RISK TO RESILIENCE, A TRADE OFF BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT, ENERGY CRISIS AND CLIMATE CHANGE IN INDIA

We are in a constant vicious circle of disaster facing the challenge of dealing with the threat of climate change where various factors like disaster, response, recovery and repeat are acting and reacting on each other in such a way that the cause and effect are in persistent cycle. The climate change is no more a term but a reality which has made the ecosystem fragile causing frequent outbreaks of diseases which are further worsened by the massive urbanization mass displacement and geopolitical instability where each factor act and interact with each other in such a way that leads to reverberation of shocks, stresses and crisis at global level. The modern era also faces the challenge of hyper connectivity where problems like fuel crisis is faced and felt by all. But despite of all the apparent erratic evidence we have yet not prioritized the preventive measures but now it is a high time to move on the path from risk to resilience in order to break the vicious circle of disaster instigated by the evils of climate change. Even now after knowing the challenges and risk and the path to resilience we are persistently failing in mitigating the risk and developing adaptation. The major threats posed to the globe are increasing frequency of natural disasters and extreme weather events which is not only causing a loss of biodiversity and can also cause collapse of eco system. By 2033 the nexus, factors like biodiversity loss, pollution, climate change and socio economic drivers are going to cause a dangerous threat to the whole world. The pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine and Palestine have led to escalate to prices of food and energy across globe. The cost of living has raised to extent that it ranks as one of the potential global risk and is apparently visible in various economic across globe in short term. The erratic and extreme natural events and weather conditions are mostly posing threat to low and middle income countries and especially to the coastal lines of developing nations that includes Latin America , Africa, South East Asia including India. In approximately 10 countries of the world these frequent and erratic weather change are looming as a severe threat in upcoming decade. According India's Atlas on weather disaster prepared by centre for science, India itself is witnessing extreme weather events and 2022 out of total 365 days, 291 days i.e between January 1 and November 30, 2022 various extremes variations in weather conditions were recorded. The cause being attributed to the increased green house emissions caused by humans and intense climate and weather strains across nations. At present the level of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide in atmosphere has reached to a record high level on emission trajectories and these levels are making it quite difficult to limit the global warming at 1.5 degree Celsius and this makes us a failure in mitigating the effects of climate change. India after being announced as the most populous country in the world also faces the looming threat of rising food and energy crisis and meeting these challenges are causing frequent loss of bio diversity and collapse of ecosystem at various places in the country and this is considered to be one of the major threat over the next decade by the nation. This threat would be so severe that the techniques used for adaptation would fail to serve to mitigate the effects of climate change in the country. This is not only a national crisis but a global risk and to address these challenges there is a need of political will and co-operation among global leaders so that human development and climate change can be addressed simultaneously.