Cyclone Biparjoy was the first storm brewing in the Arabian Sea in the year 2023. It rapidly intensified into a severe cyclonic storm, with wind speeds reaching up to 170 kilometers per hour. It also had a significant impact on the onset and progress of the monsoon rains in India, delaying them by several days. In this write up, we will explore the origin, evolution, and effects of cyclone Biparjoy, as well as the meaning and origin of its name.
Origin and Evolution of Cyclone Biparjoy
Cyclone Biparjoy originated from a low-pressure area that formed over the southeast Arabian Sea on June 5, 2023. It gradually intensified into a depression and then a deep depression by June 6, moving northward over the east-central and adjacent southeast Arabian Sea. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a cyclone alert for the west coast of India, warning of heavy rainfall, strong winds, and high waves.
On June 7, the depression further intensified into a cyclonic storm and was named Biparjoy by the IMD. It continued to move northward and gained strength, becoming a severe cyclonic storm by June 8. The IMD predicted that it would intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm by June 9 and move close to the Gujarat coast. The IMD also advised fishermen not to venture into the sea and coastal residents to take precautionary measures.
Impact of Cyclone Biparjoy on Monsoon and Weather
Cyclone Biparjoy had a critical influence on the arrival and advancement of the monsoon rains in India. The monsoon, which is a crucial weather event for agriculture and the economy, normally starts over Kerala by June 1. However, due to the cyclone, it was delayed by several days. The IMD had predicted that it would start by June 4, but later revised it to June 8 or June 9. The private forecaster Skymet Weather also said that the monsoon would have a “meek and mild entry” due to the cyclone.
The reason for this delay was that the cyclone drove away the clouds and moisture from the Arabian Sea that are essential for the monsoon onset. It also created unfavorable conditions for the monsoon winds to reach Kerala. The cyclone also affected the progress of the monsoon beyond southern peninsular India, making it weak and slow.
Apart from delaying the monsoon, cyclone Biparjoy also brought heavy rainfall, strong winds, and high waves to the west coast of India. The states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka were expected to see the heaviest rainfall due to the cyclone. Some places received more than 100 mm of rain in 24 hours. The wind speeds also reached up to 80 kmph in some coastal areas. The sea condition was very rough and waves up to 4 meters high were reported. These weather conditions caused power disruptions, property damage, flooding, and disruption of transport and communication.
Meaning and Origin of Cyclone Biparjoy’s Name
Cyclone Biparjoy’s name was given by Bangladesh, one of the eight countries that participate in naming tropical cyclones in the north Indian Ocean region. The other countries are India, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. These countries have contributed a list of names that are used in alphabetical order whenever a cyclonic storm forms.
The name Biparjoy means “disaster” in Bengali, which is the official language of Bangladesh. It is derived from two words: “bipad”, which means danger or calamity, and “joy”, which means victory or success. The name implies that overcoming a disaster is a triumph.
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]]>However, a progress report from February 2021 showed little progress had been made in this direction. So in July 2021, to boost climate change mitigation efforts European Union (EU) proposed a comprehensive plan which includes a ‘Carbon Border Tax’ on imports of carbon-intensive goods.
A carbon border tax is a tax on carbon emissions attributed to imported goods that have not been carbon-taxed at source. In pushing through policies that result in EU manufacturers relying on environmentally friendlier but more expensive renewable energy, the manufacturers would be at a cost disadvantage compared with overseas competitors that are still using carbon dioxide-producing but cheaper power sources.
The plan includes a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which aims to equalize the fees on the carbon content of goods in the EU regardless of where they were produced by imposing carbon border taxes. Under the proposal, importers will be required to buy digital certificates representing the tonnage of carbon dioxide emissions embedded in their imported goods. Importers may be able to claim a reduction in carbon border costs if the goods have already been subject to a carbon levy in their country of manufacture.
The EU’s CBAM proposal contains various controversial aspects. For example: how to fairly account for emissions related to the production of imported goods? How to duly consider the costs that companies already face in complying with climate regulations in exporting countries?
The China, India, Brazil, South Africa and several others, including least-developed countries, have expressed concern over the EU’s CBAM. The BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) countries’ grouping has termed the policy as ‘discriminatory’ and against the principles of equity and ‘Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities’ (CBDR-RC).
