fiinovation webinar on poverty, climate change & affirmative action

Poverty, Climate Change & Affirmative Action

Mr. Soumitro ChakrabortyCEO, Fiinovation

Mentor of the Webinar

A CSR based research organization working in areas of education, livelihood,environment and health since last seven years

Assists businesses to support requirements of communities by designing andimplementation of sustainable projects

Through practices such as CSR-CSO Partnership, Initiative Design, InitiativeManagement, Monitoring and Evaluation, Impact Assessment; Fiinovation supportscorporations for implementation of CSR and Sustainability initiatives

About Fiinovation

Agenda of the Webinar

Providing insights on climate change, poverty and affirmative action

Understanding the alignment between poverty and climate change

Highlighting the role of affirmative action to address concerns of the marginalized

Exploring options of engagement for the private sector

Information on CSR and sustainability initiatives

Government plans to counter climate change

Way forward

Climate Change

Long-term shift in weather patterns in a specific region or at global level. Nowadays, climate change can be observed in the form of global warming. Global warming is the sudden rise in atmospheric temperatures due to increased

emissions of greenhouse gases which are generated through unsustainable humanactivities.

The consequences of global warming can be observed in the form of –

Climate change adds to the existing burden of the people living below the poverty line.

• Melting of glaciers• Rise in sea-levels• Flash floods• Increase in intensity of extreme

weather events such as heat waves, tornadoes, hurricanes and heavy rainfall

• Severe droughts• Endangerment of species

• Loss of biodiversity• Decrease in agricultural yields,• Widespread vector-borne diseases• Acidification of oceans• Death of coral reefs.

Impact of Climate Change – Global Context

The impact of climate change can be observed globally through melting of glaciers,

ocean acidification, unseasonal rains, heat waves etc

Climate change poses threat to food security across the globe

Increase in the number of cases of health concerns such as Asthama, Malaria,

Dengue, Diarrhea etc

Unbalanced ecosystems and extinction of species

Negative impact on the local economy of a particular region

Impact of Climate Change – Indian Context

Rise in temperatures and heat waves during summer

Major states Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, U.P., Rajasthan, Gujarat are

drought hit

Marginalized sections are being pushed towards extreme poverty

Unseasonal rains leading to loss of crops

Increased scarcity of water, drying up of rivers, barrages, reservoirs, ground water etc.

Reduction in crop yields, lower productivity and income

Increased risk to human health, especially among women and children

Threat to endangered species, bio-diversity

Climate Change negatively impacts poverty through prices, assets, productivity and

opportunities

Alignment of Climate Change & Poverty

Climate change aggravates causes of poverty and inequality. Both can obstructachievement of sustainable global development.

Climate change has direct and immediate impact on people below the poverty line.This makes poverty reduction more difficult.

It pulls away resources that allow proper functionality of livelihood, health,environment, etc.

Ignoring the impacts of climate change leads to a lack of direction to address thesocio-economic and environmental concerns.

Challenges to the Alignment of Climate Change and Poverty

Shortage of funds

Climate change and poverty policies run parallel and not in convergence with eachother

Not much engagement is observed in broader environmental issues

Limited discussions and negotiations with all stakeholders

Lack of synergy among relevant thematic working group

Inadequate strategies and planning among government and corporations toaddress the climate change and poverty issues

Why We Should Act?

Climate change can push 45 million Indians into poverty in the next 15 years.

Drop in crop yields lead to rise in cost of food. Globally, rise in food prices affected100 million people in 2008 and 44 million people in 2010-11.

Global warming of 2 degrees could increase the number of people at risk frommalaria by 5% and diarrhea by 10%.

Loss of labour productivity by 1-3%.

Increased occurrence and intensity of natural hazards such as droughts, riverflooding and heat waves.

Over the last two decades the sea levels has risen to over 8 inches

Poverty Scenario in India

The World Bank estimates that in the absence of climate change, 189 million Indianswill be living below the poverty line (i.e. on less than $1.9 or INR 127 a day) by 2030.Climate change could push this number to as high as 234 million.

