By Kunal Bose
One doesn’t need in-depth scientific knowledge to recognize the environmental decline occurring around us. The recent devastating wildfires in California, which caused damages amounting to millions, alongside the recurring floods in regions like Bangladesh and India, underscore the reckless lifestyle we maintain. The increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters serve as a stark reminder of the planet’s response to our actions.
In a thought-provoking conversation, Amitav Ghosh—author of works such as “Hungry Tide” and the “Ibis Trilogy” (comprising “Sea of Poppies,” “River of Smoke,” and “Flood of Fire”)—reflects on this issue with Paromita Sen from The Telegraph, expressing a poignant realization: “The world we once knew is clearly coming to an end… This does not mean the world itself is ending. Instead, we must create a new world that we can thrive in… My generation consumed the world, and now the next generation must find ways to navigate and prosper in a new reality.” Decades of human greed and unbalanced development have inflicted deep environmental scars.
People globally are witnessing the planetary crisis manifest in various alarming forms, including wildfires, erratic monsoons leading to extreme weather conditions, landslides, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and desertification. Last year marked the warmest in a recorded history of global temperatures dating back to 1850, with an average temperature of 15.10 degrees Celsius, surpassing 2023’s previous record by 0.12 degrees. The crisis shows no signs of abating; January was noted as the warmest first month on record, as reported by the World Meteorological Organization.
Ghosh emphasizes that global temperatures are rising “much faster, much faster” than anticipated. There is no denying that our extravagant use of resources and the production methods that disregard environmental standards are contributing to this crisis. Ghosh elaborates: “To effectively address the climate crisis, we must significantly reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. Yet, in countries like India, the US, and Norway, fossil fuel exploration continues to expand.” This trajectory results in escalating greenhouse gas emissions and further environmental degradation.
It is ironic that such critical discussions about environmental destruction took place at a literary event organized by the nation’s largest fossil fuel corporation by both output and market capitalization. Everyone is aware that burning fossil fuels—whether coal or oil—is detrimental to the environment. The toxic emissions produced during coal combustion, such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide, are notorious for causing respiratory diseases.
In 2023, India’s coal production reached 1,039.59 million tonnes, reflecting a 7.28 percent increase from the prior year. However, this output continually falls short of fulfilling the needs of standalone thermal power plants and captive units in steel, aluminum, and other industries, necessitating imports. The government plans to open new coal mines—both private and public—to meet the ambitious target of 1.5 billion tonnes by 2030. History suggests that such targets often go unmet.
Recently, the West Bengal government initiated a massive coal project at Deucha Pachami in the Birbhum district, which holds one of the largest thermal coal deposits. This venture is expected to require an investment of over Rs 35,000 crore, assuming no delays or cost overruns. The government asserts that all environmental clearances are secured and precautions will be taken to safeguard local waterways and forests. Another challenge, however, lies in adequately compensating those displaced and providing job opportunities for locals.
Contradicting government assertions, the Deucha Pachami project faced protests from local residents. Environmentalists’ concerns extend beyond coal extraction to the greenhouse gas emissions produced when coal is burned. Regardless of the apprehensions Ghosh raises regarding fossil fuel consumption, it seems inevitable for a country like India, where the demand for electricity, steel, and aluminum is on an upward trajectory, to burn fossil fuels at increasing rates. India is projected to have the highest growth in steel capacity globally by 2030, while China, grappling with pollution from its metals and mining sectors, has restricted the expansion of capacity despite allowing capacity replacements.
Ghosh candidly admits that he and his scientific peers know “very little about how the planet works,” noting that the effects scientists predicted for 20 to 30 years into the future are already manifesting. This raises questions about the myth that science forms the basis for policymaking in the context of the climate crisis. Numerous factors, including lobbying and political agendas, interfere with environmental policy formulation, leading to often confused outcomes. The irresponsible mining practices—deemed ‘slaughter mining’ by some—of iron ore in Goa and Karnataka continued unchecked for years until the Supreme Court intervened to mandate that mining operations align with environmental regulations.
For perspective, the global steel industry produces approximately 1.9 billion tonnes of metal annually, contributing roughly 9 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) and rendering steel as one of the heaviest carbon-emitting sectors. Meanwhile, aluminum accounts for about 2 percent of global GHGE. However, the largest environmental threat remains the burning of fossil fuels for energy, heat, and transportation. (IPA Service)
By Kunal Bose
One doesn’t need in-depth scientific knowledge to recognize the environmental decline occurring around us. The recent devastating wildfires in California, which caused damages amounting to millions, alongside the recurring floods in regions like Bangladesh and India, underscore the reckless lifestyle we maintain. The increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters serve as a stark reminder of the planet’s response to our actions.
