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COP 29 President Sets 14-Point Action Agenda

WriteCanvas News

The COP 29 President has announced initiatives to accelerate climate action and supplement the formal negotiated agenda.

The Action Agenda addresses global climate issues, focusing on key priorities like energy, finance, agriculture, cities, human development, and climate peace.

Initiatives like BICFIT and MAP address cross-sectoral synergies. Finance is a key enabler of climate action, the COP 29 President said Mr Mukhtar Babayev, President, COP 29, in his letter to the stakeholders.

He said “Azerbaijan is honored by the confidence that the global community has placed in us to host COP29. But we are just one country and we cannot solve the climate crisis alone. We seek to inspire every actor and demonstrate what is possible with commitment and determination, and we never underestimate the value of an individual contribution. “

Nigar Arpadarai, UN High-Level Climate Champion, COP 29, said “Now is the time for the whole universe of climate stakeholders to sign up, speak up and step up on climate action. If we are to meet our goals, we need everyone to do their part.”

The 14-point action agenda:
  • The Climate Finance Action Fund (CFAF). It is a voluntary fund funded by fossil fuel producers to support mitigation, adaptation, research, and development efforts in developing countries.
  • The Baku Initiative for Climate Finance, Investment and Trade (BICFIT). It is a Baku-based initiative promoting green investment, policy development, and expertise sharing in climate finance, investment, and trade.
  • COP29 Green Energy Zones and Corridors Pledge. It pledges to establish green energy zones and corridors, boost investment, stimulate economic growth, modernize infrastructure, and foster regional cooperation.
  • COP 29 Global Energy Storage and Grids Pledge: The pledge aims to triple global energy storage capacity by 2030, with endorsers committing to significantly increase investments in energy grids refurbishing more than 80 million kilometers by 2040.
  • COP 29 Hydrogen Declaration. The declaration aims to unlock the global market for clean hydrogen and its derivatives, addressing regulatory, technological, financing, and standardization barriers for both public and private sectors.
  • COP Truce Appeal. It is modeled on the Olympic Truce and aims to establish a hub for peace and climate action, focusing on matching vulnerable needs with resources.
  • COP 29 Green Digital Action Declaration. It aims to accelerate climate-positive digitalization, reduce emissions in the Information and Communication Technology sector, and improve the accessibility of green digital technologies.
  • The Baku Initiative on Human Development for Climate Resilience. The initiative aims to improve human development by promoting investment in education, skills, health, well-being, children and youth, establishing COP-to-COP continuity, and enhancing environmental literacy through education standards.
  • The Baku Harmoniya Climate Initiative for Farmers. The aggregator connects initiatives, coalitions, and networks to share experiences, identify synergies, facilitate finance, and foster collaboration on agriculture, empowering communities and women in rural areas.
  • COP 29 Declaration on Reducing Methane from Organic Waste. The declaration aims to achieve 1.5-aligned waste sector commitments in National Development Capitals (NDCs) with quantified targets to decrease methane in waste and food systems.
  • COP 29 Multisectoral Actions Pathways (MAP) Declaration for Resilient and Healthy Cities. The declaration aims to improve multisectoral cooperation in tackling urban climate challenges, promote coherence in urban climate efforts, and stimulate urban climate finance.
  • COP29 Declaration on Enhanced Action in Tourism. The initiative aims to establish sectoral targets for tourism in NDCs, promote sustainable practices, reduce emissions, enhance transparency, and establish sustainable food systems in the sector.
  • COP29 Declaration on Water for Climate Action. A declaration urging stakeholders to integrate water-related mitigation and adaptation measures into national climate policies.
  • The Baku Global Climate Transparency Platform (BTP). The platform aims to assist developing country parties in preparing and submitting Biennial Transparency Reports, promote knowledge exchange, and enhance capacity-building resources.
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Presenting a right sustainability narrative imperative to achieve SDGs: IMC banking conference

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The UN’s 17 SDGs address critical issues like access to clean water and sanitation, sustainable energy, and building sustainable cities. Importantly, the SDGs are interconnected. Progress on one goal can support the progress of the other. For example, ensuring access to clean energy (SDG 7) can contribute to reducing poverty (SDG 1) and improving health outcomes (SDG 3). This interconnectedness highlights the need for a balanced approach to social, economic, and environmental sustainability. This was the crux of IMC’s 14th Annual Banking & Finance Conference.

Experts discussed the pivotal role that the banking, non-banking, and financial industries is playing in the government of India’s ambitious financial inclusion drive during a day-long event.

