It is Always Sunny – Is Climate Change Bad?
Climate change is no longer a distant threat. It is here and it is affecting every nation on every continent.  We can no longer afford to argue on whether the science behind the effects of climate change is correct or not. Our ice caps are melting, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense, our oceans are acidifying, glaciers are receding, and sea levels are rising. If you are not convinced, simply look at the following climate change facts:Â
- Between 1998 and 2017, the world has suffered an economic loss of almost $3 trillion from climate changeÂ
- Climate change has claimed 1.3 million lives in the last 19 years
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere are currently at 416 parts per million (ppm). The last time the earth had this much CO2 was 3 million years ago.
This graph, based on the comparison of atmospheric samples contained in ice cores and more recent direct measurements, provides evidence that atmospheric CO2 has increased since the Industrial Revolution. (Credit: Luthi, D., et al.. 2008; Etheridge, D.M., et al. 2010; Vostok ice core data/J.R. Petit et al.; NOAA Mauna Loa CO2 record.) To find out more visit climate.gov.
For those of you still on the fence about climate change, then have a look at World Economic Forum’s (WEF) recent Global Risk Report 2020. It revealed that the top 5 global risks in terms of likelihood over the next 10 years were all linked to climate change –Â
- Extreme weather events (e.g. cyclones, blizzards, droughts, wildfires)Â
- Natural disasters (e.g. earthquake, volcanic eruption)Â
- Failure of climate change mitigation and adaptationÂ
- Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapseÂ
- Man-made environmental damage and disasters (e.g. Fukushima meltdown, Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill) Â
It is clear that challenges related to climate change are very much real and it is not going to go away anytime soon. Rather than continue this endless debate, we would be better moving from activism to actionism. I will present to you what I think are two fundamental solutions needed for mitigating the effects of climate change.   Â
Watch: History of Climate Change Activism Â
A Shift in Perspective – Solving the Global Warming Problem Â
The United Nations estimated that we will need a minimum of $1 trillion investment per year by 2030 in clean energy for the world to become more climate-resilient. Are the public and private sectors ready to make such an investment? There is good news and there is bad news. Good news first. Global climate finance flows have increased over the last few years. It went from $342 billion in 2013 to $546 billion in 2018. Â
To find out more, visit the Climate Policy Initiative
If you are like me, you might look at this figure and feel a sense of optimism. We are roughly 50% short of the total investment per year needed by 2030. This is where I must become the bearer of bad news. Since the Paris Climate Agreement was signed in 2015, global banks have invested $1.4 trillion in the fossil fuel industry. In 2016 alone, 70% of the $1.7 trillion that was spent on global energy supply was linked to fossil fuels. This is the equivalent of showering water and oil to put out a forest fire. Â
Read:Â Is the Financial Industry Fueling Climate Change?Â
The solution for this evident. We require a shift in global financing. Move investment from fossil fuels to climate finance to achieve the $1 trillion investment per year by 2030. Â
Fixing Climate Conferences Â
Since 1995, the world has witnessed a total of 27 climate conferences, organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC). The last global climate conference was held in Madrid, Spain in December 2019.  Things did not exactly turn out too well. To be honest, 3 decades of climate negotiations in these conferences have a habit of falling flat. Â
Read: COP 25 – Are We Going in Reverse? Â
The next UNFCC conference is in Glasgow, the UK between 9th November and 19th November 2020. It is fair to argue, “how come our answer to climate chaos is to have more meetings?â€. The truth is, without these conferences, we currently have nothing new to replace it with. We either risk countries and companies to work individually to solve the global climate crisis or develop another process that would require the world to come together. There is no guarantee that either of us this would work. And frankly, I don’t think we have the time to test this hypothesis.  Â
So, what do we do? Well, we can make our voices heard and pressure the UNFCC to strive to be better. The UNFCC conferences can become an extremely powerful tool to combat the climate crisis, provided it overcomes 2 of its key challenges – Â
- Absence of ambitious goals and targets to reduce the impact of global warming. If we set the bar too low, we are giving ourselves no hope of curbing the ever-increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Â
- Setting non-binding agreements. This means individual countries are not mandated to act.  Â
Joining Hands Against Climate Change
As climate change is devastating humans, fish, wildlife, trees and everything in this world through:Â
- Wildfires like in Amazon, Brazil, and Australia Â
- Displacing people from their homes because of rising sea levels, which is happening in Wales, UKÂ
- Floods destroying homes in the United StatesÂ
It is easy to feel isolated. However, there is no need for us to work in solitude. When we humans work together, we have the ability to overcome adversity. When we first found out about the Ozone layer depletion in 1982, what did we do? The world came together and banned the substance that was responsible for it. In 2019, NASA revealed that the Ozone hole was the smallest on record since its discovery in 1982. The most valuable thing for us is to not give up hope. We should join hands to face this adversity together and overcome it.Â
Watch: How can we save our planet? SLX talks with Marco Lambertini (General WWF International), who encourages collaborative and smart solutions to preserve our beautiful biodiversity.   Â
