From COP15 to Climate Action Day to COP26: October Musings

 The big deal in October 2021 includes two environmental conference of parties (COP) separated by the first ever Earthshot Prize ceremony and the International Day of Climate Action. 

Between the two avenues for rhetoric the finalists and winners of Earthshot Prize with their innovative solutions for the problems that plague our planet offer hope in this the first year of the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration. They are icons to be celebrated o f the Day of Climate Action and beyond in order to bridge the climate rhetoric-climate reality divide.

The first COP to occur in October was the first part of the Biodiversity COP15 that took place online between October 11th and 15th, online among the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. With China as chair, this was a forerunner to the second-part of the COP15 - the in-person session scheduled to happen in Kunming between April 25th and May 8th 2022. With the Chinese premiere giving the Climate COP in Glasgow beginning on Halloween 2021 a miss, this Biodiversity COP15 was where China flexed its environmental muscle. With the 6th Mass Extinction and immeasurable and irreplaceable biodiversity loss being part of our reality, made worse by the nightmare of the climate crisis manifesting the world over with particularly devastating effects in the poorer, island, coastal and tropical parts of the world, the need to act to protect biodiversity and address climate change is existentially vital. Thus it makes sense that in between the two COPs on October 19th, the million-pound Earthshot Prize ceremony to honor the 5 climate heroes - Eco-Oscars as it were, was hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in Alexandra Palace, in London. This competition for the Royal Foundation's five million-pound prizes was launched mid-pandemic in 2020 by Prince William to give Earth a shot in the arm and address five critical issues and the five winners addressed these innovatively and effectively 

(1) 'the restoration and protection of nature' - Costa Rica, (2) 'air cleanliness' - Takachar, India (3)  'ocean revival' - CoralVita - Bahamas, (4) 'waste-free living' - The Food[Waste] Hubs of the City of Milan, Italy & (5) 'climate action' - Hydrogen producing Enapter's AEM electrolyser (Thailand, Germany, Italy).

Key takeaways from the Online UN Biodiversity COP15 include world leaders acknowledging certain facts but not taking much action: 

(1) As Nature's Decline Threatens Humanity, We Must Work to Reverse Biodiversity Loss; (2) Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework: Understanding the Scope and Scale of the Biodiversity Crisis; (3) Kunming Declaration - a commitment to protect 30% of land and sea area by 2030 [30-30] (4) Gap between promises of biodiversity protection and any real or effective climate action (5) Need for Global Biodiversity Fund. The difficulty in actually achieving the much needed 30-30 protection in the face of so-called "economic realities" - the pandemic-fuelled global economic slowdown and resultant domino of energy crises and economic crisis that put environmental crises on the back burner even though it costs nations billions of dollars they can't afford. 

Case in point, according to a World Meteorological Organization report, the natural disasters in 2020 cost India $87 billion, i.e., ₹65 Lakh Crores.

As I predicted in my article for the Chennai Centre for China Studies (C3S) in September, not much can be expected from COP15 in the face of geopolitical and human security concerns. The main agenda of COP15 included positioning China as an environmental force to be reckoned with, showcase of Chinese success stories in biodiversity protection and its Red Line Plan as well as paving the way for a much-needed multi-billion dollar Global Biodiversity Fund even though it will take a long time for countries to make and honor these commitments. 

With these gaps in rhetoric and reality in mind, perhaps it becomes clear why the International Day for Climate Action 2021, October 24th, doesn't have the same prestige or reach of say Earth Day or Environment Day. The Fridays for Future movement is more impactful. and in a way as long as there is real climate action, it doesn't really matter if we celebrate the Day of Climate Action widely or not! And this is where it is hoped that the Climate COP26 to be held in Glasgow between October 31st and November 12th will make a dent in ensuring that world leaders and corporations commit to climate action and limiting carbon emissions. The real scary thing on Halloween 2021 will be the cost in emissions and money that the world is spending on what many believe is an eye-wash of a "greenwashing" conference hoping for a better outcome!

So ahead of COP26 here's a checklist to keep in mind while assessing the Climate COP26 that begins on Halloween: 

Now let's get into the specifics. @climate's set out the priorities for what to look out for at #COP26.

1. Higher commitments from countries
2. Rules for a global carbon market
3. $100 billion in finance for developing countries
4. Reducing coal use
5. Reducing methane emissions

— Akshat Rathi (@AkshatRathi) October 21, 2021

INDIA BIDS MIGRATORY SPECIES Atithi Devo Bhava

India hosted the Thirteenth Conference of Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP13) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, from 15 to 22 February 2020. With this event, India assumes presidency of the Bonn Convention COP for three years as well as setting the stage for the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework which will be finalized in the UN Biodiversity Conference scheduled to be held in Kunming, China in October 2020.

.@BonnConvention has gotten the biodiversity #SuperYear off to a strong start! #CMSCOP13 closes with new protections for #MigratorySpecies.