Inaugurating the conference, Himanish Chaudhuri, Partner and Financial Services Industry Leader, Deloitte India, said that India is the poster child of financial inclusion. “We have conquered the complexities of the problem by using technology. We are data-rich. We want to go from being information-rich to being data-rich to reach the insight-rich stage. This will help us to drive last-mile financial inclusion.”

One such panel discussion was on: How Financial Institutions can play a Pivotal Role in Achievement of Sustainable Development Goal

The panel included Manish Kumar, Head of ESG & CSR, ICICI Bank Ltd, Renjini Liza Varghese, CEO, WriteCanvas,  Smitha Hari. President (India), auctus ESG, Heena Khushalani, Partner, Climate Change and Sustainability Services, EY India, Jitesh Shetty, Co-Founder/CEO, Credible ESG. The panel was moderated by  Swati Agrawal, CEO & President – Advisory, CARE Analytics and Advisory Pvt. Ltd.

Some edited excerpts:

Manish Kumar 

​All conventional sources that specify and use green are termed green bonds. Some new instruments, like securitization, have been introduced in the market. In this case, a pool of receivables with sustainability or green as an end-use can be securitized as a source for raising liabilities.

Heena Khushalani

We have witnessed tremendous momentum being created at the awareness level​ of green lending among banks during the past year. Has it progressed? Not really. They’re trying to figure out how to do it while maintaining the economics, which is why it’s not progressing because of everyone’s current predicament or dilemma.

Smitha Hari 

Projects related to the Sustainable Development Goals are seen as having a high risk and low return when looking at the capital stack. ​ For these, the grants or philanthropies come with the lowest rate, followed by government subsidies, equity, and debt. Dfis and MDB Capital can influence the market ​with diverse instruments​ in the form of credit enhancements. ​Instead of directly lending, if they come in with a credit enhancement, that can multiply the market

Renjini Liza Varghese

The absence of a clear narrative, inconsistent delivery, and missing data points present the three main obstacles to effectively communicating with the stakeholders. Filling in the blanks with data is crucial to constructing a consistent story.

Jitesh Shetty

Customers want data to flow in a seamless automated way. But the challenge is from within the bank or the enterprise. They don’t have the right owners of the data. The data not in the right place. But that is changing now with BRSR.

Other panels also touched upon ESG and rising climate risk :

Dr. Srikanta K. Panigrahi, Director General and Distinguished Research Fellow, Indian Institute of Sustainable Development (IISD), New Delhi

These days, risk finance is becoming increasingly popular. Thanks to the RBI’s climate-related financial risk disclosure on the public platform, leading banks like the State Bank of India have developed risk assessment procedures and are hiring climate risk officers in prime branches. The banking sector is empowering the green offshoot.

Rajiv Anand, Deputy Managing Director, Axis Bank Limited

Axis Bank has a board-level ESG committee, with its chair also serving on the credit committee. When it comes to green financing, we view the world through two lenses: our credit lens, which acts as a ban, and our ESG lens.

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The True Cost of Climate Change

Renjini Liza Varghese

Climate change is rapidly distorting the world order.

The cost of climate inaction is much higher than the cost of climate action.

The scorching reality of climate change is no longer a distant threat; it’s a tangible cost we’re paying every day. We’ve become accustomed to a new normal – rising temperatures, erratic weather patterns, and intensifying natural disasters. As summer 2024 approaches, conversations about “bracing ourselves” for another season of extremes are gaining ground. But this defeatist attitude reflects a dangerous trend: our adaptation to a crisis we should be actively fighting.

Apathy or Action?

The latest report by the UN paints a grim picture. The year 2023 shattered climate records a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) finds. The WMO report confirms that 2023 was the warmest year on record, with the global average near-surface temperature at 1.45 °Celsius (with a margin of uncertainty of ± 0.12 °C) above the pre-industrial baseline. It was the warmest ten-year period on record.

The report shows unprecedented levels of greenhouse gasses, rising temperatures, and a domino effect of extreme weather events – heatwaves, floods, droughts, and wildfires – causing widespread devastation and economic hardship. The message is clear: these are not isolated incidents; they are blaring sirens, urging us to take action.

This is affecting the everyday lives of millions of people and inflicting billions of dollars in economic losses.

The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, aptly described the situation: “Some records aren’t just chart-topping, they’re chart-busting. And changes are speeding up.” The data confirms his statement. The 2023 global average temperature was the highest on record, exceeding pre-industrial levels by a significant margin.

