degradation neutrality targets by 2030.
- India promotes sustainable land management practices in agriculture sector through schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Soil Health Card Scheme, Soil Health Management Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna, Per Drop More Crop, etc. which are helping to reduce land degradation.
- The Ministry of Environment consolidated the intervention on participatory forest management through the National Forest Policy, 1988, and then through enabling guidelines in 1990 on Joint Forest Management.
- The Ministry of Environment is also implementing three major schemes for development of forest areas ie., National Afforestation Programme scheme, National Mission for a Green India and Forest Fire Prevention & Management Scheme.
International initiatives
- United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification established in 1994 is the legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management.
- Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation mechanism aims to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.
- Bonn Challenge launched by Germany and IUCN in 2011, has a global goal to bring 150 million hectares of degraded and deforested landscapes into restoration by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030.
- Global Initiative on Reducing Land Degradation aims to strengthen the implementation of existing frameworks to prevent, halt, and reverse land degradation within G20 member states and globally.
Land is the fundamental building block for supporting all lives and livelihoods. Restoration of land can start a virtuous cycle of good soil health, increased land productivity, food security and improved livelihoods. With its own efforts, India is already on the way to achieve land degradation neutrality (LDN) by 2030.
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Several key international agreements and initiatives aim to mitigate climate change: 1. Paris Agreement (2015): Signed by nearly 200 countries, it sets targets to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius. It empRead more
Several key international agreements and initiatives aim to mitigate climate change:
1. Paris Agreement (2015): Signed by nearly 200 countries, it sets targets to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius. It emphasizes nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and regular reviews to strengthen commitments.
2. Kyoto Protocol (1997): The first international treaty committing developed countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It introduced emissions reduction targets and mechanisms like emissions trading.
Challenges in implementing these agreements include:
1. Political Will: Some countries may lack political will or face internal opposition to commit to ambitious emission reduction targets.
2. Funding and Support: Developing countries often need financial and technological support to transition to low-carbon economies and adapt to climate impacts.
3. Monitoring and Compliance: Ensuring accurate reporting and verifying emissions reductions can be challenging, requiring robust monitoring systems and international cooperation.
4. Global Coordination: Differences in national priorities and economic disparities among countries can hinder effective global coordination and collective action.
Addressing these challenges requires continued diplomatic efforts, financial commitments, technological innovation, and enhanced international cooperation to achieve the goals set forth in these agreements and initiatives.
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