The following written statement was compiled by The Next Century Foundation and submitted as a report on the strategies for addressing climate change, rooted in cultural practices.to the United Nations General Assembly under the auspices of the current 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
A copy of the report as submitted to the UN can be found on this link. The full text of the report follows below:
The widespread impact of climate change and global warming has intensified to the point that there is a need for a set of solutions that are regenerative in nature. In this context, indigenous practices seem to be an important puzzle piece. These practices could and should be recognised and mainstreamed by the involvement of international stakeholders. Now is the right time to take action with this underutilised key for preserving the environment for the future.
The Republic of India is at the forefront in the fight for climate change. This is particularly the case because of the recent G20 New Delhi Summit, chaired by the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi; and the launch of “Mission LiFE”. The Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) Mission is a global movement led by India to nudge individual and community behavioural change in order to reduce emissions, protect the environment and conserve resources. It is about awareness of how much we consume, how much we waste, and more conscious purchase patterns – be it clothes, energy or food. At the core of Mission Life lies the recognition that climate change cannot be fought by governments or policy makers alone. It has to become a mass movement.
Hence, this is the right time to promote indigenous knowledge at the global level. Nature based solutions from India can radically help tackle climate change.
Infrastructure is key
Going back to the houses that were built by our ancestors, the structures were wide open spaces, inward courtyards filled with plants and large windows to keep the house naturally cool. The key factors that must be utilised in doing so today are – wind, design and cooling material. While changing the designs for already built houses can be difficult, there are ways that can reduce the need for air conditioners in our homes. Trees have always been a human companion for food and shade. Building an open terrace garden for increased greenery can reduce the impact of scorching heat and keep it naturally cool. The second measure needed is as simple as painting the roof white so that it reflects the heat rather than absorbing it. These strategies can be implemented at micro level and significantly help reduce carbon footprint at an individual level.
A school was built in the middle of the Thar Desert in the Indian state of Rajasthan that requires no air conditioners, the reason being its innovative architecture. The Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls School is an oval structure in sandstone which is designed with an element of sustainability. The school is built in such a way that the interior will remain cool even if the outside temperature reaches as high as 50 degrees Celsius. Sand, sunlight and heat are kept at bay by the tree canopy and the school’s associated jaali-like structures (a Jaali is a window or screen mesh carved into wood or stone by craftsmen). Inside the building, the air flow pattern automatically lowers the temperature. The space remains cool despite the intense summer heat in Rajasthan, due to the lime-plastered walls and higher-positioned vents that facilitate the escape of warm air.
These are a few of the many traditional practices that can help revive the environment. The Next Century Foundation encourages the international community to involve these strategies in modern architecture in existing or planned infrastructure projects. In addition to creating environmentally friendly structures, sustainable building practices also call for a return to more traditional methods of construction, which could result in improvements to the preservation of the local environment.
Agricultural activity can matter
Water scarcity has become a reality both in developed countries like the United States of America and Dominion of Canada and developing countries like India, the Republic of Indonesia and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Climate-smart agricultural techniques, particularly in rain-fed regions, can encourage efficient management of water resources and revitalise ecosystems that are vulnerable to drought.
Water collection through ancient methods known as “johads” has been practised for generations in Rajasthan’s desert regions. It is also called a percolation pond. Johads are small earthen check dams which capture and conserve rainwater but allow percolation. During dry spells, these ponds reliably supply water, and also replenish groundwater. In order to conserve water and build climate resilience, community-led projects have used the revitalised traditional knowledge of johad building and upkeep.
A similar system has been a traditional practice called the Chauka system. It entails building rectangular fields connected by embankments and canals to collect rainwater runoff. On three sides there are nine-inch walls, while one side is left open to allow rainwater to fill the structure. As one structure fills, then the overflow fills the next chauka and so on. This technique has been used to regenerate pastureland in arid regions. An effective use of this system can help not only the Indian states but countries globally such as the Commonwealth of Australia, the Republic of South Africa and the United States of America. Another ancient system with some similarities has been used in the Islamic Republic of Iran for generations. It is an underground water management system involving the construction of underground tunnels to tap into groundwater resources and an underground aqueduct (as also used in the Sultanate of Oman where the underground channel is called a falaj) to convey water from a source (such as an aquifer) through the force of gravity especially for the purpose of irrigation.
At a global level, agriculture contributes 30% to the greenhouse gas emissions. This is due to the extreme use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides but also use of energy-intensive machinery and farming practices which result in a release of stored carbon from soil. When chemical fertilisers are used, only 30%-40% is absorbed by the plants and the rest either sets in the soil or flows into the water bodies or gets released into the atmosphere. The use of chemical fertiliser emits nitrous oxide, which is 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide in terms of its contribution to global warming. An ecofriendly solution to these chemical fertilisers are biofertilizers. Common biofertilizers are nitrogen fixing bacteria (e.g. Rhizobium, or Acetobacter), Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB), Potassium Mobilising Biofertilizer (KMB), Zinc Solubilizing Biofertilizer (ZSB) and PGPR (plant growth promoting rhizobacteria). Use of such fertilisers reduces the requirement for chemical fertilisers. Significantly their leaching into the groundwater and runoff to water bodies is much less compared to more soluble synthetic fertilisers. The Next Century Foundation encourages the international community to invest in research into the use of biofertilizers among its farming communities. A global level adoption will significantly cut down greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the impact of farming activity on the environment.
A Circular Economy
India’s deep-rooted repair ethos positions it uniquely in the narrative of a global circular economy. At the heart of the circular economy lie the 3 R’s: reduce, reuse, and recycle. India’s vibrant repair culture exemplifies the ‘reuse’ principle. By prolonging product lifespans, the nation diminishes waste and curtails demand for new items, championing resource conservation and a lighter environmental footprint.
This strategy has been used in waste management. The country was able to recycle and co-process 50% of its plastic waste, largely credited to the informal sector, significantly more than the global rate of 20%. India has constructed 2,500 km of road from plastic waste as a substitute for crude oil-based asphalt. This technology was patented in 2006 but has been implemented in a mere 15 countries. The implementation of circular economy techniques has the potential to mitigate the degradation of the environment by lowering the demand for virgin materials, reducing the pressure on the ecosystem from material resource extraction and processing. This strategy is key because 45% of carbon emissions come from products that we use everyday such as cars, clothes, and food.
The circular economy can assist in achieving other UN Sustainable Development Goals, the most important being SDG12 (responsible consumption and production), in addition to addressing the causes and impacts of climate change. The circular economy paradigm can save biodiversity, lessen water contamination, and enhance air quality. Its tenets provide companies with a wide range of innovative options to lower material costs, maximise asset utilisation, and adapt to shifting consumer needs.
The Next Century Foundation urges international institutions to prioritise the circular economy alongside other crucial emission reduction initiatives like energy efficiency and reforestation. Circular economy ideas can be included in climate initiatives by both local governments and national level governments. Enterprises can have a key role and capacity to expand into areas that create new values and address climate change.
Conclusion
These powerful solution frameworks address the major segments of economic activity that contribute to greenhouse emissions. These strategies make a compelling case to be considered in the quest to meet the climate targets for a prosperous future. The Next Century Foundation calls for integrating indigenous practices into mainstream climate initiatives, where innovation and tradition converge for the betterment of the planet.