The evidence surrounds us. Kerala, a state known for its pleasant weather, has been issuing heat advisories throughout February and March. Britain, on the other hand, faces the possibility of a snowy Easter, a stark contrast to its usual spring weather. Even Dubai, a bustling metropolis in the Middle East, hasn’t been spared. Intense downpours in March flooded the streets, disrupting daily life.

Climate change isn’t a regional issue; it’s a global phenomenon impacting every corner of the world. The current approach of simply adapting to these extremes is akin to accepting defeat. The true cost of inaction is far greater than the investment required to address climate change. We cannot afford to become passive bystanders in this unfolding crisis.

It’s time to move beyond bracing ourselves for adversity. It’s time for collective action. Let us advocate for stricter environmental policies, invest in renewable energy sources, and adopt sustainable practices in our daily lives.

The human cost of inaction is simply too high.

This is not just about surviving the next heatwave; it’s about securing a livable future for generations to come. The time for action is now.

 

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Climate action: Adapting or Mitigating?

Renjini Liza Varghese

A crucial question recently struck me after a conversation with an industry expert: are we truly tackling climate change through mitigation, or are we merely adapting to its consequences?

While both perspectives have merit, the reality is unsettling – most current efforts lean heavily towards adaptation, a reactive approach to immediate and near-term crises.

This isn’t to downplay the importance of resilience. Responding to floods, droughts, and other climate events is vital. However, it shouldn’t overshadow the urgent need for proactive mitigation strategies. We must move beyond short-term fixes and implement a long-term vision with concrete deadlines. Sadly, COP28, which concluded in Dubai on December 8th, 2023, lacked this crucial element.

The gap in mitigation action stems from a confluence of factors. These include:

Data Gaps: While scientific evidence paints a clear picture of the climate crisis, we lack micro-geographical data for enabling communities to effectively prepare for local impacts.

Flawed Strategies: Many countries, regardless of their development status, have nominal mitigation plans riddled with loopholes that allow them to avoid accountability for missed targets.

Technological Lag: Despite efforts to develop climate prediction tools, a significant gap remains. Initiatives like India’s focus on precise climate forecasting for extreme weather events represent promising steps.

Unreliable Finance: While financial commitments are made, developed nations often fall short in mobilizing the necessary climate funds. The newly established “damage and loss” fund offers a glimmer of hope, but its scope is limited. Green funds, too, face challenges like greenwashing, making it difficult to track their actual utilization in mitigation efforts.

Implementation Delays: Reports before COP28 highlighted widespread lags in countries meeting their climate goals. A drastic course correction is needed, demanding a top-down approach that prioritizes community-level benefits while fostering global collaboration and joint action.

Bridging these gaps requires a multi-pronged approach:

  • Strengthening Green Initiatives: Investing in green technologies, renewable energy, and sustainable practices is essential.
  • Maximizing Green Funds: Effective allocation and utilization of these funds, along with robust monitoring mechanisms, is crucial.
  • Leveraging Native Knowledge: Indigenous communities hold invaluable knowledge about living in harmony with nature. Incorporating their wisdom can empower local adaptation and resilience.
  • Micro-data Driven Strategies: Focusing on acquiring and utilizing geospatial data will equip communities with the precise information they need to prepare for and manage local climate impacts.

Above all, we need a collective commitment to move beyond adaptation and embrace mitigation. I believe that the year 2024 will be a turning point, marked by the emergence of innovative technologies and a renewed focus on mitigation. Let’s work together to ensure that this year becomes a defining moment in our collective fight against climate change.

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ESG

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Is ESG losing steam?

Sonal Desai

Is ESG losing steam?

Is ESG being pushed over to maintain profits? Are compliances being watered down for short-term gains? Though it is too early to conclude, indicators point in that direction.

Governments and corporates are finding it difficult to answer a blunt question: What and where is the impact of your ESG strategies?

Global compliance and regulatory mandates have made it possible for the stakeholders to report on the Environment and the Governance components. Where is the social component?

Our irresponsible behavior, utter disregard for the environment, and apathy toward the problems of fellow beings are leaving the planet in a quandary.

The impact is equally horrifying: unprecedented floods and heatwaves, melting glaciers, poverty, hunger, and displaced lives.

Global organizations led by the UN, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and countries united on a common platform (Paris Agreement) to retain the temperature to 1.5-to-2 degrees C (pre-industrial period). UN SDGs, climate action, carbon capture and removal, renewable energy, and Net Zero are the new fashionable buzzwords. Or are they?