Click to see the outcomes, & join us on the journey to a transformative #biodiversity2020 agreement at CBD #COP15.https://t.co/k32VDcc04i pic.twitter.com/2fd1ltk6EA

— UN Biodiversity (@UNBiodiversity) February 23, 2020

Super Year for Nature: 2020

The “Super Year for Nature” was launched at this conference that had the largest attendance yet. The Gandhinagar Declaration prioritized the synergy between protecting migratory species and “ecological connectivity” as well as putting migratory species protection at the heart of the new global biodiversity strategy. Ten species also added to the protected list of migrant species including the conference mascot the Great Indian Bustard as well as the Asiatic Elephant, the Jaguar and the Oceanic White-Tip Shark.

Biodiversity loss is a major concern and the survival of fauna that cross borders is particularly risky. After all, according to the UN Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity released last May as many as 1 million species are on the brink of extinction including many migratory species. Tackling international and national laws and cross-border conditions to ensure that migratory species have pristine habitats free of man-made threats to survival are priorities. The Report on the Status of Migratory Species, compiled and presented for the first time at the CMS COP13 highlighted ever-present and new challenges to the survival of migratory fauna. Numbers are on the decline as a result of disease, habitat loss, plastics pollution in terrestrial and freshwater environments, road and rail infrastructure, power lines, wind turbines and even light pollution.

 A highlight of the CMS COP13 was the fact that it served “enhanced” water to its delegates in reusable glass bottles and kullads [clay cups], thus avoiding producing nearly 163 kg of single use plastic waste. This adoption of a sustainable alternative to plastic bottles encourages the circular economy model and sets a green example for future events. Since India hosted the World Environment Day celebrations in 2018, state and national level bans on single-use plastics have continued to embrace the call to “Beat Plastic Pollution.”

Source: HerbalH2O Facebook page 

The Ramsar-Bonn Conventions Connect

In February the world also celebrates Wetlands Day (February 2) on the day the convention to protect wetlands was signed in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971. Wetlands are biodiversity hotspots and host a wide variety of avian migratory species. On the side-lines of the CMS COP13, Indian Environment Minister Prakash Javdekar received certificates from Martha Rojas Urrego, Secretary-General of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, for the 10 Ramsar Sites across India that were recently deemed “wetland sites of international importance.” India has also committed to restore a thousand wetlands over the next five years in a bid to protect these habitats of so many migratory birds.

On behalf of India, received certificates for the 10 Ramsar Sites which were recently declared wetland sites of international importance.India plans restoration of 1000 wetlands in next 5 years.@UNEP @moefcc @martharojasu1 pic.twitter.com/cCq8kwZYJ2

— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) February 17, 2020

This move is welcomed in Indian environmental circles considering the increased impact of climate change, pollution as well as habitat loss on the hundreds of thousands of migratory birds that winter in India from as far away as the Siberian Tundra. Early this winter, in November 2019, the Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan was littered with tens of thousands of migratory birds as well as domestic avian species. Avian botulism is believed to be the cause of this devastation. Many of the nearly 20,000 birds that died were migratory species from the Siberian Arctic. This disease that decimates bird populations is triggered by high temperature and low precipitation both exacerbated by global warming, water pollution and stressed habitats due to industrialization and intrusion by humans in sensitive eco-systems (e.g., wetlands, mangroves and marshlands).

Star Ambassadors for Migrant Species

When the survival of these at-risk migratory species is threatened by so many anthropogenic factors, their saviours also have to be people. By raising awareness about these threats a green turn can be encouraged in the masses. To this end the CMS Ambassadors Programme nominates renowned and popular personalities to campaign for the rights of these birds and animals. At the CMS COP13, Ian Redmond OBE, Sacha Dench and Randeep Hooda were nominated as CMS Ambassadors for terrestrial, avian and aquatic migratory species respectively. Ian Redmond the CMS ambassador for terrestrial species is an internationally acclaimed conservationist known for his work with great apes and elephants particularly. His anti-poaching drives and support for filming of at risk species and local conservators in war-torn parts of Africa such as Congo and Rwanda have helped conserve many animals. 

News from #CMSCOP13: @BonnConvention announces #HumanSwan #freediver #explorer #environmentalist @sachadench as #Ambassador for #Avian species; #conservationist #IanRedmond OBE as for #Terrestrial species #SDG15, & #Bollywood actor @RandeepHooda for #Aquatic species #SDG14- Kudos pic.twitter.com/is0RWiFfZm

— Raakhee Suryaprakash (@10sunshinegal) February 18, 2020

Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda will campaign for the cause of aquatic species. The Indian coastline is the nesting site for Olive Ridley Sea Turtles. The Odhisha coasts especially bear witness to the phenomenon of arribada where Olive Ridley turtles arrive en masse to nest. It also bears mentioning the Bollywood connect to Mumbai which witnessed the world’s largest beach clean-up in Versova beach spearheaded by lawyer and environmental activist Afroz Shah. This UN Environment award-winning initiative created a conducive habitat for sea turtles to return and nest following the 2017 beach clean-up efforts.

