Climate change

Epson’s Climate Reality Barometer 2023: Indians Show Strong Commitment to Tackling Climate Change Through Sustainable Actions

November 2, 2023 TeluguSuperNews Leave a comment

Telugu super news, novenber 2,2023:In 2021, Epson published its first Climate Reality Barometer: a survey of people from diverse countries, ages and backgrounds to gauge understanding of, and attitudes towards, climate change. 2023 marks Epson’s third edition of the Climate Reality Barometer. It presents updates and new insights into how attitudes are (and are not) changing as the climate crisis unfolds. This year’s Barometer reached over 30,000 people across 39 global markets including 3000 adults in India.

India is facing increasing challenges in dealing with extreme heat on the one hand and devastating floods on the other, due to climate change. India already faces water stress, and climate change is expected to worsen the situation. A 2°C temperature rise could make the monsoon highly unpredictable. Extreme rainfall events and abrupt changes in the monsoon could lead to droughts and flooding in various parts of the country. Rising temperatures, water scarcity, and sea-level rise pose significant threats to crop yields and food security. Climate change is projected to have major health impacts, including malnutrition, vector-borne diseases, and heat-related illnesses (Source).

Epson’s Climate Reality Barometer 2023 indicates that while Indians are concerned about climate change, they remain extremely positive when it comes to its likely impact. This is a concern and may be indicative that Indians have not completely understood the likely impact, now or in the future. What’s heartening however is that Indians are already acting on certain things to mitigate the climate emergency. In many areas they lead the world. The key highlights from a sample of 3000 Indians are below:

● 58.6% of Indians think climate change is one of the biggest issues facing the world today, followed by rising prices (46.4%) and poverty (32.1%). Globally too this is the top issue with 55.32% of respondents rating it a major concern.

● However, 76.7% of people in India are optimistic that we will avert a climate disaster in their lifetime. This is well above the global average of 47.04% of people being optimistic. Only Saudi Arabians are more optimistic than Indians at 78.99%.

● 10.4% of people in India are pessimistic that we will avert a climate disaster in their lifetime. This is significantly lower than the global average of 26.58% people who are pessimistic.

● On an encouraging note, Indians are the most likely to boycott unsustainable brands in the world, with 83.35% of respondents saying they already boycott or are likely to boycott such brands in future. The worldwide average for this is just 64.66%. And while the worldwide average of people who want to or have already switched to an electric vehicle is 70.3%, India leads the world with 87.38% showing positive intent on this issue.

● Nearly 7 in 10 Indians are already reducing plastic use (68.8%) and over half of the population are improving their recycling habits to fight climate change (58.7%). Reusable shopping bags are already being used by 64.1% of those surveyed.

● Like most people around the world Indians also believe that Corporates have an important role to play in the fight against climate change. Indians believe the most important things companies can do are: Invest in environmental technologies (48.7%), Improve recycling and reuse products (40.7%), Encourage employee participation in environmental activities (30.31%)

Reality now: What’s next?

The 2023 Epson Climate Reality Barometer shows progress around the world and more acknowledgement of the issues and challenges we face. In India while we should be optimistic that action will lead to positive change – we must not let this optimism limit our actions.

At Epson, we are acting in the face of climate change – not freezing in its headlights. We believe that no one individual, community, company, technology, government or even hemisphere can tackle these challenges alone. It is only by coming together that we can avert catastrophe. Epson’s Barometer shows us the way forward as people look to companies to take the lead on the green transition. Epson sees technology as an enabler, with products that are designed to use fewer resources in production and use, last for longer, are more easily repairable, can be re-used and are more easily recycled. Together, we can create the solutions that people need as they act to mitigate climate impact. Working together, Epson believes that we can all build a better future.

Samba Moorthy, President of Epson India said, “The Epson Climate Reality Barometer once again shows us that some people continue to ignore catastrophic climate change and refuse, or feel unable, to act. It is however heartening to note that Indians are making serious efforts to bring in a change. These issues we face are a challenge for us all and if we are to solve the climate crisis, we must act as one. There are also powerful lessons here for all businesses as they seek to understand and support individuals in their move towards more climate positive lifestyles. At Epson, as we transition into an indispensable company that uses our efficient, compact and precise technologies to achieve sustainability in a circular economy – we continue to listen, because if we want to change the world, first we must understand it.”