I am inspired by the daily reportage of ESG events, and governmental, NGO, and global initiatives to combat climate change. But I am also a bit confused with the on-the-ground signals.

For example, the number of naysayers or anti-ESG brigade is on the rise. Led by the West which is soft-landing ESG theories, the turnover has slowly percolated into Asia upward/downward.

Two things are tweaking the ESG story. One: Greenwashing and two: data and financial risk/security—the crux of any business SMB, MSME, large or multi-national. While data security has always been challenging for organizations, the new viruses stump the businesses worldwide. What is equally important to understand is: that data security laws, frameworks, and regulatory compliances are far more granular. They cover the end-to-end data security policies and practices including the human angle. Lack of compliance also has a far-reaching impact.

The ESG sector has yet to see that kind of whole-hearted and collective acceptance: across the sectors, across countries, across organizations, and end customers. Country-wise, each nation has its own set of regulatory compliances for ESG. Are they enough? For instance, one just has to look at the BRSR forms—they account for just box ticking. Or the recent EU Green Bond Standards which mandate EuGB holders to ensure 85% of the bond’s raised funds are used for taxonomy-compliant economic activities until the taxonomy framework is fully operational. The balance of 15% can be allocated to other economic activities as long as they clearly explain its
allocation.

Secondly, the impact of ESG needs to be properly documented. Instead of being a part of an exclusive club for the elite, who are busy voicing opinions on domestic and global platforms, the influencers must unite and play a proactive role. The need of the hour, according to me is to develop a strong community and bring ESG into the mainstream. Convey the impact in a manner that everyone can relate to. The narrative does not always have to be scary. If we are reporting about the deluge, let us also highlight the positives that effective ESG, sustainability, climate action strategies, and implementation can affect.

It is time, ESG is dusted off the silos and integrated into the mainstream. While arguments for and against continue, I want the voices, even constructive critics to be vocal about the change they want.

Meanwhile, here are some statistics to chew on:

The global ESG market is expected to quadruple from $7.7 billion in 2020 to $31.2 billion by 2030. Asia is expected to drive growth with ESG AUM expected to surpass $500B by 2025. Not to be left behind, India’s ESG market is predicted to constitute 34% of its domestic AUM by 2051, aligning with its goal of net-zero emissions.

ESG is real. ESG can be effective. It needs a collective effort…

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Turning the green tide

Renjini Liza Varghese

I grew up listening to stories of hardships my grandparents, parents and others in their generation faced for food during World War II, especially in 1943-44.

What was more inspiring was their narratives for survival. Each tale resonated with changing times and changing patterns of cultivation. I vividly recall my father speaking about how the community protected the local produce. Moreover, they also adapted to the new changes and added a newer variety of crops to the farm.

Like them, many framers across the country swiftly learned how to produce more regional indigenous crops, including millets. The milk co-operative movement (Amul) led by Mr Verghese Kurien in Gujarat and the Green Revolution led by Dr MS Swaminathan with the support of favourable policies enabled India to walk the long path to self-sufficiency.

Cut to today. According to the UN, India’s announcement to prohibit rice exports can trigger a global food crisis. The numbers say it all: India stands tall as the world’s largest rice exporter, accounting for 40% of international trade by volume — 22m tonnes. The country exported rice to more than 140 countries in 2022. That is a testimony that Indians have mastered the art of food security in the past 7 to 8 decades.

All the same, the global picture, including in India, is gloomy. The hard reality is that one-third of the total food produced globally is wasted, according to the United Nations data. Food waste is in multilayers, starting from waste during harvesting.

Significant reasons for food waste:
Turning the green tide  

Turning the green tide

  • Disconnect between the end customer and producer resulting in overproduction
  • Procurement hurdles
  • Insufficient storage
  • Inefficient packing
  • Cool chain inadequacy
  • Wastage during transportation
  • Inefficient supply chain
  • Gaps in last-mile delivery

 

 

Additionally, three more factors contribute to the waste. These are:

  1. Unplanned hoarding
  2. Wastage during cooking
  3. Delay in consumption

As per a report released by Economist Impact and supported by Corteva Agriscience, titled ‘Global Food Security Index,’ India ranked 68th out of 113 countries in 2022; in Asia-Pacific, it ranked 14th among 23 countries. “Its performance across all the index’s four pillars is generally consistent, but its score on the availability pillar—62.3—is the highest. The country’s weakest performance is in the Sustainability and Adaptation pillar, in which the country scored 51.2. India’s performance suggests that the food security environment in the country is particularly under threat from climate-change risks. The country needs to better manage these negative impacts on its food security by improving political commitment to adaptation, managing eutrophication in its oceans, rivers and lakes; and addressing the risks associated with the quality and quantity of water available for agriculture.”