In 2012, India accounted to have the largest number of people below the povertyline in any country.

India's poverty rate is one of the lowest among countries with largest number ofpeople below the poverty line.

Despite the rising inequality and acceleration post 1991 a downward trend inpoverty measures has been observed since 1970.

Majority of the population below the poverty line belong to the discriminatedsections of society.

Population Classification

IndicatorAbsolute Percentage Growth rate

(2001-11)2001 2011 2001 2011

Total Population

Total 1,02,86,10,328 1,21,05,69,573 100.0 100.0 17.7

Rural 74,23,02,537 83,34,63,448 100.0 100.0 12.3

Urban 28,63,07,791 37,71,06,125 100.0 100.0 31.7

Scheduled Castes

Total 16,66,35,700 20,13,78,086 16.2 16.6 20.8

Rural 13,30,10,878 15,38,50,562 17.9 18.5 15.7

Urban 3,36,24,822 4,75,27,524 11.7 12.6 41.3

Scheduled Tribes

Total 8,43,26,240 10,42,81,034 8.2 8.6 23.7

Rural 7,73,38,597 9,38,19,162 10.4 11.3 21.3

Urban 69,87,643 1,04,61,872 2.4 2.8 49.7

Source: Primary Census Abstract for Total population, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, 2011Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India

Concentration - SCs & STs

Poverty Ratio for Social Groups

In rural areas, STs exhibit highest level of poverty (47.4%), followed by SCs (42.3%)and OBCs (31.9%), against 33.8% for all classes.

In urban areas, SCs have HCR of 34.1% followed by STs (30.4%) and OBCs (24.3%)against 20.9% for all classes.

In rural Bihar and Chhattisgarh, nearly two-third of SCs and STs are poor whereas, instates such as Manipur, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh the poverty ratio for these groupsis more than half.

Source: Press Note on Poverty Estimates, 2009-10 - GOI, Planning Commission, March 2012

Poverty Percentage Among Social Groups

Poverty Percentage Among Social Groups

'93-94, SC, 62.4

'93-94, OBC, 0

'93-94, ST, 65.9

'93-94, Others, 0

'93-94, All Population,

50.1

'04-05, SC, 53.5

'04-05, OBC, 39.8

'04-05, ST, 62.3

'04-05, Others, 27.1


41.8

'11-12, SC, 31.5

'11-12, OBC, 22.6

'11-12, ST, 45.3

'11-12, Others, 15.5


25.7

'93-94 '04-05 '11-12

Rural'93-94, SC,

51.7

'93-94, OBC, 0

'93-94, ST, 41.1

'93-94, Others, 0


31.8

'04-05, SC, 40.6

'04-05, OBC, 30.6

'04-05, ST, 35.5

'04-05, Others, 16.1


25.7

'11-12, SC, 21.7

'11-12, OBC, 15.4

'11-12, ST, 24.1

'11-12, Others, 8.2


13.7

'93-94 '04-05 '11-12

Urban

--- Data not available in the official estimates for 1993-94

Source: Planning Commission

Percentage to Total Population 2011

State/Union Territory

PercentageState/

Union Territory Percentage

Top 5 Bottom 5Scheduled Castes

Punjab 31.9 Mizoram 0.1Himachal Pradesh 25.2 Meghalaya 0.6

West Bengal 23.5 Goa 1.7Uttar Pradesh 20.7 D & N Haveli 1.8

Haryana 20.2 Daman & Diu 2.5Scheduled Tribes

Lakshadweep 94.8 Uttar Pradesh 0.6Mizoram 94.4 Tamil Nadu 1.1Nagaland 86.5 Bihar 1.3

Meghalaya 86.1 Kerala 1.5

Arunachal Pradesh 68.8 Uttarakhand 2.9


Percentage to Total Population 2011 (Major States)

State/Union Territory

PercentageState/

Union Territory Percentage

Top 5 Bottom 5

Scheduled Castes

Punjab 31.9 Gujarat 6.7

West Bengal 23.5 Assam 7.2

Uttar Pradesh 20.7 Jammu & Kashmir 7.4

Haryana 20.2 Kerala 9.1

Tamil Nadu 20.0 Maharashtra 11.8

Scheduled Tribes

Chhattisgarh 30.6 Uttar Pradesh 0.6

Jharkhand 26.2 Tamil Nadu 1.1

Odisha 22.8 Bihar 1.3

Madhya Pradesh 21.1 Kerala 1.5

Gujarat 14.8 Uttarakhand 2.9


Why Affirmative Action?