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Into the Wild
“Human beings have overrun the world. We are replacing the wild with the tame. The story of how we came to make this our greatest mistake. Our planet is headed for disaster.â€Â Chilling word of warning from David Attenborough. I really wish I could chalk this up to fear–mongering and try to ignore the cautionary message, but the facts are as clear as day. Our nature is in crisis, we are losing species at an unprecedented rate. Â
- 25% of the world’s species are currently at risk of going extinct in the decade of action (2020-2030). Â
- We are losing species 1,000x faster than any other time in human history.Â
- Only 3% of the ocean is free from human pressure Â
- 500 million species of insects are facing extinction Â
Stats obtained from the global assessment report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, which was prepared by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Â
Read: A Bug’s Life or its Extinction
Save the World Wildlife Day  Â
This tragic rate of destruction of our wildlife will endanger us all. The UN realized how big of a threat wildlife extinction was going to be. So, they desperately needed a phenomenon to galvanize the people, governments, civil societies and businesses to come together and help conserve our unique and spectacular environment. So, in 1992, the UN formed the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), whose primary purpose was to conserve biodiversity. CBD is a multilateral treaty, that was signed in Rio de Janeiro by 192 governments at the Earth Summit. Â
CBD’s most ambitious plan was announced in 2010. It was called “Aichi Biodiversity Targetsâ€Â (ABT). Similar to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ABT had a total of 5 strategic goals and 20 targets, whose main objective was to halt the loss of wildlife. We will talk about the merits and failures of ABT in another blog. The announcement of the ABT marked the start of the UN’s decade on biodiversity. To maintain this momentum, on 20th December 2013, the UN partnered with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to declare March 3rd as “World Wildlife Dayâ€.Â
The purpose of World Wildlife Day (WWD) is to celebrate and raise awareness about our extraordinary Earth’s wild animals and plants. Each year, WWD has a central theme that it aims to create awareness about.  Â
- 2015: It’s time to get serious about wildlife crimeÂ
- 2016: The future of wildlife is in our handsÂ
- 2017: Listen to the young voicesÂ
- 2018: Big cats – predators under threatÂ
- 2019: Life below water – for people and the planetÂ
- 2020: Sustaining all life on earthÂ
One True Equality – Sustaining All Life on EarthÂ
From the wildlife statistics that I showcased at the start of this blog; it is evident that the extinction crisis has not improved during the UN’s decade on biodiversity. This puts a lot of pressure on all of us in 2020. It needs to be a super year for nature and biodiversity. The air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink, the energy we use and the raw materials we harvest, all come from nature. Damaging the environment is akin to damaging ourselves. We may create an irreversible domino effect. If the 1 million species that are currently facing extinction get wiped out, it will spell the demise of countless other species that depend on these ones, disrupting our ecosystem. Â
As the two famous proverbs go, procrastination is the thief of time and tomorrow never comes. We need to act now. And that is why, this year’s theme, “Sustaining all life on Earthâ€, is a perfect place for all of us to start thinking more about protecting our magnificent nature. The theme not only aligns with SDG 14 – Life Below Water and SDG 15 – Life on Land, but also with SDG 1 – No Poverty, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production and SDG 13 – Climate Action.  Â
This World Wildlife Day: Stop the Domino EffectÂ
Today is the day. It is WWD. What can you and I do to help conserve this beautiful environment we have? If not the whole shebang, let us start by doing one of the following things today: Â
- Stay Informed – As a first step, find out which animal and plant species in your area (city/state/country) are under threat. What challenges are they facing and what can be done to preserve them.  Â
- Sharing is Caring – Share your knowledge of wildlife conservation with all your friends and family. With the prevalence of social media, this is so much easier now. Â
- Assemble Your Community – Reach out and encourage your local politicians, celebrities, influencers, activists, businesses, schools, and colleges to actively discuss wildlife conservation. Discuss how your community can make a difference. Â
- Help Out – Donate to your local conservational projects (e.g. Botanical Gardens, National Parks and Reserves). Contributions don’t always have to come out of your pockets. You can also donate your time by volunteering.  Â
- Be a Responsible Consumer – Do not purchase products that are illegally sourced. These often harm our environment. You can find out more information regarding this from CITES or your local wildlife authority. Â
- Unsung Hero – If you ever come across any form of illicit activities such as illegal logging, wildlife trade, fishing, etc. inform your local authorities. This will play a major role in putting an end to such heinous wildlife crimes. Â
We have one earth, and we share it with these magnificent animals and plants. We have lived in harmony with them before, we can live in harmony with them now. We owe it to our planet, wildlife and children. Let us not make homo–sapiens a museum artifact. Â
At SDG Plus, we believe in bringing communities together around the topic of sustainability, societies will have the opportunity to learn and assist from each other to create a sustainable future for all
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Is Quality Education a Class Apart?