‘Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities’ (CBDR-RC) principles acknowledge that richer countries have a responsibility of providing financial and technological assistance to developing and vulnerable countries to fight climate change.
Impact on India
A carbon border tax is worrisome for India as it is the EU’s third largest trading partner. In 2020, the EU accounted for 11.1 per cent of India’s total global trade. India’s exports to the EU were also worth $41.36 billion in 2020-21, according to data from the commerce ministry.
By increasing the prices of Indian-made goods in the EU, this tax would make Indian goods less attractive for buyers and could shrink demand. The tax would create serious near-term challenges for companies with larger greenhouse gas footprint.
Conclusion
A mechanism like Carbon Border Tax for charging imported goods at borders may spur adoption of cleaner technologies. But if it happens without adequate assistance for newer technologies and finance, it would rather become disadvantageous for the developing countries.
India should diligently work towards reducing its Carbon foot print, not only to protect its future trade but as a measure to mitigate climate change in the country and world at large. While India prepares to reduce its Carbon footprint, in short term, it is should negotiate with EU to to ensure that its exports with the latter are protected either through a Free Trade Agreement or by other means and if there are adjustments and standards that India needs to meet.
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From 3-14 June 1992, Rio de Janeiro hosted the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The focus of this conference was the state of the global environment and the relationship between economics, science and the environment in a political context. The conference concluded with the Earth Summit, at which leaders of 105 nations gathered to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable development.
At UNCED, more than 130 nations signed a Convention on Climate Change and a Convention on Biodiversity. The delegates also reached agreement on Agenda 21, an action plan for developing the planet sustainably through the twenty-first century, and on a broad statement of principles for protecting forests. All nations present accepted without change the Rio Declaration, a non-binding statement of broad principles for environmental policy. New international networks, both formal and informal, were set up to carry out and oversee implementation of the agreements.
Breaking significantly with the previous thinking, it was recognised that economic development needed to take place together with social progress and protection of the environment, while also respecting every country’s right to develop. The Earth Summit addressed issues ranging from patterns of production, alternative energy sources, reliance on public transportation systems, to the growing scarcity of water.
The conference resulted in several important documents and agreements, a blueprint to rethink economic growth, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection. It also produced the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, the Statement of Forest Principles, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, an agreement on the Climate Change Convention which in turn led to the Kyoto Protocol. Moreover, the idea of sustainable development revolutionized the thinking of millions, and contributed to world leaders agreeing to the Millennium Declaration in 2000, paving the way to the Millennium Development Goals
It is concluded that economic and production models which presently exploit and deplete nature, and are hazardous to the environment and human health, together with unsustainable consumption levels of the populations of industrialized countries and the minority of the developing world are at the root of environmental problems. Despite its environmental focus, the biggest arguments at the Earth Summit concerned finance, consumption rates and population growth. The developed nations were calling for environmental sustainability, but the less industrialized developing nations were demanding a chance to allow their economies to catch up with the developed world.
- The Earth Summit produced a number of outcomes including:
- The Convention on Biological Diversity;
- The Framework Convention on Climate Change;
- Principles of Forest Management;
- The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development; and
- Agenda 21.
Together these outcomes covered every aspect of sustainable development. These agreements and guidelines are still adhered to today and are influencing many political and business decisions.
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The Amazon River Basin is home to the largest rainforest on Earth called the Amazon Forest. This basin encompasses 7,000,000 km2 (2,700,000 sq mi), of which 5,500,000 km2 (2,100,000 sq mi) are covered by the rain forest. The vast region spans across eight rapidly developing countries – Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, an overseas territory of France.
The Amazon forest is made up of a mosaic of ecosystems and vegetation types including rainforests, seasonal forests, deciduous forests, flooded forests, and savannas. The basin is drained by the Amazon River, the world’s largest river in terms of discharge, and the second longest river in the world after the Nile.
The rain forests, which contain 90-140 billion metric tons of carbon, help stabilize local and global climate. It is a vital carbon store that slows down global warming while providing a large amount of the world’s oxygen. Because it is the world’s largest rain forest, the fate of the Amazon – often called the “lungs of the world” – is widely considered by climate change experts as key to the future of the planet.
Its destruction – deliberate or otherwise – reduces the ability of nature to suck carbon from the atmosphere. Deforestation may release significant amounts of this carbon, which could have catastrophic consequences around the world.
