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Context: 

According to a new study, it is still possible for all humanity to thrive, escape poverty and be safe from climate change, but only if we learn to share Earth’s riches equally. 

About the study 

The study, ‘A Just World on a Safe Planet’, published in the journal The Lancet Planetary Health, was carried out by 65 leading natural and social scientists from more than 20 countries.

It aims to define a safe and just corridor for people and the planet.

Earth System Boundaries The research follows from Earth System Boundaries, published in 2023, which underlined the safe and just “ceiling” up to which people could continue to extract natural resources and pollute without destabilising the Earth's systems and endangering humanity. The study shows that the over-consumption of finite resources by a minority of the world’s population is shrinking the “Safe and Just Space”. Providing resources to people who do not have enough would be less harmful to the planet than the present situation in which the wealthy minority is consuming more than its fair share. Note: Safe and Just Space”  is a conceptual space in which it is possible to meet everybody’s basic needs with minimum damage to the planet.

Key findings of the study

Historically marginalised people are suffering the most:

Historically marginalised communities, in previously colonised nations and poverty-ridden areas, are impacted the most by environmental damage and climate change.

Indoor and outdoor air and water pollution annually cause nine million untimely deaths. These health emergencies most impact vulnerable populations as they have negligible or no capacity to take safety measures.

Over India, one billion people face declining agricultural productivity, increasing poverty and food insecurity. The scarcity of water affects these populations further and makes them more vulnerable.

The Paris Agreement seeks to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels but, even then, 30 million people of Bangladesh will be vulnerable to the impact of sea level rise.

Secure Environmental Thresholds (SETs): 

The study reveals that seven of the eight critical SETs of which climate stability and water resources are a part have been overstepped. This puts all world ecosystems at stake.

The eighth boundary concerning air pollution has also been grossly violated in many countries and this has led to health crises and unstable environs.

Secure Environmental Threshold The environment threshold is the point at which a relatively minor change or disruption in environmental conditions causes the ecosystem to rapidly change. When an environmental threshold is crossed, the ecosystem's intrinsic resilience can no longer be able to restore it to its previous state. For further study please refer: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/climate-tipping-points

Responsibility of Developed Countries

The industrial Revolution which was mostly Fossil fuel-powered in developed countries has led to the crisis that is current today.

The richest 10% of the world's population released around 50% of the world's emissions during 2015, while the bottom 50% accounted for only 7%. Such a dramatic inequality puts the responsibility entirely on the lap of the rich countries and their citizens.

The richest 10 percent use as much energy as the poorest 80 per cent of the world's population, a very evident resource use inequality.

The consumption patterns of the well-to-do have only accelerated environmental degradation, which in turn impacts the poor the most with the effect of climatic changes.

Way ahead suggested by the study 

Economic Growth and Environmental Sustainability

The current trend of the global economy is based on growth that ignores ecological balance and thus places more stress on natural resources. There needs to be a balance between Economic Growth and Environmental Sustainability.

Demand for Fair and Sustainable Solutions

The study presents the requirement to rethink entirely an altered economic model where access to sources is freely ensured and sustainability is the foundation for the greater good.

Circular economy

From the circular economy to the ecosystem approach, shifting toward circular production methods and combining these with ecosystem-based approaches can enhance the sustainability of the system and increase its community resilience.

Behavioural change: 

The rich people, even in developing countries, have to alter their consumption patterns to reduce environmental effects and better human well-being.

Conclusion

With current trends, barring radical change, projections are such that unless there are drastic changes, the minimum needs of all will have reached climate boundaries by 2050.

The urgency of these challenges toward governments, businesses, and society needs to be recognized; the necessity to formulate policies with prioritisation of both ecological and social justice has to be executed so that none of them work towards any mishap happening at any cost.

Important articles for reference:

Precautionary principle

Planetary boundaries 

Sources:

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-climate/rich-climate-crisis-study-9587729/

PRACTICE QUESTION Q.Analyse the challenges the marginalised communities in developing and underdeveloped nations face due to environmental degradation and discuss the responsibility of developed nations in addressing these issues. ( 250 words)