On November 6, 2022, the 27th Conference of the Parties of the United Nation Framework Convention of the Climate Change (UNFCCC), alternatively known as COP27, will commence in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. The conference will last until November 18, and within this time frame, different Nation States need to agree on several issues such as modalities of adaptation, addressing loss and damage, stocktaking about emission, and actions to limit global warming.
Nature-based approaches like protection of ecosystems, restoring degraded lands, and sustainable land management can be keys to climate change mitigation and adaptation. All we want is to look for green in this grey world, but why?
First, we need to address the problems at hand. Humans make up just 0.01% of all living things on Earth, but we are now the planet's dominant influence. The recently published Emission Gap Report 2022 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) demonstrates that what we say and what we do are not the same.
Inger Andersen, the executive director of the UNEP, mentioned that "Emissions Gap Report 2022 shows that nations procrastinate. Since COP26 in Glasgow in 2021, new and updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs) have barely impacted the temperatures we can expect to see at the end of this century." Andersen further added that "unconditional NDCs point to a 2.6 degree Celsius increase in temperatures by 2100, far beyond the goals of the Paris Agreement. Existing policies point to a 2.8 degree Celsius increase, highlighting a gap between national commitments and the efforts to enact those commitments."
The emissions gap for 2030 is defined as the difference between the estimated total global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from the full implementation of the NDCs, and the total global GHG emissions from least-cost scenarios that keep global warming to 2 degree Celsius, 1.8 degree Celsius or 1.5 degree Celsius, with varying levels of likelihood. The Emission Gap Report suggests that in the best case scenario, full implementation of conditional NDCs, plus additional net zero commitments point to a 1.8 degree Celsius rise.
To get on track to limiting global warming to 1.5 degree Celsius, we would need to cut 45% off current greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. For 2 degree Celsius, we would need to cut 30%. According to Andersen, "A step-wise approach is no longer an option. We need system-wide transformation." In order to implement the system-wide transformation, we need to fight for green in this grey world.
Nature and us
In his book Climate: A New Story, Charles Eisenstein mentioned: "We never were separate from nature and never will be, but the dominant culture on earth has long imagined itself to be apart from nature and destined one day to transcend it. We have lived in a mythology of separation." But evidence suggests that we are products of the earth. The salt in our sweat, calcium in our bones, and iron in our blood -- all come from the Earth's crust. All life on earth evolved from one single-celled organism; so, we share DNA with each and every living creature in the planet.
In nature, we see plants doing amazing things like photosynthesis. They take the basic substances -- carbon dioxide from the air, water, and a relatively small amount of nutrients via their roots -- and use the power of sunlight to transform into complex substances that make wood, tissue, leaves, fruits, and seeds. Humans, and every other creature on this earth, are dependent on this in one way or another.
If we think of just one continent, Africa, we can see that it holds about 25% of global biodiversity and supports the Earth's biggest group of mammals. It is also home to eight of the world's 36 biodiversity hotspots. Africa also hosts 369 wetlands of international importance, 142 UNESCO world heritage sites and 158 Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, where critically endangered species can be found.
According to the World Health organization, 80% of the people in Africa rely on medicinal plants for their healthcare because they are accessible, affordable, and culturally accepted options. Also, globally 80% of antibiotics and cardiovascular, immunotherapy, and anticancer drugs originate from plants; 25% of drugs used in modern medicine are derived from rainforest plants; while 70% of cancer drugs are natural products or synthetic products inspired by nature. So, we can say that without plants, there is no life.
A threat to the course of nature
Biodiversity loss, land degradation and desertification, pollution, and climate change are the greatest challenges of our times. 70% of zoonotic diseases originate from wildlife. The key anthropogenic drivers include land-use change, wildlife trade, intensive livestock production and climate change. A report published by the Kew Gardens in 2020 shows that 723 of the plants used for medicine are at risk, with two in five plants threatened with extinction due to human-induced activities and other factors.
Poverty and greed are sometimes the cause behind the destruction of green landscape, such as the Amazon rainforest. We are aware of the murder of ecologist and tribal activist Chico Mendes in 1988, because of his opposition to cattle-ranchers and others destroying the forest. At that time, the president of a landowners' organization Ronaldo Caiado said, "the Amazon is ours to do what we like with. We have the right to clear it and grow food to feed Brazilians." But within ten years the cleared rainforests became depleted in nutrients and useless for crops or cattle. So, the short term attitude of Caiado paid a price in the long run.
Shifts in structure
If we think of sector-wise transformation to the green world, then our energy sector will come first. In case of electricity sector transformation, we need to expand renewable energy as fast as possible. This can be achieved through policies, incentives, purchase of green electricity, removal of administrative barriers, and direct investment. The transformation needs to be planned carefully in regions that are currently dependent on fossil fuel extraction for jobs and revenue. The transformation can start from flexible electricity supply, short and long term storage, and adapting the distribution grid. In order to facilitate transformation, we should avoid new fossil fuel infrastructure development and also avoid fossil fuel subsidies.
In order to transform the industry sector, we need full decarbonization of industrial production. This can be achieved by the use of electricity, green hydrogen, and carbon management from heat sources. Cost and emissions can be lowered by reducing waste and recirculating material. Also, access to material efficient design and use of carbon neutral material are important. In transport sector transformation, zero emission vehicle technologies in combination with zero emission fuels are needed. Gradual shifts towards low carbon modes of transport are important.
One example of positive shifts in emissions from agricultural production can be cited from India. This year's emission gap report mentioned that "Legumes such as beans, peas, and lentils increase the release of ammonium nitrogen into the soil. The greater availability of nitrogen in the soil can reduce the need for nitrogen fertilizers for other crops when legumes are used in rotation, or as cover crops or intercrops. India has observed a consistent increase in the production of legumes in the last five years. In 2020, some states decided to include pulses in the public distribution package, that previously only included wheat and rice, to further encourage production.
Collective efforts
We also can harness the collective power of community. For example, a rural community is successfully generating its own renewable energy in a small village at Friesland, Netherlands. A couple of years ago, 300 families -- with support from their local bank -- bought a modern wind turbine. With the extra income generated by this source, they installed some solar panels on the roof of their new primary school. They also embarked on many other ecological projects, and these are done by local volunteers rather than by local government. This community project is now meeting the village electricity demand.
Poet Rainer Maria Rilke, in The Book of Hours, wrote: "If we surrendered to earth's intelligence we could rise up rooted, like trees." Rilke's words remind us about the beauty of nature. In her book, Only One Earth: The Care and Maintenance of a Small Planet, Barbara Ward wrote, "we cannot cheat on DNA. We cannot get around photosynthesis. We cannot say 'I am not going to give a damn about phytoplankton.' All these tiny mechanisms provide the preconditions of our planetary life. To say we do not care is to say in the most literal sense that 'we choose death.'" These are the reasons we need green in the grey world.
Dr Kanan Purkayastha is a UK based academic, scientist, environmentalist, and author.