COP21 failure will increase risk of global catastrophe

Terming the upcoming climate change conference in Paris as "important", a noted green economist today claimed that the summit's failure would "dramatically increase" the risk of global environmental catastrophe. Noting that the Indian government's 'Smart City' project should not be limited to just data management, German economist Ralf Fücks who is in India presently said, the project should also include aspects like transport system, energy and urban farming. "Conference of Parties (COP21) is a very important event. If it turns out to be another summit like Copenhagen (which was a failure), the risk of global catastrophe will dramatically increase. It will create environment turmoil, climate refugees will increase and put coastal areas at risk," Fücks told reporters here at the Indian Women's Press Corps. He claimed that the world is at the "threshold" of a breakthrough and in this context it is significant that economic development is not being seen as a threat to the environment.

"The main element of this revolution involves shifting from fossil fuel to renewable energy, efficiency revolution which is making more out of less and moving towards cyclic economy where every substance can be recycled," he said.COP21, also known as the 2015 Paris Climate Conference which will take place from November 30 to December 11, will for the first time in over 20 years of UN negotiations, aim to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2 degree Celsius. Fücks also talked about his book, Green Growth Smart Growth, which is on new approach to economy, innovation and environment.

"It (smart city project) should not be limited to data management or high tech governance. It should be based on a much broader space including transport system, energy, urban farming," he said. Noting that cities will play a crucial role as more than half of the world is living in cities presently, Fücks said that there is a need to make cities "almost entirely" energy sufficient and there should be focus on retrofitting of buildings, rebuilding water systems and focus on urban farming.

"All these require forward-looking politics. At the core of this revolution, lies decoupling of economic revenue from the depletion of natural resources," he said.Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Deputy Director General Chandra Bhushan who was also present said, in India a political momentum is needed and there is a need to delink material consumption from GDP growth.