DECODING THE INTERSECTIONALITIES BETWEEN CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH: A DASRA AND ORF REPORT

August 2, 2023 TeluguSuperNews Leave a comment

Telugu super news,2 August ,2023: Dasra, a strategic philanthropy organization, along with Observer Research Foundation launched a landmark report on the intersection of climate and the SDGs in India titled Our Uncommon Future : Intersectionality of Climate Change and SDGs in the Global South at the Think20 (T20) Summit yesterday. The T20 is an official engagement group of the G20 and serves as an “ideas bank” for the G20 by bringing together think tanks and high-level experts to deliberate on relevant policy issues.

The report delves into key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and aims to identify measures where policymakers can create convergence in efforts to tackle climate change and barriers to respective SDGs. In the year of India’s G20 presidency, the report endeavors to highlight these Intersectionalities in the Indian context – displaying learnings for India from various global experiences and showcasing climate action from civil society organizations in India.

The report seeks to shed light on the intricate web of connections between climate change and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for Goals), highlighting the urgency of a holistic approach in our pursuit of a sustainable future. The report also looks at innovative interventions and solutions addressing the issues posed by these intersectionalities, especially for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities in the country. These case studies serve as compendium of insights, good practices and lessons shared by diverse actors on driving equitable climate action and strengthening community resilience.

The launch of the report was followed by a panel discussion on ‘‘Threads of Transformation: Unraveling the Intersectionalities between the SDGs and Climate Change” featuring Neera Nundy, Managing Partner, Dasra, India; Danang Parikesit, Professor, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia; Vijay Datta, Principal, Modern School (Barakhamba Road), India; Li Xiaoyun, Chair Professor, China Agricultural University (CAU), China; Prarthana Ramesh, Head – Environment City Systems, Janaagraha, India; Uthara Narayanan Co-Founder, Buzz Women, India and Aparna Roy (moderator), Fellow and Lead, Climate Change and Energy, Centre for New Economic Diplomacy, Observer Research Foundation. . The discussion explored the intersectionalities between climate and various critical SDGs, particularly with respect to their impact on underserved communities in the Global South. Panelists also discussed the role that various stakeholders can play in supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030, while also strengthening the resilience of the communities at the frontline of climate impacts.

Speaking at the launch of the report, Neera Nundy, Co-Founder, Dasra said, “Addressing climate change is not a solitary endeavor; to inspire and engage stakeholders for climate action, we need to talk about the interlinkages and intersectionalities between climate and development and make it clear that investing in climate is investing in sustainable development for all. Climate action represents 0.5% of overall domestic philanthropic funding in India, which meets only 10% of our climate financing needs. We must inspire philanthropy to unlock climate action and build adaptive resilience for the most vulnerable communities, by making the climate – SDG intersectionality mainstream. The movement towards a sustainable and inclusive future for our communities mandates the involvement of all actors in climate action. Civil society, the government, philanthropic organizations, industry and consumers must understand why it is important to shift this paradigm to an intersectional and collaborative approach.”

As we face mounting global challenges related to climate change and sustainable development, it becomes increasingly evident that addressing these issues in isolation is no longer feasible. Climate change has profound implications for all aspects of human life and the planet’s ecosystems, including the realization of the SDGs. Despite climate change being a global concern, its impact is different across geographies, the situation being particularly grave for India. India is the fifth most vulnerable of 181 countries to the effects of climate change, with our poorest and marginalized communities being the most at risk. The top 5 cities in India contribute 10% to its carbon footprint, a number only set to worsen. Given India’s vulnerability to climate change and its impact on the SDGs, there is an urgent need to move from symptoms of the crisis to the root causes and strengthen localized climate governance for effective sustainable development

“We stand at the crossroads of climate change and sustainable development, and this report serves as a compass for the future, where environmental stewardship and social equity converge. We must recognize that every aspect of our life, from biodiversity preservation to gender equality, poverty eradication to healthcare, is interconnected with the urgent need to address the climate crisis. Only by uniting these efforts can we pave the way for a sustainable, equitable, and resilient future for all.” said Nilanjan Ghosh, Director, Observer Research Foundation

Key takeaways of the report:

Ø With the global system facing a multitude of crises across the social, health, and environmental spectrum, there is an urgent need for scaling international cooperation to find solutions. Development cooperation is increasingly recognizing the roles that stakeholders play in the climate ecosystem, such as the private sector, civil society organizations (CSOs), and philanthropic organizations.

Ø India’s large philanthropic community is uniquely positioned to support the CSOs driving climate action by offering capacity building, long-term capital, and technical assistance and can play a catalytic role in supplementing the efforts of other development stakeholders towards climate action.

Ø India’s vibrant civil society, with its proximity to communities, vast geographical spread, and unique mobilization skills, has the potential to scale inclusive climate action in the country and enhance climate resilience at the grassroots.

Ø SDG 17 envisions encouraging and promoting effective public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

To read the full report, click here.

