Climate Change – Global South Policy Review

Indian Government eyes recognising non-protected conservation areas to meet biodiversity goals

Simrin Sirur

The National Biodiversity Authority, which regulates and conserves India’s biological resources, is looking to expand Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) – geographic areas that are not legally protected but that also host biodiversity – as a strategy to meet its newly updated biodiversity goals.
In October 2024, India officially committed to the “effective” conservation of 30% of the country’s terrestrial, inland water, coastal and marine areas by 2030, when it submitted its updated Biodiversity Plan and targets to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD).

What is climate change? A really simple guide

BBC

Human activities are causing world temperatures to rise, posing serious threats to people and nature. Things are likely to worsen in the coming decades, but scientists argue urgent action can still limit the worst effects of climate change.
Climate change is the long-term shift in the Earth’s average temperatures and weather conditions. The world has been warming up quickly over the past 100 years or so. As a result, weather patterns are changing.

‘Frightening statistic’: More than 1 in 3 tree species worldwide at risk of extinction

Euro News

The loss of trees is also a major threat to thousands of other plants, animals and fungi.
Just over one in three of the world’s tree species are now at risk of extinction, according to the latest update of IUCN’s (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threatened Species.
For the first time, a majority of the world’s trees have been added to the list revealing that at least 16,425 of the 47,282 species assessed by the IUCN are at risk of extinction

India’s Green Leap: Transitioning to Clean Energy for a Sustainable Future

Team MyGov, India

“India is fully committed to building a cleaner, greener planet. We were the first among G20 nations to meet our Paris Agreement commitments on green energy, well ahead of schedule. While we continue to strengthen existing solutions, we are also focused on embracing new and innovative approaches” – PM Shri Narendra Modi

As the world faces the escalating impacts of climate change, the need for clean, sustainable energy solutions has never been more urgent. Transitioning to clean energy—derived from renewable sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower—has become a global imperative. This shift not only helps mitigate climate change but also creates economic opportunities, enhances energy security, and promotes social well-being.

Net zero or real zero? Assessing the carbon dioxide removal in net zero pledges

Climate Action Tracker

As of May 2024, around 145 governments have announced – or are considering – net zero and carbon neutrality targets, covering close to 90% of global emissions. Among these are China’s 2060 carbon neutrality target, the EU’s 2050 net zero target, the US’s 2050 net zero target, and India’s 2070 net zero target.

During the early wave of net zero commitments, most were simply political declarations of intent, with details on what the net zero targets meant in practice largely missing. For instance, governments did not specify to what extent they planned to reduce emissions by the target year compared to “neutralising” them through carbon dioxide removals.

This blog outlines our recent findings on how governments have improved their current planning on carbon dioxide removal — sometimes known as ‘negative emissions’ — to meet their net zero targets, and why this matters.

Millions of jobs in circular economy for Global South

Sustmeme

The transition to a circular economy could lead to the creation of millions of green and valuable jobs worldwide. However, a new report reveals a lack of research happening in developing countries, in the Global South, where the vast majority of these employment prospects in waste management and recycling are actually going to be located.
The use, re-use and recycling of products helps combat climate change, which is especially important to the many vulnerable nations and island states in the Global South. To be truly sustainable, though, this development shift must be founded on informed policies that promote both social and environmental benefits, fairly and affordably.

Decarbonising the iron and steel sector: China, India and the US

Climate Action Tracker

Iron and steel production currently contribute around 7-8% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, so decarbonising this sector is fundamental to reaching net zero and meeting the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C warming limit. Traditionally seen as a “hard-to-abate” industry, the steel sector now has viable pathways to decarbonisation, driven by recent

World’s rivers drying up: World Meteorological Organization issues stark climate warning

Euro News

Last year was the driest year for global rivers in 33 years, warns a new report coordinated by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). According to the State of Global Water Resources report, the past five years have seen below-normal conditions for river flows and reservoir inflows worldwide, increasing stress on global water supplies.
The annual report paints the big picture of the world’s water cycle, from extreme floods to extreme droughts, from rivers and reservoirs to glaciers and groundwater.

Climate Change and Indian Farmers: Strategies for Resilience

Krishi Bazaar

India’s agriculture, deeply tied to the monsoons and other natural phenomena, is one of the sectors most vulnerable to climate change. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and increasing occurrences of extreme weather events threaten food security, livelihoods, and the overall economy. Farmers, who form the backbone of the country’s agrarian society, are bearing the brunt of these changes.

This blog explores the challenges posed by climate change and strategies that can help Indian farmers build resilience.

Can We Tackle Poverty and Climate Change at the Same Time?

Timothy Clay

Human, ecological and climate systems are deeply connected. Our jobs, health, and even cultural values all stem from our natural surroundings. As a result, climate change has emerged as the most significant challenge of our lifetime and is fast becoming the new paradigm for global development.

Governments, multilateral banks, and other major development actors have all stepped up financial commitments for climate change. However, many of these commitments still miss a key ingredient — a distinct focus on the poor and vulnerable.

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