Education should be accessible to everyone; it is a need that needs to be fulfilled at every stage of life. Especially if we are talking about primary education. Primary education is as important as having access to clean drinking water. It has the ability to transform communities. We all know that once a child gets an education, they tend to lead a better life and have the opportunity to help others. For us to create a sustainable community and environment, education will play a crucial role. It will sow the seed for a sustainable world. Â
The main objective of primary education is to ensure children are aware of their own capabilities. According to World Bank data, 26% of the world population is 0 to 14 age groups. And still, Sustainable Development Goal 4 – Quality Education path does not have a clear-cut path to success. Â
For more insight read the UNICEF 2019 Global report.Â
Achieving Quality Education by 2030
How do we solve this in a strategic manner? A major misconception is that just because children are going to school does not mean they are necessarily “learningâ€. Quality education requires more attention. This translates to better teacher training programs and better top-level institutional management. The education sector also lacks funding. We know that 1% of the population has more than 50% of the world’s wealth. This is not a good look for wealth distribution. If there is somehow, this excess wealth can be redistributed to SDGs like Quality Education, No Poverty, Zero Hunger, etc. We will make progress at a much faster phase, and who knows, we might even achieve all our SDGs by 2030.Â
At SDG Plus, we believe in bringing communities around the world together around the topic of sustainability, societies will have the opportunity to learn and assist from each other to create a sustainable future for all
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Breaking the Cycle of Single-Use Plastic
Before we dive into what is single-use plastic and why we are all worried about the plastic problem, here are some hard facts to digest:
- Since the 1950s, eight billion tons of plastic has been produced
- Each year 5 trillion single-use plastic bags are used
- Only 9% of all plastic waste has been recycled
The Undisposable Truth About Disposable Plastic
Single-use plastics, also known as disposable plastics, comprise polythene bags, plastic sachets, straws, food wrappers, etc. By nature, plastics are non-biodegradable. While they do not decompose into the soil, they do break down into tiny particles over a period of time. In the process not only do plastics release toxic chemicals, but they also enter our water bodies and food system causing a negative impact on health and environment.
Breaking Free from Single-use Plastic: Davos 2020
The WEF summit this year witnessed the coming together of major advocates of climate change and sustainable development to share their views on single-use plastics.
Following are few of ways in which the cycle of single-use plastic can be broken:
A. Involving Local Government and Local Businesses
For any policy to be sustainable and have a direct impact on the population as well as the environment, it is critical to adopt reforms at the grass-root level. Akira Sakano, Co-founder of Zero Waste Japan, emphasizes the involvement of the local business bodies in doing away with single-use plastic bags. She is a stronger preacher of the role of the local government bodies in designing solutions for single-use plastic.
B. Circular Economy – Why Was it Invented?
Convenience to access and use has been hugely preferred by consumers over the past few years. But the fact is everything convenient cannot be sustainable as well. This explains why the present linear ‘take-make-dispose’ model of consumption has contributed significantly to the percentage of plastic waste globally. Most consumer goods companies follow this model of production. According to Tak Niinami (CEO, Suntory Holdings Ltd.), the move towards a circular economy is the best possible step towards rethinking how to deal with one-time-use plastic.
In a circular economy, materials flow around a closed-loop system, instead of being used once and then be discarded. The restorative and regenerative nature of the circular economy enables improved risk management of raw materials and an enhanced approach to the supply chain. At present, plastic waste accounts for close to USD 80-120 billion loss to the global economy. Switching from the linear model of production and consumption to a circular one is critical to meeting SDG 12 as well as SDG 14.
