Editorial 1: Can European cities go climate neutral by 2030?
Recent Context:
- The EU is pushing for 100 cities including Paris, Madrid and Amsterdam to reach net-zero emissions by the end of the decade far earlier than their national governments plan to get there.
- As governments across the world have promised to stop polluting carbon emissions by 2050, scores of European cities have pledged to get there by 2030 just seven years from now.
Achieving carbon Net-neutrality by 2030: EU
- The European Union wants 100 cities — including capitals Paris, Madrid and Amsterdam to be carbon neutral by the end of the decade.
- Berlin, which is not on the list, held a referendum in March on moving its target forward to 2030. Despite a slim majority in favor of the plans, too few people voted overall for the law to pass
- Cities aiming to meet the target by 2030 would have to make unprecedented changes to the way their citizens move, live, eat and sleep. In sectors like transport and buildings, the technologies to do so exist. The pathway is much less clear for industry and agriculture.
- Supporters and scientists have highlighted that the shift to net-zero emissions by 2030 would quickly clean up the air, make streets safer and buildings more comfortable.
Why would cities hit net-zero emissions in 2030?
- To keep global temperatures from rising by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) — the target to which world leaders promised to try to limit global warming humanity must cut pollution fast.
- The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that the world needs to cut carbon emissions to net-zero by the middle of the century. Net-zero means societies have to suck out as much carbon as they pump into the atmosphere. But technologies to remove carbon dioxide are limited and scientists are unsure how much they can absorb.
- Still, that finding has led more than 100 countries to set net-zero targets for around 2050. Pressure is also rising on rich countries who have polluted the most, particularly those in Europe and North America, to move faster. While 2050 is a global average, nearly all countries signed the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which accepts that countries have “common but differentiated responsibilities.”
- Experts say cities are good targets for faster action because they pump out a disproportionate share of greenhouse gases — partly because they have more people and tend to be richer. Just 10 city regions in Europe are responsible for 7.5% of the continent’s total carbon dioxide emissions, a 2022 study found. The 100 dirtiest cities are responsible for 20% of the emissions.
- European cities also have the wealth and technology to cut emissions quickly, said Epp. “Doing more — or doing anything — is always necessary and good because it will help us achieve our climate goals.”
How easy is net-zero by 2030?
- Still, bringing a city’s emissions down to zero or even close to it is hard. In a sector like transport, officials could force out combustion engine cars, improve public transport and make streets easier to walk.
- But electrifying the energy supply may require changes that need regional or national support.
- It is regarded as learning process driven by innovation, The program helps members overcome structural, institutional and cultural barriers, with the idea that lessons from one can be applied to another. Because most cities have only just started, it is unclear how likely they are to succeed.
- In some sectors, like heavy industry, technological solutions are some way off. Facilities to capture carbon and store it safely underground have not yet achieved the efficiency needed to clean up cement plants, for instance. That makes full decarbonization a challenge for more industrial cities.
Earlier starts make success more likely
- However, there are certain challenges are ahead as the crucial issue is not the 2030 goal but the time when action started to achieve the goal .
- In Denmark’s capital Copenhagen started to tackle its 2025 climate neutrality goal in 2012. The city expects to reduce emissions by about 82% in 2025 compared to 2010, mainly from heating and electricity.
- Transport emissions were harder to clean up and a plan to capture carbon from a waste incinerator plant will not be completed in time. “Carbon capture is a highly viable and currently possibly the only option for waste incinerators to become carbon neutral.
- Still, if Copenhagen succeeds in cutting emissions 82% in 15 years, it will be one of the cities that has made the most progress in cleaning up.
Conclusion:
- While there are loopholes in Copenhagen’s plan, the time frame allows Copenhagen to get close to climate neutrality in 2025 but only starting now with climate action to achieve a 2030 climate neutrality goal is too late.
- Therefore, It will also set up example for other developed nations to make target and achieve carbon neutrality before time period which will help in greenhouse gas reduction and countering climate challenges.
Editorial 2: Equality and justice, for and beyond queer and trans community
Context:
- Liberty, Equality and fraternity are the basic principle of Indian constitution which are also mentioned in Preamble of India
- Therefore, in order to uphold it, NGOs are working for the upliftment of vulnerable sections of society so that they can be empowered.
Role Of NGO, Naz foundation which set up an example for society:
- In 1995, Naz Foundation was set up in India to work with HIV/AIDS patients — providing information, resources, housing, healthcare, training, sensitisation programmes, etc.
- The programme to provide medical care and counselling to transgender persons and men, and expanded to include women and children.
- The programme addresses following challenges such
- One, addressing stigma was critical. Two, it is impossible to protect yourself without valuing yourself.
- Working in India meant retraining and finding appropriate and effective ways to dispense care.
- Patients would often say heartbreaking things: “Is there a medicine that can cure
Raising the voice of LGBT+ community:
- As earlier, Homosexuality was a criminal act under the section 377 of Indian Penal code.
- In Naz Foundation v Govt of NCT (2009), the Delhi HC held that treating consensual homosexual sex between adults as a criminal act violates fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
- This was a watershed moment for the queer community. Hundreds came out of the closet, shed their shame, and find community. Consequently, they found the care that they were long deprived of.
- The space this judgment created led to the reading down of Section 377 by the Supreme Court on September 6, 2018. The petitioners in the case were gay, and finally bold enough to fight this constitutional violation.
Progress of India till its 75 years of independence and a journey ahead
- In the 75 years of independent India, progress has been slow but sure to come.
- Today, the government is proactive in HIV/AIDS sensitisation. The National AIDS Programme has been a crucial step forward.
- It allows innumerable citizens to have access to free information, medicines, and healthcare. Section 377 has been struck down and petitions for the legal recognition of same-sex marriage are currently at the apex court. Yet, challenges abound.
- The Centre’s affidavit, submitted to the SC, is evidence of these hurdles. But there is immense faith in our judiciary.
- It will not stand for differential citizenship and confer same-sex couples with rights every other citizen possesses. In the next 25 years, It is expected that queer and trans persons will achieve equality in law. Marital rights, parental rights, anti-discriminatory rights, etc. will likely come into place.
- However, the fight for equality stretches far beyond just legal rights and recourse.
Conclusion:
- In certain group of people. the hate being espoused and escalating friction between communities and people.
- The threat to ideas of justice and equality has perhaps never been graver. For true equality and justice, for and beyond the queer and trans community, two things need to happen.
- First, people-first policies. The flaw in our approach is that we do not place people at the centre of our interventions. Implementation of policies and laws continues to be a challenge. Tackling this requires a change in strategy. Reimagining policy, law and interventions around welfare will go a long way.
- Second, we need to foreground empathy, love and respect. Children should be taught these values.
- The power of love and care, as witnessed in the 2009 and 2018 judgments, is the best cure for dysfunction and deprivation. If we integrate these as core values in our society, India at 100 will be much further on the road to equality and justice for all.