Indian expert sees ‘era of extreme climate fatigue’ Relief after midterms: US aid to Ukraine continues

Indian climate expert and certified environmental biologist Bahar Dutt sees the world in an “era of extreme climate fatigue”. The urgent struggle of many committed people to limit man-made global warming has left many with disillusionment and frustration at insufficient progress. In the APA interview, Dutt explained why this isn’t necessarily a bad thing: “Despair is more important than hope because it drives us to act.”

The expectations of many experts and scientists for the COP27 world climate conference in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh this year are very low. “The world has become accustomed to many crises: pandemic, economic crisis, war in Ukraine. Now there is the huge problem of climate change. People are getting cynical and wondering why we haven’t acted better and faster?”

The Indian did emphasize the important value of democratic processes at the climate conference. Commitment to a shared vision of the international community to protect the world from the catastrophic effects of global warming is essential. In addition, the Global North has clearly been dominant in the past, but the countries of the Global South, which have been much harder hit by the climate crisis, are becoming increasingly important players on the global stage.

Lots of hope and big disappointment

The mere fact that at the beginning of the conference the so-called compensation for countries particularly affected by extreme weather – called “loss and damage” in UN jargon – was on the agenda was a breakthrough. “It is now in the negotiation text, but of course we have to wait and see what will come of it. There is a lot of hope, but also great disillusionment about the subject,” said the expert.

Dutt is highly critical of Coca Cola being the official sponsor of this year’s world climate conference. The company is one of the largest producers of plastic waste worldwide. According to Greenpeace Austria, Coca Cola produces 120 billion disposable plastic bottles per year. 99 percent of plastic is made from oil and gas. “The question is whether this is just giving money or is it also trying to influence the discussion process,” says Dutt. In any case, the outlook is not good if the Egyptian COP presidency “takes money from polluters”.

understanding of protests

Dutt therefore understands the increasing number of sensational protests by climate activists, especially in museums. “A lot of people say it’s vandalism. But I see how desperate these people are. Shouldn’t we just listen to them?” asked Dutt. The media should report more clearly that, for example, paintings were not damaged during the protests against works of art in the museums because they were protected with glass plates.

Dutt is one of India’s best-known climate journalists, worked for many years as a climate reporter for the largest Indian news channel CNN-News18 and won 14 national and international prizes with her reports. Dutt is the author of the books “Green Wars” and “Rewilding India” and now teaches journalism and the climate crisis at Shiv Nadar University in New Delhi.

Media story often one-sided

And so she also holds the media accountable in the climate crisis. “The media also protects their audiences, and the way stories are told is often one-sided,” Dutt says. For example, India’s announcement that it would commit to climate neutrality in the West was often viewed cynically.

“The major media in the West made it sound like India was late to the party,” Dutt said. On the one hand, it is also a matter of historical responsibility, on the other hand, far too little mention is made of the fact that the US emits almost twice as much carbon dioxide. In absolute terms, China is the largest polluter in the world.

By 2070, densely populated India, still heavily reliant on coal, aims to emit only as much climate-damaging emissions as can be absorbed in sinks such as oceans and forests. This is the upper limit set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for global climate neutrality, so that life on Earth remains worthwhile. (sda/apa)