Read: Are You Eating Fish Or Plastic?
C. Building Efficient Plastic Recycling Infrastructure
At present 91% of plastic is not being recycled. If the present trends continue, there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic in landfills by 2025. This highlights the dire need for an efficient plastic recycling infrastructure.
The WEF summit called for investments for building infrastructure which will recycle plastic in a sustainable manner.
If You Liked This Blog and are Curious About Circular Economy and Sustainable Development Goals, Browse Our Courses
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Clean Water – Our Liquid Asset
I don’t think it is controversial to say that clean water needs to be accessible to the whole world. The United Nations (UN) has an entire sustainable development goal (SDG), clean water and sanitation, dedicated to making this a reality. However, the facts around SDG 6 are quite depressing if you compare the number with the world’s populationÂ
- 785 million people don’t even have access to basic drinking water Â
- 700 million people could be displaced due to intense water scarcity by 2030Â
- 2 billion people live in areas that are experiencing high water stressÂ
- 1/3rd of all primary school and 1/4th of all health care facilities worldwide lack basic drinking water servicesÂ
This is not to say we haven’t made progress; we have. The issue is that any development in this sector has been painfully slow. It is plagued with roadblocks and major setbacks. Before we dive into these issues, let us briefly explore what is water pollution, its sources and effects. Â
Lack of Access to Clean Water – Polluting Our AssetsÂ
Our earth and all of us in it lose access to clean water when one of its water bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans) gets contaminated. Water pollution happens when toxic chemicals enter these water bodies. Toxic chemicals can from a range of different sources. To name a few of these common sources – Â
Legal or illegal discharges from factories or sewage treatment plants Â
Oil spills from on-shore and off-shore pipelinesÂ
Agricultural run-off that carries toxic chemical fertilizers and pesticidesÂ
All of this degrades our water quality. Water pollution is not only a massive threat to our aquatic ecosystem, but it also trickles down and mixes with our groundwater. This groundwater is what a lot of us utilize for drinking, bathing, and cleaning. Â
A Worldwide Crisis Â
It is easy to think that the lack of access to clean water is predominantly a Global South issue. Unfortunately, it is not. This is a problem that is affecting both developing and developed countries alike.
- Drinking water is being contaminated by forever toxic chemicals in West Virginia, Miami, Philadelphia, New Orleans in the USA
- A town in Australia had no access to clean water for 3 months because of arsenic water contamination
- The city council in Wellington, New Zealand called for an emergency meeting to find a solution for their poor water quality
- Chennai, India suffered a severe drought in 2019 that caused widespread water shortages, which the city is still recovering from
Solution for the Clean Water Crisis Â
If we do not find a solution for the clean water problem, which is clearly an issue for all of us, we are going to be in a major predicament. We all stand to lose our access to clean water, our health, our aquatic ecosystem and many of our livelihoods that depend on it. So, what can we do?Â
As a first step, we as the people of the planet should become aware and create awareness about the clean water crisis. Taking it a step further, let us change how much water we consume and ensure we don’t waste it. This means, turning off the tap when it is not needed, having short showers, not using the bathtub, etc. We should follow the footsteps of the people who have rainwater harvesting systems at their households and truly become self-sufficient. Â
However, this will not be enough. Industrial water use accounts for 19% of global consumption. Corporates will need to decrease their water footprint. One of the ways they can solve this issue is by investing in water recycling infrastructure for their buildings. An indirect way they can support this cause is by investing in water conservation technologies. These are tools that can help reduce water scarcity by finding ways to conserve, distribute and improve the quality of clean water. These technologies will play a major role in solving the water challenge that is plaguing our farmers. Â
Read:Â Drip Irrigation – Can Little Drops Of Water Be Our Friends?Â
None of the above solutions will work if there are no strict policies and regulations that address the water pollution problem. Factories should not be allowed to discharge polluted water into our environment without facing serious repercussions. They should be regulatorily required to treat their water in an environmentally friendly way. These factories can also self-regulate themselves, which in my opinion would be the most encouraging and wholesome thing to witness. Â
It is evident that the clean water crisis cannot be solved by a single group of people. In a way, it is poetic because it is an issue that is affecting all of us. So, it is only reasonable that I ask, we will need to set aside our differences and work together to save our collective future. Â
To Know More About Access to Clean Water and Sustainability Browse Our Courses
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Gender Inequality: Is the Glass Ceiling Really Shattered?
