Fiinovation webinar on Poverty,Climate Change & Affirmative Action

1. Poverty, Climate Change & Affirmative Action

2. Mentor of the Webinar Mr. SoumitroChakraborty CEO, Fiinovation

3. About Fiinovation • 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 and implementation of sustainable projects • Through practices such as CSR-CSO Partnership, Initiative Design, Initiative Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Impact Assessment; Fiinovation supports corporations for implementation of CSR and Sustainability initiatives

4. 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

5. 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 human activities. • 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. Alignment of Climate Change & Poverty • Climate change aggravates causes of poverty and inequality. Both can obstruct achievement 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 the socio-economic and environmental concerns.

9. Challenges to the Alignment of Climate Change and Poverty • Shortage of funds • Climate change and poverty policies run parallel and not in convergence with each other • 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 to address the climate change and poverty issues

10. 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 affected 100 million people in 2008 and 44 million people in 2010-11. • Global warming of 2 degrees could increase the number of people at risk from malaria by 5% and diarrhea by 10%. • Loss of labour productivity by 1-3%. • Increased occurrence and intensity of natural hazards such as droughts, river flooding and heat waves. • Over the last two decades the sea levels has risen to over 8 inches

11. Poverty Scenario in India • The World Bank estimates that in the absence of climate change, 189 million Indians will 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 poverty line in any country. • India's poverty rate is one of the lowest among countries with largest number of people below the poverty line. • Despite the rising inequality and acceleration post 1991 a downward trend in poverty measures has been observed since 1970. • Majority of the population below the poverty line belong to the discriminated sections of society.

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

13. Concentration - SCs & STs

14. 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, in states such as Manipur, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh the poverty ratio for these groups is more than half. Source: Press Note on Poverty Estimates, 2009-10 - GOI, Planning Commission, March 2012

15. Poverty Percentage Among Social Groups

16. Poverty Percentage Among Social Groups Urban Rural --- Data not available in the official estimates for 1993-94 Source: Planning Commission

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

18. Percentage to Total Population 2011 (Major States) Source: Primary Census Abstract for Total population, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, 2011 Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India

19. 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 on methods of environment conservation and risk mitigation of climate change • It was noted that majority of the farmers committing suicides in drought-hit Maharashtra belong to SC community

20. How can AA address Climate Change & Poverty?

21. Climate Change Policies of Government of India • The National Action Plan on Climate Change identifies measures that promote development objectives • Focusing on promotion of understanding of climate change, adaption and mitigation, energy efficiency and natural resource conservation. This includes eight national 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

22. Contd... Source: Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, GOI

23. Contd... Source: Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, GOI

24. Contd... • India announced its National Action Plan on Climate Change on June 30, 2008. While launching 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, Textiles and Railways. Government and Industry are working together to work towards raising efficiency levels significantly. • The Government is implementing an Economy Lamp Project by making available CFLs to households, where penetration is still low, at 30 US cents as against the market price of US $2. The price differential is sought to be recovered through the sale of carbon credits. It is likely to touch the 100 million bulbs mark by the end of April. • "Our people have a right to economic and social development and to discard the ignominy of widespread poverty. For this we need rapid economic growth. But I also believe that ecologically sustainable development need not be in contradiction to achieving our growth objectives.”

25. 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 its emission 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 350 crore and National Clean Energy Fund which is supported by cess on coal.

26. Climate Change Initiatives By Industry • Tata group incorporated climate change in the Tata Code of Conduct by focusing on low carbon footprint, sustainability projects, etc. Tata Power has invested INR 240 crorein solar power installations while TCS spent INR 35.97 crorein incorporating green 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 to finance climate-friendly business initiatives. • Major Indian auto makers such as Tata Motors, Mahindra and Maruti Suzuki have come together to invest in and develop components and systems for electric and hybrid vehicles. • Franchise India in collaboration with Singapore based investment company, SingEx held a 'Clean & Green India' conclave to chalk out avenues to manage Indian waste.

27. Contd... • Tata group has acquired Welspun India and will be working towards enhancing their capacities through renewables. • Over 100 Indian companies including DMRC, ITC Limited, Mahindra and Mahindra and Tata Group launched a “Corporate Vision on Climate Change” that includes the best sustainable practices at the Paris COP 21 Climate Summit. • Leading Indian companies are focusing on implementation of initiatives/operations based on renewable energy generation, energy efficiency improvements (like waste heat recovery in steel plants), resource conservation (water recycling and use) and waste minimization. • Ambuja Cement, Tata Power and Wipro are increasingly deploying renewables. • In 2009, PepsiCo India announced 15 global goals and commitments to guide our work to protect the Earth's natural resources through innovation and more efficient use of land, energy, water and packaging in their operations.

28. What Can Be Done? • Climate change provides a safety net for the people below the poverty line while ensuring a conducive environment • Holistic plan to target climate change and poverty through affirmative action and CSR. Corporations can fund green initiatives targeting SC/ST communities. • Focus not only on people below poverty line but also on the one who are vulnerable to fall into the category. • Develop solutions to become a low carbon economy without undermining rapid development of the discriminated sections. • Create awareness and share information of processes and systems that address the problems of the local communities.

29. Contd... • Create wealth from waste, replenish water, responsible use of natural resources, green innovations, etc. • Promote sustainable agriculture among farmers and integrate policies on human health, agriculture and environment to ensure they complement each other. • Investments in research for climate friendly solutions which will help the industry thereby creating jobs for the discriminated sections that will help address both poverty and climate change

30. 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

31. 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 Climate Smart Agriculture, Solar powered irrigation projects, water conservation etc • Partner with government for planning and implementation of environment-friendly initiatives • Create employment opportunities and provide social safety nets for the discriminated sections 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

32. The Way Forward Contributors to the PPT SoumitroChakraborty CEO, Fiinovation RahulChoudhury Dy. Manager, Fiinovation Rohit Srivastava Graphics Designer, Fiinovation