Climate change is actively impeding the progress made across all SDGs: Reveals Dasra

March 10, 2023 TeluguSuperNews Leave a comment

Telugu Super News,Mumbai, March, 2023: Dasra, a strategic philanthropy organisation, during the 14^th edition of Dasra Philanthropy Week organised at Godrej One, Vikhroli in Mumbai, introduced its vision to collaborate with various sector experts, funders, civil society organisations and institutions to form Climate Action alliance to enable intersectional climate action in India.The aim of the Alliance is to bring together stakeholders across sectors to build resilient systems and to secure the welfare of marginalized communities.

The Climate Action Alliance, supported by the Rainmatter Foundation, will help build consensus and collaboration between diverse stakeholders, including the government and civil society organisations, to help shape an India view and common narrative against climate issues. The Alliance will also build partnerships with global and national institutions to leverage expertise, disseminate knowledge and hold convenings. In addition to this, The Alliance will also aim to facilitate philanthropy for climate related aspects.

Dasra also announced its plan to present a first-of-its-kind landscape and research report, to demystify the intersectionality of climate change in India. The Climate Intersectionality Report, in collaboration with the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), would delve into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, namely, SDG 2 – Zero Hunger, SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being, SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 15 – Life on Land, and SDG 5 – Gender Equality and SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals, as the cross-cutting SDGs. It would spotlight the need to approach climate change with an intersectional lens, which will help in devising suitable interventions via linkage with other sectors. The Climate Intersectionality Report will be launched in the coming months.

Speaking at the Dasra Philanthropy Week, Sameer Shisodia, CEO, Rainmatter Foundation, commented, “The climate crisis is a result of every bad trade-off we made in the last 10,000 years and, in an accelerated pace, for the past 100 years. Unless we link responsibility of our places, and link the future of our places as our responsibility, we would not have anywhere to run to.”

Sameer further added, “Climate is a place problem, and only the people who live there are aligned with the long-term interest of the place. Hence keeping the communities at the centre of the climate problem and giving them a decision making is an integral part of the fight against climate change.”

The ClimateRISE Day at the Dasra Philanthropy Week, was convened in partnership with the sector leaders including AVPN, India Climate Collaborative, Foundations Platform F20, Observer Research Foundation, and the Rainmatter Foundation as the anchor partner.

“There is a need to switch to a response mechanism to understand the needs on the ground and realize that our work should catch up with the real world and engage with an intersectional approach”, says Neera Nundy, Co-founder, Dasra at the ClimateRISE Day. “Climate is a deeply intersectional issue, and its impact cuts across almost all sectors and requires a shift across knowledge and action. It is important therefore, to not see climate change as an isolated issue. An intersectional approach towards it can help us as country to address the climate crisis while also fulfilling the aspirations of our youth.” Says Neera.

Speaking about the Climate Intersectionality Report, Dr. Nilanjan Ghosh, Director, Observer Research Foundation, said, “Climate action needs a trans-disciplinary approach and knowledge systems. On one hand, we have climate science to understand the scientific processes causing global warming and climate change, and on other hand, we need social science to understand the drivers and effects. Climate crisis emerges from unbridled human ambitions growing at the cost of depleting natural resources and its impact is felt across the various development indicators including human health, productivity and even ecosystem services. From that perspective, climate change is not an environmental problem but a development problem. While climate action has been taken as a separate goal, every SDG has to endure the threat of climate change. We are delighted to join hands with Dasra for this project that stands upon the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response Framework (DPSIR). The project also intends to bring out the global best practices of adaptation against climate change across various sectors.”

India is the fifth most vulnerable of 181 countries to the effects of climate change, with our poorest and marginalized communities being the most at risk. 75% of India’s districts are vulnerable to increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather events, and India might be one of the first places in the world to break the human survivability limit, with extreme heatwaves. Dasra, along with its partner organisations, aims to identify measures where policymakers can ensure synergy between climate change and the respective SDGs.

Dasra Philanthropy Week witnessed participation from thought-leaders, non-profit experts, funders and intermediaries in specially curated sessions including Sameer Shisodia (CEO, Rainmatter Foundation), Stefan Schurig (Secretary General, Foundation Platform F20), Bijal Brahmbhatt (Director, Mahila Housing SEWA Trust), Jarnail Singh (Deputy Director-India, MacArthur Foundation), Huda Jaffer (Director, SELCO Foundation), Hitesh Vaidya (Director, NIUA), Nilanjan Ghosh (Director, ORF), Chetna Gala Sinha (Founder, Mann Deshi Bank) and Aarthi Sridhar (Founder Trustee, Dakshin Foundation).