Reverse discrimination

Positive action for historically discriminated sections

Address poverty and climate change issues

Promote inclusive and holistic development by reducing rising disparity

Directly benefit those who are most vulnerable

It can be utilized as a tool to fight poverty and global warming by focusing onmethods of environment conservation and risk mitigation of climate change

It was noted that majority of the farmers committing suicides in drought-hitMaharashtra belong to SC community

How can AA address Climate Change & Poverty?

Investments on climate friendly

technology

Increase capacity of SC/ST communities

Increase employment opportunities for

skilled SC/ST personnel

Increase Income leading to reduction of

poverty

High income resulting in more investments in

climate change mitigation activities

Climate Change Policies of Government of India

The National Action Plan on Climate Change identifies measures that promotedevelopment objectives

Focusing on promotion of understanding of climate change, adaption andmitigation, energy efficiency and natural resource conservation. This includes eightnational missions, namely –

• National Solar Mission• National Mission on Sustainable Habitat• National Water Mission• National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem• National Mission for Green India• National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change• National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture• National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency

Contd...

Mission Targets Responsible EntityAllocation of funds for 12th

plan (in billion)

Mission focused on mitigation

National Solar Mission20,000 MW of solar power

by 2020Ministry of new & renewable energy

INR 87.95

National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency

10,000 MW of EE savings by 2020

Ministry of power INR 1.90

National Mission For Sustainable Habitat

EE in residential and commercial buildings, public transport, solid waste management

Ministry of urban development

INR 9.50

Source: Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, GOI

Targets Responsible EntityAllocation of funds for 12th

plan (in billion)

Mission focused on Adaptation

National Water MissionWater conservation, river

basin managementMinistry of Water

resourcesINR 891

National Mission for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem

Conservation and adaptation practices,

glacial monitoring

Ministry of Science and Technology

INR 16.95

National Mission for a Green India

6 million hectares of afforestation over

degraded forest lands

Ministry of Environment & Forests

INR 460

National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture

Drought proofing, risk management, agriculture

researchMinistry of Agriculture INR 1080

National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change

Vulnerability assessment, research and observation,

data management

Ministry of Science and Technology

INR 9.5

Source: Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, GOI

Contd...

India announced its National Action Plan on Climate Change on June 30, 2008. Whilelaunching the Plan, former Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh had said:

India with its Energy Conservation Act has identified nine energy intensive sectors,namely, Iron & Steel, Cement, Power, Paper and Pulp, Chlor-Alkalis, Aluminium, Textilesand Railways. Government and Industry are working together to work towards raisingefficiency levels significantly.

The Government is implementing an Economy Lamp Project by making available CFLsto households, where penetration is still low, at 30 US cents as against the market priceof US $2. The price differential is sought to be recovered through the sale of carboncredits. It is likely to touch the 100 million bulbs mark by the end of April.

Contd...

"Our people have a right to economic and social development and to discard the ignominyof widespread poverty. For this we need rapid economic growth. But I also believe thatecologically sustainable development need not be in contradiction to achieving our

growth objectives.”

2015 - Landmark Year for India in Climate Change Initiatives

Adoption of the climate change agreement in Paris after negotiations.

Launched International Solar Alliance for mutual cooperation among 121 countries.

India announced its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions i.e. reducing itsemission intensity of its GDP by 33-35% by 2030.

Target of achieving 40% energy generation from renewable energy.