As per an earlier report published by the United Nations Environment Programme ‘Food Waste Index Report 2021’, 50 kg of food is thrown away per person every year in Indian homes annually.

Wasted food has far-reaching effects, both nationally and globally. It adds to the landfill, no doubt. It is the most significant component of the municipal waste anywhere in the world. 95% of discarded food or waste reaches landfills. The numbers are alarming for the US as well. Up to 40% of all food produced in the US goes uneaten.

How can we reduce food waste?

Perishables contribute a higher percentage in the food value chain. And it is imperative that the focus has to be on the supply chain to reduce food wastage. The maximum wastage, as per different studies, is during transportation. Which, if tackled, can tremendously bring down the wasted food percentage at the global level.

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Navistar Joins the World’s Largest Corporate Sustainability Initiative

WriteCanvas News

Navistar, Inc. has joined the United Nations (UN) Global Compact initiative-the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative

Navistar, a company committed to sustainable mobility, is participating in the UN Global Compact to contribute to broader sustainability goals, including social and environmental objectives.

The company is implementing decarbonization and circular business practices. It is also focusing on human rights, emissions reduction, and sustainable raw material sourcing in its operations and supply chain.

The business has implemented a strategy to promote environmental and educational equity in its communities by hiring, training, and retaining diverse employees.

“Navistar and its employees are proud of the strides we have made towards building sustainability into our products and business practices,” said Mathias Carlbaum, President and CEO, Navistar. “The launch of the International eMV Series and the next generation IC Bus electric CE Series school bus, and our work in energy intensity reduction are a few of the many steps we have taken as responsible stewards of the environment. Joining the UN Global Compact is something I take great pride in both professionally and personally.”

Launched in 2000, the UN Global Compact is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world, with more than 15,000 companies and 3,800 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries and more than 69 local networks.

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Indian approach and leadership key to achieve SDGs

WriteCanvas News

Two high-level discussions in New York by Reliance Foundation, Observer Research Foundation, UN India office, and Permanent Mission of India emphasized the Indian approach and her leadership in achieving SDGs. The entities had assembled on a form named Delivering Development: Journeys, Directions and Lighthouses.

They also released a publication: Ideas, Innovation, Implementation: India’s Journey Towards the SDGs. The publication showcases 17 lighthouse initiatives aimed at achieving 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by not-for-profit organizations and communities. It highlights the potential of implementing these ideas to expedite the achievement of the SDGs and establish a solid foundation for a post-2030 agenda.

Ms. Ruchira Kamboj, Permanent Representative of India to the UN, said, “We refuse to make a choice between fighting poverty and protecting our planet. Instead, we will pursue sustainable, inclusive, and equitable transitions. We will foster transparency and share best practices that leave no one behind.”

S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister was a panellist on South Rising: Partnerships, Institutions and Ideas’ India. He said, “SDGs, green development, women-led development, and digital public infrastructure would determine global progress for the next decade. We need political rebalancing and economic and cultural rebalancing as part of the G20. None of this can go beyond a point unless diverse cultures and traditions get their due respect. From millets to traditional medicine, respecting others; heritage, tradition, music, ways of life –are the changes the global south must see.”

Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Ms. Kamina Johnson Smith, emphasized India’s assistance, particularly to smaller nations.

“The question of who to call and, more importantly, who would answer came up when you needed to rely on friends for support. India responded to both the larger world and the smaller Caribbean nations,” she said.

Mr. Jagannatha Kumar, CEO of Reliance Foundation, emphasized the significance of planning beyond 2030. Mr. Shombi Sharp, the UN Resident Coordinator for India, spoke about multi-stakeholder and public discussions surrounding the SDGs. Samir Saran, the president of ORF, emphasized the importance of amplifying the voices of those who are marginalized in society.

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SDGs

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15% SDGs on track due to climate change and extreme weather

WriteCanvas News

Halfway through meeting the 2030 Agenda for climate goals, the world is nowhere closer to meeting the objective. Climate change is causing global extreme weather events, with record temperatures causing global damage.

A new United in Science report by the World Meteorological Organization indicates that only 15% of the Sustainable Development Goals are on track due to climate change and extreme weather. According to the report, the 2030 Agenda’s half-time point indicates the planet is far from meeting its climate goals, hindering global efforts to address hunger, poverty, ill health, and improve access to clean water and energy.

