No one shared congratulatory notes when it was announced that the human race had single-handedly surpassed the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold. Finally, here was undeniable proof that common sense was proverbially not common. Most important, this was the finest example yet of mankind pushing itself to new heights even if it was towards a precipice.
In this period, much was made about renewable energy overtaking coal as the planet’s main source of electricity generation. But the race to perdition continues to be powered by fossil fuels.
There could not be greater evidence of this than the large army of lobbyists from the fossil fuel industry who had invaded Brazil at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)’s 30th edition of the Conference of Parties (COP 30) in Belem. There were more than 1,600 lobbyists representing fossil fuel interests. The only national delegation larger was from the host country. But it is not only the industry that is focused on nominating itself for the much-hallowed Darwin Awards; it is also countries and their politicians who wish to win this award for themselves and on behalf of humankind. U.S. President Donald Trump and his “drill baby drill” motto, and the widening gap between net zero by 2050 and the reality in the U.K. are but a few examples of the tragicomic environment humans now inhabit.
But the naysayers are not the only problem. Those focusing on solving the climate issue are part of the problem. The UNFCC breaks down the NGOs into nine groups — business and industry NGOs (BINGO), environmental NGOs (ENGO), farmers, Indigenous peoples organisations (IPO), local government and municipal authorities (LGMA), research and independent NGOs (RINGO), trade union NGOs (TUNGO), and women and gender and youth NGOs (YOUNGO). It is hard to point out the sheep in wolf’s clothing — NGOs funded by industry. But given that the past few COPs have been fossil fuel fests, it is unfortunate that organisations focused on climate and justice and are not fronts for industry continue to participate in the COP and give it credibility. Worse still is the fact that more such organisations are participating in the event.
After the news of the 1.5 degrees Celsius breach, many NGOs responded with messages about not losing heart and continuing the fight at COP30. So, these organisations are burning fossil fuel to participate in an event where they have become inconsequential — as the breach proves. Einstein is reportedly to have observed, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
There is a gargantuan problem, and the first problem is not recognising that the current ecosystem to prevent climate change is not working. Worse still, those that have tried new methods to communicate the existentialist crisis facing humankind, such as Extinction Rebellion, have been ostracised by the old guard. Some organisations have changed tactics reverting to earlier local campaigns focusing on air quality, health and public transportation; these morph into rights and equity. But given the magnitude of the problem, these are like eating soup with a fork.
Has any NGO publicly stated that their endeavours to prevent climate change have fallen short, and therefore they must recalibrate their work? It is no surprise then that their Titanic-like aura and continued emphasis on COP suggest a lack of the much-tom-tommed urgency. Worse still, as the past few COPs have shown, these assemblies have become Trojan Horses for the fossil fuel lobby, which includes many governments.
Climate change is a strange beast for at least two reasons. The first is that the victim is also a perpetrator and, the second is that independent victories do not suggest overall progress on maintaining temperatures below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Ranting against contributors to climate change does not suggest the absence of an individual or organisational carbon footprint. Just work-related energy consumption and day-to-day living ensure one exacerbates the problem. Ultimately, one complains about the higher temperatures and nasty weather that one contributes to.
The same goes for corporations which have signed on to UN development goals. Their manufacturing processes may be cleaner, but their products, packaging, distribution and so on nullify their efforts. Corporates have the privilege of dumping on consumers the cost of the consequences of climate change which they contribute to. Let’s not talk about new-age technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain that while being ultra-modern, guzzle energy like vehicles did before the oil crisis.
Energy-efficient products, electric vehicles, cleaner fuels and the like, push the problem further away from our focus. All these still need raw materials, production processes to reach consumers which ultimately impacts the climate. Unsurprisingly, even with these, the temperature threshold was crossed. Things like Earth Hour, the annual event held across the globe when non-essential lights are switched off for an hour, do absolutely nothing to fight climate change. These are just moribund self-congratulatory feel-good occasions. Sure, there is need for a call to action, but what action? Action that reflects the climate emergency humans have got themselves into. Can the Buy Nothing Day (BND) be restarted? Is there a possibility of choosing vacation spots that are accessible by train? Should a four-day-week become mandatory? Why not make use of public transport to work and back, and work-from-home, mandatory at least twice a week? Can schools and other establishments with space grow their own vegetables which can be distributed in-house? Can all buildings have solar panels installed by the end of next year? Can corporations be penalised for the consumer and packaging waste they generate without them transferring the cost on to consumers?The idea is not to fight the fossil fuel industry but to make them redundant, just as they continue to make the future of mankind superfluous. The goal is to make ourselves lighter on the planet and not just force others to lighten up. In these times of climate change, Mahatma Gandhi’s words “be the change you want to see” resonate.
