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#Environment ■ A climate crisis agenda remains urgent - ✅The next five years are critical for India as it aims to meet its 2030 climate targets. While significant progress is being made in solar and renewable energy, India's dependence on coal, which still dominates 78% of its electricity mix, is a major challenge. ✅To make headway on its climate goals, the country must urgently address key issues such as reducing heat stress, improving air quality, waste management, and enhancing energy efficiency. ● Heat Stress and Air Quality: ✅India is particularly vulnerable to heat stress, with potential heat waves that could exceed human survivability limits. Reducing both CO2 and short-lived super pollutants like methane, black carbon, and hydrofluorocarbons is crucial. Methane, for instance, traps much more heat than CO2 over short periods, and reducing its levels could help curb near-term warming. ✅By breaking down the climate problem into more manageable parts, such as targeting specific pollutants or sectors, more effective solutions can be achieved. ● International Frameworks: Learning from Success: ✅India can look to the Montreal Protocol as a blueprint for climate action. With its Kigali Amendment, the protocol successfully phased out harmful F-gases and is expected to prevent 0.5°C of global warming by the end of the century. ✅Focusing next on methane could avoid another 0.3°C of warming by 2040. Global cooperation, possibly led by the U.S., EU, and China, could secure corporate commitments to nearly eliminate methane emissions by 2030. ● Tackling Air Pollution: A Year-Round Effort: ✅Air pollution, a year-round issue in India, needs consistent attention. Reducing black carbon and expanding the National Clean Air Programme would not only improve air quality but also public health. ✅Five key steps for improving air quality include fostering collective responsibility, investing in clean air initiatives, integrating sustainable development, using data-driven interventions, and recognizing clean air as an economic driver. ● Energy Efficiency and GHG Reduction: ✅Enhancing energy efficiency and rapidly adopting low global warming potential refrigerants, as mandated by the Kigali Amendment, will be essential for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Decarbonizing sectors such as energy and industry should also be fast-tracked, aligning with India's climate targets. ● Role of Carbon Markets: ✅The introduction of carbon markets can provide financial incentives for GHG reductions. India aims to launch its India Carbon Market by 2026, which could become the world’s largest emissions trading system by 2030. ✅A successful carbon market could avoid $35 trillion in climate-related costs over the next 50 years, aligning with the global goal of keeping temperature rise under 1.5-2°C. ● Governance for Coordinated Climate Action: ✅Coordinating efforts at all levels of governance is essential to address these challenges. A nodal authority with constitutional powers, timelines, and accountability mechanisms is needed to ensure that stakeholders across government and private sectors work together effectively. ✅This will also help integrate climate action into political agendas, ensuring that climate-progressive leadership drives real change, rather than symbolic gestures. ● Conclusion: ✅India stands at a critical juncture where swift and coordinated action can pave the way for meeting its ambitious climate targets. With the right policies, governance, and international cooperation, India can turn its climate challenges into opportunities for sustainable growth, improved health, and a more resilient future. SOURCE - THE HINDU

प्राचीन_भारत_का_इतिहास_RS_शर्मा.pdf