Forest fires are common in the Amazon during the dry season, which runs from July to October. They can be caused by naturally occurring events, such as lightning strikes, but this year most are believed to have been started by farmers and loggers clearing land for crops or grazing. In 2019 Amazon Rain forest Wildfires have seen an unusual surge. More than 72,000 fires had already been detected across Brazil between January and August – the highest number since records began in 2013 and an 83 per cent increase on the same period last year. The figures come as the latest blow in an environmental crisis that has caused panic across the world.
These fires may have global environmental impact. The World Meteorological Organization tweeted about the smoke that has spread across Brazil stating, “Fires release pollutants, including particulate matter & toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and non-methane organic compounds into the atmosphere.” So, in a perverse chain of events, the fires are both generating large amounts of carbon dioxide, while at the same time destroying millions of trees that would be taking in the carbon dioxide and protecting the environment. It’s a double-whammy.
The added carbon dioxide will then also trap heat within our atmosphere due to the greenhouse effect and could change the atmospheric circulation that causes the melting of large ice sheets and many other catastrophic effects of climate change. It gets worse. It’s also been estimated that the Amazon generates about half of its own rainfall. Less rain means dryer plants, which are more susceptible to causing even more fires. A dangerous cycle.
To a degree survival on the Earth as we know it is dependent on the Amazon. The destruction of the Amazon would only speed up and intensify climate change as well as damage oceans and regional fresh water supplies. The Amazon is an important part of the vast and intricate ecosystem we’re all connected to physically and psychologically.
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COP 24 is the informal name for the 24th conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
UNFCCC is one of the three conventions adopted at the “Rio Earth Summit” in 1992. It entered into force in March 1994 and has near universal membership today. All the countries which have ratified the convention, with the aim to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system, are parties to the convention. The Conference of Parties (COP) is the supreme body of UNFCCC which holds a session every year. The COP takes decisions which are necessary to ensure the effective implementation of the provisions of the Convention and regularly reviews the implementation of these provisions.
COP 24 took place from 2- 15 December 2018 in Katowice, Poland and is also known as Katowice Climate Change Conference. About 20 thousand people from 190 countries will take part in the event, including politicians, representatives of non-governmental organizations, scientific community and business sector.
Highlights of COP 24
After long and difficult negotiations the member countries agreed on a set of guidelines for implementing the Landmark 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement. The agreed guidelines are also known as “Katowice Climate package”.
It is a major step forward for operationalizing the Paris Agreement adopted in December 2015. The Katowice package includes guidelines that will operationalize the transparency framework. Major outcomes of the COP 24 include:
- It sets out how countries will provide information about their Nationally Determined Contributions—the plans developed by each country that describes their domestic climate actions. This information includes mitigation and adaptation measures as well as details of financial support for climate action in developing countries.
- The process for establishing new targets on finance from 2025 onwards to follow-on from the current target of mobilizing US $100 billion per year from 2020 to support developing countries
- How to conduct the Global Stock take of the effectiveness of climate action in 2023
- How to assess progress on the development and transfer of technology
In report by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the global body of the world’s leading climate scientists, warned that allowing warming to reach 1.5C above pre-industrial levels would have grave consequences, including the die-off of coral reefs and devastation of many species. The report suggests that the world has little more than a decade to bring emissions under control and halve them, which would help stabilise the climate. Countries like USA, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Kuwait refused to welcome the IPCC report.
COP 24 in Katowice, Poland word cloud
To achieve the goals set in Paris Agreement, the world would have to stop using Coal and Oil for energy and adopt cleaner energy options at an accelerated rate. Clean energy is coming on-stream at a faster rate than many predicted, and the costs of it have come down rapidly, but its adoption needs to be speeded up further to meet the deadline suggested by IPCC report.
Some key issues which could not be agreed upon included how countries will step up their targets on cutting emissions. On current targets, the world is set for 3C of warming from pre-industrial levels, which scientists say would be disastrous, resulting in droughts, floods, sea level rises and the decline of agricultural productivity.
Moving forward, the UN will meet again next year in Chile to thrash out the final elements of the Paris rulebook and begin work on future emissions targets. But the crunch conference will come in 2020, when countries must meet the deadline for their current emissions commitments and produce new targets for 2030 and beyond that go further towards meeting scientific advice.