At the crux of gender inequality lies the assumption that one gender is better than the others. Due to the high incidence of patriarchal societies in most parts of the globe, it is usually the females who are discriminated against. On its own, gender inequality is not a new phenomenon; but it is only since the 20th century that conscious conversation on overcoming this situation has begun.
Gender Inequality: A Brief Understanding
Also known as gender discrimination, gender inequality is based on distinction and misconceptions based on biological factors. Due to this women, because of their basic anatomy, are discriminated against. For example, they fail to gain access to even some of the very basic things like the right to equal treatment, the right to education, and the right to other growth opportunities. All these limitations spiral into building an unfair society, where one’s destiny is predominantly decided by the physical body they are born into.
Gender inequality also handicaps the chances of taking major decisions around personal growth, financial independence. This thereby affects the overall growth of a community and thereby a particular society as well.
Pre-defined Gender Roles Leading to Gender Inequality
The pre-defined gender roles have a huge role in building gender gap and thereby leading to gender discrimination. Women, because of their biological makeup, are usually caught up in the bearing and rearing the children. This activity graduates into taking care of household affairs and having minimal say in the economical aspect of the household. Similarly, most of the agrarian societies have gender roles defined in such a manner that it favors the males – because they are the ones working in the fields and are biologically better equipped in doing strenuous jobs.
Role of Industrialization in Breaking the Gender Role Chasm
The arrival of industrialization played a vital role in shifting the structure of society. As machines and industries did most of the work, women did find an inlet into the working population. With each phase of the industrial revolution, the connection between the gender and the tasks to be done has been squashed.
While industrialization brought a change in the paradigm of traditional gender roles, did it actually help women overcome gender inequality?
From Gender Inequality to Gender Equality: SDG5
Achieving gender equality is the fifth of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). Â This SDG5 revolves around:
- Ending discrimination against women and girls
- Ending all violence against and exploitation of women and girls
- Elimination of forced marriages and genital mutilation
- Valuing unpaid care and promoting shared domestic responsibilities
- Ensuring full participation in leadership and decision-making
- Universal access to reproductive rights and health
- Equal rights to economic resources, property ownership, and financial services
- Promote the empowerment of women through technology
- Adoption and strengthening of policies and enforceable legislation of gender equality
Now that we are clear on what gender inequality is, and what the United Nations envisions on building a gender-equal society, let us explore what is the condition of women in the workforce.
Women, the Glass Ceiling, and SDG5
Since 1991, managerial positions are being filled at a constant pace. Â At present close to 50% of working-age women are part of the labor force. The number differs from region to region and is especially in favor of high-income countries.
According to ILO, women are surpassing men in third-level education – with only Africa having women earning fewer third-level qualifications than men, that too by a small margin.
Do these figures mean that women, at last, are faring well? That the concept of glass ceiling no longer exists? Are we closer to achieving the goal of gender equality?
Unfortunately, these numbers do not portray the entire reality. No doubt, the position of women in the workforce has improved at an exponential rate; with even, the mid and low-income countries witnessing a drastic change in their workforce demographics. While North America has 36% of women in management positions, the APAC and African nations have 20% and 19% of women in these roles. Nowhere do women hold 50% of the decision-making roles – and this gender gap is what needs to be intelligently filled by making more entry-level for the females.
At present, the glass ceiling effect has resulted in occupational segregation, wherein female managers are concentrated in non-decision-making roles. Business support functions like Human Resources, Finance, and Admin departments are some of the best examples of such roles. This occupational segregation places females at a lower pedestal, a position that limits their contribution towards any meaningful change in the demographic at the top of the corporate ladder.
Here is what happens when the CEO is a woman:
Are We Done Yet or Is the Way Forward a Long One?
While the best way to fix gender inequality is to revamp the existing systems by encouraging changes in mindset, it is also predicted that 4IR – fourth industrial revolution can help build a more gender-equal world. Equipping women with all the digital skills is imperative to achieve this goal. It is at this juncture that policy-makers, government, pressure groups, and self-help groups should pitch in to construct systems that encourage women in digital skill development.
At present even though the glass ceiling has not been shattered, there has been a deep dent for sure. Only when we initiate meaningful conversation and develop frameworks for smooth entry and growth of women in the workforce, can the glass ceiling disappear.
