Shafat Ahmed Wani
Sustainability has rightly become one of the biggest concerns across the governments, enterprises and utilities, globally. We in POWERGRID are very serious about our sustainability targets. The main targets that POWERGRID has set for itself are:
50% of internal energy from renewable sources by 2025
* Net Water Positive by 2030
* Zero Waste to Landfill by 2030
* Net Energy Zero by 2047
* Net Zero emissions by 2047.
India has an overall target of 2072 for international commitments, however, GOI being very aggressive on sustainability, has set a target of 2047 internally. I spoke to many people about these targets and why we in the 3rd world, should do it in the first place, given that we are so very dependent on energy and given the kind of expansion which is the need of the hour for our continual growth and development. Many, many of those were of the view that it would save us cost in the longer run, or broadly conserve environment or it would give us accreditation for international loans and bidding.
Fortunately, I got a chance to visit several international universities in Sep 2024 on an Advanced Management Learning Program. The last of the universities I got to visit in this leg, was ESCP Paris. And to my utter surprise, shocking revelations came my way which not only gave me some insight into the actual gravity of the issue, but an understanding of the philosophy of assigning carbon budgets at all levels down to the individual levels as well. It also makes me ponder about the grave scenario already visible very imminently in the part of the world we live in.
I have spent a considerable part of my professional career in Jammu Kashmir and vast expanse of Ladakh, over the past decade.
A couple of classic cases over there, which are a clear and imminent cursor towards a bigger disaster in the making, that we ought to be seriously concerned about: Lakes and water bodies, like Dal and Wullar in Kashmir are gasping for last breath. DAL 2050 – my 2010 writeup about the future of Dal, I had predicted therein that my progeny would be bidding for allotment of a plot in 2050; for a dwelling, in a gradually built-up landmass, otherwise known today as a lake called DAL. Likewise, another imminent case is that of Waris III hydel powerhouse in Nubra where the inlet water channel has dried up over the past few years, well before this powerhouse could come up for commissioning.
These are clear and imminent cases of the global warming impacts, so pronouncedly visible, yet ignored or at least not getting noticed in a rash drive of haphazard growth and expansion. Global warming, primarily driven by human activities, has escalated into one of the most critical environmental challenges in human history. The rapid rise in Earth’s surface temperature poses severe consequences for ecosystems, economies, and human health.
According to modern climate science, the average global surface temperature estimates are:
1850 (before the significant impacts of industrialization) – 13.7°C.
2023 (the hottest summer in earth’s history) – 16°C
2100 (projection) – 18.7° C
This average surface temperature on earth is believed to have risen by around only 6°C since ice age till 1850 and beyond that, it is threatening to surpass 2 more degrees by the year 2100. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) formed in late 1988, has outlined ambitious targets to keep the surface temperature rise below 1.5°C by the end of the century to avoid the most catastrophic effects. Incidentally, it has already crossed by about 1.3°C above pre-industrial levels. If this trend continues, the planet is on track for a temperature increase of 2.7°C by 2100, a scenario that would have devastating impacts on global ecosystems and human societies. Glacier melting is now a current phenomenon but an ominous threat to the permafrost reserves (water layers below 0°C beneath the earths surface) would be catastrophic as it would allow release of methane into atmosphere. Trust me, one permafrost is known to be getting exposed in our vicinity.
Therefore, we all need to look into the planetary boundaries, which if crossed or surpassed, would throw this trend and the ramifications thereof, out of our control. 06 have already been either violated or are close to being so.
Planetary Boundaries: A Framework for Earth’s Stability
In 2009, scientists introduced the concept of planetary boundaries, a set of nine limits within which humanity can operate safely without causing irreversible environmental damage. These boundaries define the “safe operating space – HALOCENE” for human activity to prevent destabilizing Earth’s system, otherwise – the inevitable ANTHROPOCENE. Below are the nine planetary boundaries:
Climate Change: It is the most pressing boundary; climate change refers to the need to limit greenhouse gas emissions to prevent the Earth’s temperature from rising dangerously.
Biosphere Integrity: This boundary involves preventing biodiversity loss and maintaining the resilience of ecosystems, including protecting species’ genetic diversity.
Land-System Change: The transformation of forests, grasslands, and wetlands into agricultural or urban areas must be managed to prevent habitat loss and maintain ecological functions.
Biogeochemical Flows: The cycles of essential elements, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, are being disrupted by excessive use of fertilizers, causing dead zones in oceans and disrupting ecosystems.
Ocean Acidification: The oceans absorb CO2, which lowers their pH, leading to detrimental effects on marine life, especially organisms with calcium carbonate shells or skeletons.
