It’s high time clean air became a real fundamental right

The shift to EVs demonstrates the need for decentralisation and holism. EVs can surely depollute cities, but, overall, what do they achieve?

- SUHIT K SEN

Indian experiencing, on average, 20 super-hot days in 2024, A third of extreme heat days were a result of climate change.

The UN, too, sounded a warning about climate change and global warming, In a recent report ahead of the next Conference of Parties (COP-30), the annual climate-change summit, to be held in Brazil from November 10 to 21, it has warned that the international community is not on track to contain global warming by 1.5°C. Assessing the latest pledges made by 64 countries, communicated to the UN between January 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025, the report says these countries can reduce emissions by I! per cent till 2030 and 35 per cent by 2035. Some of the biggest emitters have not submitted any targets yet. Among them are China, the world’s largest emitter now, the European Union (EU), and India.

China and the EU have announced their targets, without making any formal submission. If their announced emission cuts are factored in, the global reduction figure would go down to 10 per cent by 2035 over 2019 levels. This is nowhere near enough. The international community needs to cut emissions by 43 per cent till 2030, 60 per cent till 2035, 69 per cent by 2040, and 84 per cent by 2050. The scientific consensus is clear—an increase of more than L.5°C would be catastrophic.