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Drip Irrigation: Can Little Drops Of Water Be Our Friends?
Drip Irrigation for Better Water Management
Climate change is no longer a myth and its effect can be seen everywhere. The sector which has been drastically affected by this is agriculture. Many farmers face water management problems due to scarcity of water. Efficient usage of water plays a key role in getting good yield from the crops. For example, if crops do not get enough water at the optimum time, it could lead to less produce and increased pest problems. This results in higher-cost investment and therefore less income.  A lot of it also depends on the type of crop grown and the specific crops water requirement. For example, paddy and sugarcane are water-intensive crops that require a lot of water, while crops like soya bean or wheat require less water for irrigation. Drip irrigation is seen by many farmers as a viable solution to conserve water and ensure it is managed effectively.
Read: 96% of the World’s Biomass is Livestock and Humans, and We Still Can’t Feed Everyone?
Is Drip Irrigation a Solution to India’s Water Problems?
In India, agriculture alone accounts for about 75-80% of water consumption. India will face water problems by 2050 as reported by OECD environmental outlook.
The drip irrigation system can be one of many ways to save water and utilize water efficiently. Many farmers in India use flood irrigation. Flood irrigation has water coming directly from the source and this water flows through open channels made of soil. This method of irrigation is not efficient because only 40 to 60 % of water reaches the plant and the rest gets either evaporated or is wasted in the runoff. However, the drip irrigation system allows 90% of the water to directly reach the plant.
Â
What is Drip Irrigation? Â
Drip irrigation system consists of water delivery pipes that vary in diameters. Different channels and subchannels are created according to the chosen pipe diameter. The pipe diameter is selected based on water pressure and crop type. These pipes are made from plastic type HDPE (high-density polyethylene). It has one pump that creates pressure to deliver the water at the required place.
So why it is more efficient than flood irrigation? This is because it helps in getting water directly to the root of the plant. Using this method, it is easy to mix fertilizers and other nutrients to the water. This can reduce any external cost on resources. However, price of drip irrigation does vary quite a lot. Depending on the diameter of the pipe used, it may range from INR 30,000 to INR 60,000 per acre of land.
With tech advancement, there are even solar micro-irrigation systems in the market. Solar drip irrigation system consists of solar panels that store solar energy, which is connected to a generator that drives the pump. The pump increases the pressure which helps to regulate the flow of water into different channels.
Advantages Â
- Helps in increasing the yield or productivity of cropÂ
- It saves water required for irrigationÂ
- It helps in saving the fertilizer need to be given to the cropÂ
- There is less weed growthÂ
- It saves manual labor cost Â
- More sustainable way of irrigating compared to flood irrigation that uses dieselÂ
-  It leads to fewer pests and plant diseasesÂ
Drip Irrigation and Sustainable Development GoalsÂ
SDG1 (No poverty), SDG2 (Zero hunger), and SDG13 (Climate action) are the major SDG goals that are directly addressed from drip irrigation. This method can help small and marginal farmers utilize the water efficiently and they can get better yield and better profit margins.
Constraints Â
- One of the major constraints is the price of a drip irrigation system. Â
- If the water quality is not good, then pipes can get blocked. This happens in the nozzle and water will not be delivered properly to the plant. This is not easy to monitor.
- If the pipe is damaged by rats or any other animals, then the whole drip pipe will need to be replaced.
- Another issue is the design. The distance of the nozzle for each crop type will vary. Therefore, farmers have to buy new drip irrigation pipes for different crop types.
- For example, drip for the cotton crop cannot be used for groundnut as the distance between two plants in a column varies for cotton and groundnut.
Even though there are many new technologies and innovations in the drip irrigation system,  its cost-effectiveness still remains a major source of issue for farmers. This is something where the governments can assist the farmers by further subsiding the cost of drip irrigation system. On the other hand, innovators could also improve the design of the drip irrigation system to cater for multiple crops.