Freshwater Use: Sustainable water management is critical as overuse and pollution are depleting freshwater resources faster than natural replenishment.
Atmospheric Aerosol Loading: The excessive release of particles into the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels and industrial processes affects air quality and climate patterns.
Stratospheric Ozone Depletion: The reduction in the ozone layer exposes Earth’s surface to harmful ultraviolet radiation, posing risks to human health and ecosystems.
Novel Entities: The introduction of new substances, such as plastics, synthetic chemicals, and radioactive materials, can have unforeseen effects on environmental and human health.
Biomass Distribution and Its Impact
The biomass of various species plays a crucial role in the balance of ecosystems.
Studies show that the biomass made up by various species is as below:
* Humans – 0.01% of the Earth’s biomass, but their impact on the planet far exceeds that small fraction.
* Plant biomass – 80% of the total, and their role in carbon sequestration is crucial for mitigating climate change.
* Livestock, bred for human consumption – 60% of the mammal biomass
* Wild mammals – 4%.
This imbalance reflects how human-driven activities, such as deforestation and intensive farming, are altering the natural flow of biomass, contributing to biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation.
Preservation of Planetary Boundaries
To safeguard these planetary boundaries and ensure a sustainable future, we must focus on both individual and collective actions. Key strategies include:
Transition to Renewable Energy: Phasing out fossil fuels and adopting renewable sources like solar, wind, and geothermal energy are crucial steps in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and stabilizing global temperatures.
Sustainable Land Use and Agriculture: Sustainable farming practices, reducing deforestation, and promoting reforestation can help maintain biodiversity and restore ecosystems.
Reduction of Plastic and Chemical Pollution: Reducing the production of plastic and regulating the use of harmful chemicals can mitigate their impact on the environment, especially marine ecosystems.
Efficient Water Use: Improving water management systems, reducing wastage, and investing in water recycling technologies are essential in regions facing water scarcity.
Restoring Biodiversity: Protecting endangered species, creating wildlife corridors, and supporting conservation efforts can help maintain biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.
Waste Reduction: Implementing circular economies, reducing food waste, and improving recycling practices can minimize the extraction of new resources and lower the amount of waste generated.
Addressing Population Growth and Consumption: Global sustainability efforts must also address the pressures from population growth and high consumption patterns, particularly in some of the developed nations, which disproportionately contribute to resource depletion.
International Cooperation: Global warming and environmental degradation are collective challenges that require cooperation among nations to meet climate targets and protect shared resources, such as oceans and the atmosphere.
Supporting Technological Innovation: Advances in green technologies, such as carbon capture, sustainable farming techniques, and biodegradable materials, are essential in reducing humanity’s footprint on the planet.
Conclusion
The rapid rise in global temperatures and the crossing of several planetary boundaries signify an urgent need for collective action. If we fail to maintain these boundaries, we risk triggering irreversible changes in Earth’s systems. However, by embracing sustainable practices, prioritizing biodiversity, and shifting towards lowcarbon economies, we can protect the planet for future generations. Addressing biomass imbalances, curbing our environmental footprint, and fostering global cooperation are key to preserving the fragile balance that sustains life on Earth.
More specifically in Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh, we simply need to understand that our part of the world is more fragile than many of the areas in vast expanse in the rest. Therefore, we need to do more and that more needs to be done now and on a drastic scale.
The minimum we can start with, is the acknowledgement that our ecosystems are indeed fragile, and already seeing some of the devastating impacts as discussed above. We must begin now – and nothing is small in this stride.
For instance, the small steps in the stride may be:
* Let us continue to litter, at least spare our lakes and hill stations.
(Marathon run along the banks of Dal Lake, in Oct 2024, may well be run through a thoroughfare right inside Dal, which, we know today, as a lake.)
* Let us continue to use plastic, stop at least the one-time-use plastics.
* Let us not carry our own bags to market, at least stop accepting polythene.
* Let us eat as much as we cook (extra multi cuisine Kashmiri Wazwan and endless stalls of chaats, sweets and snacks in weddings) if we cannot cook only as much, as we could humanely eat.
* Let us preserve Wazwan culture but at least stop this trend of relishing it while in the 4 days of mourning in our families.
* Let us continue to love our cars, but spare the city centers, where cycling or walking could be a sport.
* Let us make use of all sources of energy in our reach, but being judicious doesn’t cost more.
* Let us not fall into planned obsolescence trap, remember 200 gm of mobile phone instrument uses 80kg of mineral resource; & by the way, it doesn’t get obsolete in just 2 years.
Just as a spark neglected burns the house, a preserved house is a tutelage of the generations to come.
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