The authors highlight the potential of weather, climate, and water sciences to enhance food and water security, clean energy, health, sustainable oceans, and resilient cities.

Data

Between 1970 and 2021, nearly 12,000 disasters resulting in over 2 million deaths and 4.3 trillion in economic losses occurred. Over 90% of these reported deaths and 60% of economic losses occurred in developing economies, undermining sustainable development. Rising global temperatures and extreme weather conditions are causing a 66% chance of global near-surface temperatures exceeding 1.5°C.

Fossil fuel CO2 emissions increased by 1% globally in 2022 compared to 2021 and preliminary estimates from January-June 2023 show a further 0.3% rise, the authors noted in the report. The Paris Agreement’s temperature goal requires a 30% and 45% reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, with CO2 emissions close to net zero by 2050.

On the other hand, the report highlights the benefits of weather predictions, integrating epidemiology and climate information, and early-warning systems in boosting food production, reducing poverty, and preventing climate-sensitive diseases.

Require real-time forecasting

For example, how weather predictions help boost food production and move closer to zero hunger. Integrating epidemiology and climate information helps understand and anticipate those diseases sensitive to climate. And early-warning systems help to reduce poverty by giving people the chance to prepare and limit the impact.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres warns that the global response is inadequate, and science is crucial for solutions. He emphasizes the importance of weather, climate, and water-related sciences in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

WMO Secretary-General Prof. Petteri Taalas emphasizes the science community’s unity in achieving the SDGs, highlighting the potential of groundbreaking technologies like climate modelling and AI to transform and safeguard sustainable development.

“The science continues to show that we are not doing enough to lower emissions and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement – as the world prepares for the first global stocktake at COP28, we must increase our ambition and action, and we must all do the real work to transform our economies through a just transition to a sustainable future for people and planet,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Program.

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Water Crisis

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Water crisis at the time of floods

Renjini Liza Varghese

In the last 30 days, we have seen floods in Hong Kong, Greece, Spain, India, Brazil, Bulgaria, Turkey, Oman, Guatemala, Mexico, Libya… The list continues.

While the world is busy pointing fingers at climate change, I am also noticing an alarming scare! Lack of potable drinking water in the climate disaster-affected areas. Take the case of Libya, for example. The death toll in the African country is reported to have crossed 11,000. What’s worse, the living face a severe potable water crisis.

Alarming data:

According to a UN SDG Indicator 2021 summary:

  • 2.3 billion people live in water-stressed countries
  • 26% of the world’s population lacked safely managed drinking water

According to UNICEF:

  1. Four billion people — almost 2/3 of the world’s population — experience severe water scarcity for at least one month each year.
  2. Half of the world’s population could live in areas facing water scarcity by 2025.
  3. Some 700 million people could be displaced by intense water scarcity by 2030.
  4. By 2040, roughly 1 in 4 children worldwide will be living in areas of extremely high water stress.

So far, the water crisis has been highlighted during droughts, dry spells and increased temperature levels. But drought is not the lone cause of water scarcity. Natural calamities, including floods, wipe out or contaminate water bodies and change water cycle patterns. The water scarcity in Libya is not an isolated case. The entire world will bear the brunt as the intensity and frequency of floods has increased.

Contextually, dramatic weather events over the last few years have brought about catastrophic changes in the lives of the people-especially at risk are women, children and vulnerable communities.

As per the UNICEF data, around 74% of natural disasters between 2001 and 2018 were water-related, including droughts and floods. The frequency and intensity of such events are only expected to increase with climate change.

And children bear the maximum brunt. “Water and sanitation-related diseases are one of the leading causes of death in children under 5 years old. Every day, over 1000 children under 5 years die from diseases linked to inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene,” the authors noted in the report.

The report further said that by 2040, almost 1 in 4 children will live in areas of extremely high water stress.

Yet another vulnerable sector, the women, also bear the impact. Historically, we have seen women struggling to fetch drinking water and water for hygiene and sanitation. When climate eventualities are on the rise, their struggles increase manifold. It is time we look at ways to address the water crisis.

Water and sanitation become very critical in a flood-affected area. Transporting potable water for daily use, reviving the water bodies and cleanzing the contaminated water infrastructure after a natural disaster is crucial. Till now, these were not the areas of focus. I think it is time for us to dig deep into this crisis and better manage our water resources.

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