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Ranking the Top 5 Sustainable Countries of the World
We humans love ranking ourselves. Whether it be in school to find out who got the highest mark or in sports to see which team is performing better. It is a great benchmark tool that helps us compare our progress with competitors.  However, ranking in sustainability can be a double-edged sword. Â
- A good ranking system can enable sustainable cities and communities to share best practices with each other to become better. Â
- A bad ranking system may lead us to waste precious global resources.Â
Therefore, if we are going to rank the sustainable cities or countries of the world, it is important we get it right. Nobel economists Joseph E. Stiglitz points out this eloquently, Â
“What you measure affects what you do. If you don’t measure the right thing, you don’t do the right thingâ€. Â
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – Ranking the Countries EditionÂ
The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) released a report in 2018, ranking 180 countries of the world using 24 indicators, which largely covers environmental factors. The report uses indicators such as air quality, water and sanitation, energy, forest, agriculture, etc. In 2018, the following were the five most sustainable countries that our mother earth has to offer Â
This is not an easy achievement. These 5 countries have made considerable efforts in building inclusive and sustainable cities and communities. However, will these countries retain their ranking in 2020? The next EPI report is expected to be published in June 2020. But the question remains, is EPI the best tool we have to measure sustainability?
You can read what I think about it over here - Are the Top 5 Sustainable Countries in the World the Best We Have?Â
- Published in Fact-On!
A Bug’s Life or its Extinction?
Will Life on Land be Extinct?
If the 6th mass extinction is really underway, the Armageddon has begun with insects. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services’ (IPBES) 2019 global assessment report revealed that
“In total, at least one million species are facing extinction in the coming decades, half of them being insectsâ€
There is some bad news in store for SDG15 aka life on land. Scientists believe the disappearance of bugs could be a sign of a mass extinction event. The last mass extinction happened roughly 66 million years ago; an event remembered for wiping out dinosaurs. Unless we want to become fossils, we desperately need urgent action to stop this insect apocalypse.
SDG15 Life on Land: Conservation ChallengeÂ
Insects provide irreplaceable services to us. They are crucial for maintaining our food supply chain, limit soil erosion, provide medical products, keeps pests under control, to just name a few. To give you some numbers –
- Insect pollination provides an economic value of $235-577 billion every year (worldwide)
- Beetles provide $747 million dollars per year’s worth of services to the cattle industry in the UK and the US.
- Insects provide a $57 billion dollar worth of ecosystem services in the US alone.
Therefore, it is no debate that insects are crucial for all life on land and thereby the survival of mankind.
So, what is triggering this insect apocalypse? If you haven’t guessed it already, the answer is humans. A recent report by the Alliance of World Scientists, “Scientists’ warning to humanity on insect extinctionsâ€, states that
“Humans are causing insect extinctions by driving habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation, use of polluting and harmful substances, the spread of invasive species, global climate change, direct overexploitation, and co-extinction of species dependent on other species.â€
Saving the Itsy-Bitsy SpiderÂ
The silver lining is that we humans can reverse this awful trend, and work towards meeting the SDG15. We have the solutions and these solutions can be implemented to save and nurture life on land.
However, we need to start acting now. Thankfully, the scientists who are warning us about this insect apocalypse, have also published a research paper detailing out how humanity can conserve insects. I have summarized their suggestions, but I highly recommend that you read their paper –
- Developing appreciation for insects. Only when we value and realize the importance of insects, will we work urgently towards saving them.
- Maintaining tropical, non-tropical, temperate forests and grasslands. Forests and grasslands provide the natural environment for insects. This is where they can truly thrive. It is vital for protecting and promoting insect diversity.
- Protection of freshwater ecosystems. As the freshwater ecosystem supports 6% of insect species around the world, it is important to protect these from pollution.
- Supporting agro-ecology. Agro-ecology is the concept of combining agriculture with conservational efforts. Parts of agricultural land are dedicated to conservation.
- Promoting organic farming. The purpose of organic farming is to move away from the over-use of pesticides in search of natural and healthy alternatives.
- Conservation of Insects in Urban and Sub-Urban Areas. City planners building more botanical gardens and public parks. Individual houses and commercial buildings setting up rooftop or patio gardens.
- Assessing our Ecological Conservation efforts. The paper suggests we do so by maintaining an inventory of insects, mapping insect distribution and monitoring conservation progress. Doing this will help us identify where critical gaps are, which region or insect requires more attention, what type of conservational projects are more successful, etc. This way we can have a realistic measurement of SDG15.
In the end, it is about respecting all types of life forms, especially the little ones.  They enrich our lives and provide us with countless valuable resources. The least we can do is protect them. I want to end this article with a message from Dalai Lama XIV, who has eloquently summarised this feeling
“Many of the earth’s habitats, animals, plants, insects and even micro-organisms that we know to be rare may not be known at all by future generations. We have the capability and the responsibility to act; we must do so before it is too late.â€Â
- Published in Blogs