Give us hope, climate council!

So finally, we have a refreshed Prime Minister’s council on climate change. It must slog overtime to drive policies in a country that has so much to lose to climate change.

The council must prioritise adaption and mainstream it in all schemes and infrastructure. We need adaptation to reduce the terrible impact of droughts, heat, floods and extreme climate events, especially on the poor and the most vulnerable-the elderly and children. For this, we need both infrastructure based on principles of resilience and adaptation, and large-scale human capacity, within both government and non-state actors. Agencies like the national skill development corporation must pitch in. Who will build a house that can better withstand extreme cold, even if it is sanctioned?

This is not all. India needs proven, to-scale technologies that are green. How will we get them? Who will pay? The council must identify what these cutting- edge technologies are and work with a range of partners — private and otherwise — to ensure that they are able to be part of our tech bouquet, at a cost that is realistic. All government-owned and sponsored projects must turn to these. Why isn’t CPWD able to turn to these?

We know consumption can be regulated by fiscal instruments. Given how close the budget session really is, the council must identify and push for key budgetary provisions that shift India’s consumption towards less significantly reduced carbon emissions.

The new council owes Indians this chance, this hope.