Environment & Sustainability: Forests and climate

Forests, nature and civilisation

Past topics: “Forests precede civilizations and deserts follow them.” (2024), “Nature is the symbol of the spirit.” (2026) and “Forests are the best case studies for economic excellence” (2022).

Outline for the 2024 topic.

• Hook: river valley civilisations grew on fertile, forested land. Some declined after cutting forests, losing soil and facing drought.
• Meaning: civilisations depend on ecosystems, nature’s living systems. When they over-use nature, decline follows, sometimes into desert.
• Dimensions: water (forests feed rivers), soil, climate, biodiversity, tribal livelihoods, culture (sacred groves).
• Counter-view: technology lets us grow food anywhere.
• Reply: technology cannot replace ecosystem services at that scale. These are the free services nature gives, like clean water and pollination.
• Conclusion: protect forests to protect civilisation. India’s sacred groves, the Chipko movement and community forest management are models.

For ‘Nature is the symbol of the spirit’: nature in Indian thought (rivers as mothers, trees as sacred), art inspired by nature, the calm people feel in green spaces, and our duty to protect what we revere.

Climate change and sustainability

Definition to quote: in 1987 the United Nations Brundtland Commission defined sustainable development as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (United Nations, Academic Impact page on sustainability). In simple words: use today without stealing from tomorrow.

Older topic: “Alternative technologies for a climate change resilient India” (2018). Resilient means able to bounce back from shocks.

India’s updated NDC is its national climate pledge. The Union Cabinet approved it on 3 August 2022, to be sent to the UNFCCC. It promises to cut the emissions intensity of GDP, meaning emissions for each rupee of output, by 45 percent by 2030 from the 2005 level. It also aims to reach about 50 percent of installed power capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030. The long-term goal is net-zero by 2070 (PIB, 3 August 2022). All are targets, not achievements.

India’s updated NDC (PIB, 3 August 2022).

Dimensions for climate essays: fairness (common but differentiated responsibilities: rich countries polluted more, so they should do more), adaptation for the poor, clean energy and jobs, heat in cities, farming and water, lifestyle (Mission LiFE, launched October 2022), and global cooperation.