Climate Change and COP Summits –Hot topics for UPSC GS-1 and 3 explained
I. CLIMATE CHANGE
1. Meaning
Climate Change refers to long-term shifts in temperature, precipitation, and weather patterns primarily caused by anthropogenic activities like burning of fossil fuels, industrial emissions, deforestation, land-use change, etc.
It leads to global warming, driven by Greenhouse Gas (GHG) accumulation in the atmosphere.
2. Evidence of Climate Change (Scientific Basis)
- Rising Global Temperatures (IPCC notes ~1.1°C rise since pre-industrial era)
- Glacial Retreat (Himalayan glaciers receding)
- Sea-level Rise (thermal expansion + ice melt)
- Ocean Acidification (impacting corals, fisheries)
- Extreme Weather Events (heatwaves, cyclones, floods, droughts)
- Biodiversity Loss (coral bleaching, species extinction)
3. Causes of Climate Change
(A) Natural Causes
- Volcanic activity
- Solar radiation variations
- Ocean circulation changes
- Milankovitch cycles (orbital variations)
(B) Anthropogenic Causes
- Burning of coal, oil, natural gas
- Industrial emissions
- Transport sector emissions
- Deforestation and land-use change
- Agriculture (methane from livestock & paddy)
- Waste management (landfill methane)
4. Impacts of Climate Change (with Indian Context)
(A) Environmental Impacts
- Increased frequency & intensity of cyclones (e.g., Amphan, Fani, Tauktae)
- Erratic Southwest Monsoon, floods (Assam, Kerala), droughts
- Heatwaves in North India (IMD alerts)
- Himalayan glacial retreat → GLOFs (Glacial Lake Outburst Floods)
(B) Economic Impacts
- Crop yield loss affecting food security (rice, wheat)
- Fishery & coral ecosystem collapse
- Infrastructure damage (coastal regions)
- Increased disaster management expenditure
(C) Social & Health Impacts
- Vector-borne diseases (malaria, dengue)
- Urban heat island effect
- Climate-induced migration
- Water conflicts (inter-state river tensions)
5. India’s Vulnerability
India is extremely climate vulnerable due to:
- Large agrarian population
- Long coastline (7,500+ km)
- Himalayan ecosystem
- High population density
- Monsoon dependence
Reports:
- IPCC AR6 lists India among hotspots for heat stress, floods, sea-level rise
- Germanwatch Global Climate Risk Index consistently ranks India among high-risk countries
6. Mitigation vs Adaptation (UPSC Concept Clarity)
Mitigation = Reduce emissions
Examples:
- Renewable energy (solar, wind)
- Energy efficiency
- Carbon sinks (afforestation)
- Electric vehicles
- Green hydrogen
Adaptation = Adjust to impacts
Examples:
- Climate-resilient crops
- Early-warning systems
- Heat action plans
- Coastal embankments
- Water conservation (Jal Shakti Abhiyan)
II. COP SUMMITS (Conference of the Parties)
1. What is COP?
COP = Conference of the Parties, the decision-making body under:
- UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change)
It brings nations together annually to negotiate climate action.
2. Key International Frameworks
(A) UNFCCC (1992)
- Rio Earth Summit
- Stabilize GHG concentrations
- Principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR)
(B) Kyoto Protocol (1997)
- Legally binding emission reduction targets for developed countries
- Mechanisms: CDM, Joint Implementation, Emissions Trading
(C) Paris Agreement (2015)
Transformational climate deal at COP21 (Paris):
- Limit warming to well below 2°C, aim for 1.5°C
- NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions) by every nation
- Stocktake every 5 years
- Climate finance: $100 billion/year
3. Select Important COP Summits
| COP | Location | Significance |
| COP1 | Berlin (1995) | Berlin Mandate |
| COP3 | Kyoto (1997) | Kyoto Protocol |
| COP7 | Marrakesh (2001) | Marrakesh Accords |
| COP13 | Bali (2007) | Bali Roadmap |
| COP15 | Copenhagen (2009) | Copenhagen Accord (2°C goal) |
| COP17 | Durban (2011) | Green Climate Fund |
| COP21 | Paris (2015) | Paris Agreement (NDCs, 1.5°C) |
| COP24 | Katowice (2018) | Katowice Rulebook |
| COP26 | Glasgow (2021) | Net-zero push, coal “phase-down” |
| COP27 | Sharm el-Sheikh (2022) | Loss & Damage Fund |
| COP28 | Dubai (2023) | First Global Stocktake, phase-out debate |
| COP29 | Baku(2024) | Carbon Market rules |
| COP30 | Belem (2025) | Adaptation finance tripling, 59 Adaptation indicators |
4. India’s Role in COP & Climate Diplomacy
India’s Position
- Emphasizes CBDR + Equity
- Opposes “carbon colonialism”
- Advocates climate justice for Global South
India’s Commitments (Paris Agreement)
India updated its NDCs in 2022:
- Reduce emissions intensity by 45% by 2030
- 50% cumulative electric power capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030
- Net-zero by 2070 (announced at COP26)
5. India’s Climate Initiatives
National Policies
- National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) with 8 Missions:
- Solar Mission
- Energy Efficiency Mission
- Sustainable Habitat Mission
- Water Mission
- Himalayan Ecosystem Mission
- Green India Mission
- Sustainable Agriculture Mission
- Strategic Knowledge Mission
Flagship Initiatives
- International Solar Alliance (ISA) (with France)
- Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)
- National Solar Mission
- Faster Adoption of Electric Vehicles (FAME)
- Hydrogen Mission (Green Hydrogen policy)
- UJALA, UDAY, PAT scheme (energy efficiency)
- PM-KUSUM (solar pumps)
- Cleaner cooking (PM-Ujjwala)
- National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change
III. CONCLUSION
Climate change represents the greatest global collective-action challenge of the 21st century. COP summits provide an institutional platform to negotiate science-based mitigation and adaptation pathways while upholding climate justice and equity. For India, striking a balance between development aspirations and ecological sustainability is crucial to achieving a resilient and low-carbon future.