In a thought-provoking conversation, Amitav Ghosh—author of works such as “Hungry Tide” and the “Ibis Trilogy” (comprising “Sea of Poppies,” “River of Smoke,” and “Flood of Fire”)—reflects on this issue with Paromita Sen from The Telegraph, expressing a poignant realization: “The world we once knew is clearly coming to an end… This does not mean the world itself is ending. Instead, we must create a new world that we can thrive in… My generation consumed the world, and now the next generation must find ways to navigate and prosper in a new reality.” Decades of human greed and unbalanced development have inflicted deep environmental scars.
People globally are witnessing the planetary crisis manifest in various alarming forms, including wildfires, erratic monsoons leading to extreme weather conditions, landslides, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and desertification. Last year marked the warmest in a recorded history of global temperatures dating back to 1850, with an average temperature of 15.10 degrees Celsius, surpassing 2023’s previous record by 0.12 degrees. The crisis shows no signs of abating; January was noted as the warmest first month on record, as reported by the World Meteorological Organization.
Ghosh emphasizes that global temperatures are rising “much faster, much faster” than anticipated. There is no denying that our extravagant use of resources and the production methods that disregard environmental standards are contributing to this crisis. Ghosh elaborates: “To effectively address the climate crisis, we must significantly reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. Yet, in countries like India, the US, and Norway, fossil fuel exploration continues to expand.” This trajectory results in escalating greenhouse gas emissions and further environmental degradation.
It is ironic that such critical discussions about environmental destruction took place at a literary event organized by the nation’s largest fossil fuel corporation by both output and market capitalization. Everyone is aware that burning fossil fuels—whether coal or oil—is detrimental to the environment. The toxic emissions produced during coal combustion, such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide, are notorious for causing respiratory diseases.
In 2023, India’s coal production reached 1,039.59 million tonnes, reflecting a 7.28 percent increase from the prior year. However, this output continually falls short of fulfilling the needs of standalone thermal power plants and captive units in steel, aluminum, and other industries, necessitating imports. The government plans to open new coal mines—both private and public—to meet the ambitious target of 1.5 billion tonnes by 2030. History suggests that such targets often go unmet.
Recently, the West Bengal government initiated a massive coal project at Deucha Pachami in the Birbhum district, which holds one of the largest thermal coal deposits. This venture is expected to require an investment of over Rs 35,000 crore, assuming no delays or cost overruns. The government asserts that all environmental clearances are secured and precautions will be taken to safeguard local waterways and forests. Another challenge, however, lies in adequately compensating those displaced and providing job opportunities for locals.
Contradicting government assertions, the Deucha Pachami project faced protests from local residents. Environmentalists’ concerns extend beyond coal extraction to the greenhouse gas emissions produced when coal is burned. Regardless of the apprehensions Ghosh raises regarding fossil fuel consumption, it seems inevitable for a country like India, where the demand for electricity, steel, and aluminum is on an upward trajectory, to burn fossil fuels at increasing rates. India is projected to have the highest growth in steel capacity globally by 2030, while China, grappling with pollution from its metals and mining sectors, has restricted the expansion of capacity despite allowing capacity replacements.
Ghosh candidly admits that he and his scientific peers know “very little about how the planet works,” noting that the effects scientists predicted for 20 to 30 years into the future are already manifesting. This raises questions about the myth that science forms the basis for policymaking in the context of the climate crisis. Numerous factors, including lobbying and political agendas, interfere with environmental policy formulation, leading to often confused outcomes. The irresponsible mining practices—deemed ‘slaughter mining’ by some—of iron ore in Goa and Karnataka continued unchecked for years until the Supreme Court intervened to mandate that mining operations align with environmental regulations.
For perspective, the global steel industry produces approximately 1.9 billion tonnes of metal annually, contributing roughly 9 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) and rendering steel as one of the heaviest carbon-emitting sectors. Meanwhile, aluminum accounts for about 2 percent of global GHGE. However, the largest environmental threat remains the burning of fossil fuels for energy, heat, and transportation. (IPA Service)