Award-winning explorer, free diver, athlete and environmentalist Sacha Dench, known as the Human Swan, is an apt champion for avian migratory species. She got the moniker and many accolades while raising awareness for the at-risk avian species after tracking the Bewick's Swan migration from the Russia to the United Kingdom in 2016 on a paramotor. In this “Super Year for Nature” Sacha Dench is planning to track the ospreys’ migration from Scotland to Ghana. A journey of nearly 10,000km to raise the profile of threats to ospreys in particular and all migratory birds in general. Sacha Dench also champions wetlands, as she puts it, "By investigating the health of the wetlands, especially [preventing] the plastics and pollutants getting into the water system, we could help all manner of migrating birds and other animals that depend on healthy wetlands and waterways, including ourselves."

Sacha Dench's TEDTalk on her unique way of raising awareness about the Bewick's Swan

From Gandhinagar to Kunming, in 2020 it is to be hoped that the negotiations to preserve and protect wildlife truly does make it a “Super Year for Nature.” With India at the helm, perhaps the ethos of atithi devo bhava will apply to our wild guests as well as human ones. Maybe we can act to welcome them by deeming the migratory species divine: we can act to clean up their habitats and protect them from ourselves!

References

UN Environment

https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/press-release/cms-cop13-concludes-india-major-new-actions-migratory-species

https://www.cms.int/en/news/major-un-meeting-wildlife-address-critical-threats-migratory-species 

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/24/we-have-a-chance-to-halt-biodiversity-loss-the-stakes-have-never-been-higher-aoe

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/experts-india-find-18000-birds-died-10-days-191120134551718.html

http://www.sachadench.com/speaker-biography/

Of Birds, Bees & Turtles: Celebrating Biodiversity in May

In May we celebrate Endemic Bird Day on 4th, World Bee Day on 20th, the International Day for Biological Diversity on 22nd and World Turtle Day on 23rd. All these days are observed to raise awareness about the various at-risk species and at-risk biodiversity itself. Early in May, the report from Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), warned that the impact of modern civilization nature has put 1 MILLION plant and animal species of our planet's estimated 8 MILLION species at risk of extinction. Basically, 

"due to humankind’s relentless pursuit of economic growth!"

Source: Felix Mueller/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

The quest for convenience and easy living is unleashing a pogrom on all other life forms. Ironic, that under the UN declared period of pursuing sustainable development goals (#SDGs) human activity is predominantly unsustainable and putting life and biodiversity at risk. Be it the quest for "Responsible Consumption and Production" #SDG12, or even "Life Below Water" #SDG14 and "Life on Land" #SDG15, the pursuit of so-called SDGs 8 & 9 "Decent Work and Economic Growth" & "Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure" is putting other SDGs at risk in addition to biodiversity. The sixth mass extinction, a.k.a. the Holocene or Anthropocene Extinction is the existential threat of the 21st Century. Yet, powerful lobbies like Big Oil, Big Pharma, or as Vandana Shiva puts it the "Poison Cartel", Industrial Agriculture & Fishing, Manufacturing lobbies, FMCG and even Fast Fashion have worked to keep "Business as usual" even in the face of it's devastating impact on life on our planet and it's environment. 

The title of a recent paper by Jason Hickel of the Department of Anthropology, Goldsmiths, University of London, "The contradiction of the sustainable development goals: Growth versus ecology on a finite planet" summarizes the dichotomy and the dilemma best. 

Human greed and gluttony manifesting in the love for mass production and mass markets is causing mass extinction! We can't allow "business as usual" when life is at stake:

•  5G has been seen as most devastating of all mobile technology on biodiversity in general and birds in particular.
•  Chemical insecticides and pesticides that kill bees more effectively than pests or harmful insects. 
• Unsustainable agricultural and fishing practices in the quest for food security and profits is actually fueling "hunger" as well as "food waste."
• A glut of plastics chokes the planet and all life forms, including turtles and birds shown in iconic the viral videos to be choking on plastic waste, be it through the subsequent air, water and soil pollution of plastic waste.
• Rainforests - the ultimate biodiversity hotspots - are cut down to make way for monoculture hubs of agriculture, cattle ranches and palm plantations.
• Climate change fueled by continued dependence on fossil fuels in turn super-sizes natural disasters devastating life.

The PETA ad campaign - Killer Cows - may be graphic but is apt, in the quest for meat in ur meals we are endangering biodiversity itself: 

Source: PETA.

We share our planet with many life forms, we are all connected. When the "bell tolls" for other species, if we ignore it, it will soon toll for us too, extrapolating and misquoting lines from John Donne's famous poem,

any man's  [species'] death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind [all life forms], and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee [us all!!!].