National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change with budgetary provision of INR 350crore and National Clean Energy Fund which is supported by cess on coal.

Climate Change Initiatives By Industry

Tata group incorporated climate change in the Tata Code of Conduct by focusing onlow carbon footprint, sustainability projects, etc. Tata Power has invested INR 240crore in solar power installations while TCS spent INR 35.97 crore in incorporatinggreen building concepts.

Companies like Nestle, Philips, Unilever and Infosys have committed to use 100%renewable energy for all their operations.

Yes Bank is the first bank to issue green bonds which would be exclusively used tofinance climate-friendly business initiatives.

Major Indian auto makers such as Tata Motors, Mahindra and Maruti Suzuki havecome together to invest in and develop components and systems for electric andhybrid vehicles.

Franchise India in collaboration with Singapore based investment company, SingExheld a 'Clean & Green India' conclave to chalk out avenues to manage Indian waste.

Tata group has acquired Welspun India and will be working towards enhancing theircapacities through renewables.

Over 100 Indian companies including DMRC, ITC Limited, Mahindra and Mahindraand Tata Group launched a “Corporate Vision on Climate Change” that includes thebest sustainable practices at the Paris COP 21 Climate Summit.

Leading Indian companies are focusing on implementation of initiatives/operationsbased on renewable energy generation, energy efficiency improvements (like wasteheat recovery in steel plants), resource conservation (water recycling and use) andwaste minimization.

Ambuja Cement, Tata Power and Wipro are increasingly deploying renewables.

In 2009, PepsiCo India announced 15 global goals and commitments to guide ourwork to protect the Earth's natural resources through innovation and more efficientuse of land, energy, water and packaging in their operations.

Contd...

What Can Be Done?

Implementing climate change initiatives that provides a safety net for the peoplebelow the poverty line while ensuring a conducive environment

Holistic plan to target climate change and poverty through affirmative action andCSR. Corporations can fund green initiatives targeting SC/ST communities.

Focus not only on people below poverty line but also on the one who are vulnerableto fall into the category.

Develop solutions to become a low carbon economy without undermining rapiddevelopment of the discriminated sections.

Create awareness and share information of processes and systems that address theproblems of the local communities.

Create wealth from waste, replenish water, responsible use of natural resources,green innovations, etc.

Promote sustainable agriculture among farmers and integrate policies on humanhealth, agriculture and environment to ensure they complement each other.

Investments in research for climate friendly solutions which will help the industrythereby creating jobs for the discriminated sections that will help address bothpoverty and climate change

Contd...

The Way Forward

Ensuring lower per capita emissions in comparison with other developed and developing countries.

Primary focus on adaptation with specific niches for mitigation

Collaborative research in future low-carbon technologies

Facilitating forestry, drought proofing, crop improvement, crop insurance etc

All the policies related to climate change must be communicated to the people living below the

poverty line for them to take advantage

Climate-informed development needs to be complemented with targeted adaptation interventions

and a more robust safety net system for the poor

Develop models to understand and determine the number of people being pushed in poverty due to

climate change

Emphasis on continuous technological improvements through up gradation of their systems and

processes, regular monitoring of various performance parameters as well as capacity building of the

local communities

How Can Corporations Help?

Incorporate sustainability initiatives within the business operations

Promote low-carbon practices down the supply chain

Direct CSR funds through discriminated sections towards green initiatives such as ClimateSmart Agriculture, Solar powered irrigation projects, water conservation etc

Partner with government for planning and implementation of environment-friendlyinitiatives

Create employment opportunities and provide social safety nets for the discriminatedsections of society

Develop products and services with social benefits involving green technologies

Conduct research, provide financial support to develop green and advanced technologies

Help India earn more carbon credits

The Way Forward

Soumitro ChakrabortyCEO, Fiinovation

Rohit SrivastavaGraphics Designer, Fiinovation

Rahul ChoudhuryDy. Manager, Fiinovation

Contributors to the PPT

fiinovation webinar on poverty, climate change & affirmative action

Business