Poverty, Climate Change & Affirmative Action

Mentor of the Webinar

Mr. Soumitro Chakraborty

CEO, Fiinovation
About Fiinovation

A CSR based research organization working in areas of education, livelihood,

environment and health since last seven years

Assistsbusinesses 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
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 human
activities.
The consequences of global warming can be observed in the form of –

•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,
Climate change adds to the existing burden of the people living below the poverty line.
•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 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.
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
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
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'spoverty rate is one of the lowest among countries with largest number of people
below the poverty line.

Despitethe 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.
Population Classification

Indicator Absolute Percentage Growth

rate
(2001-
11)
2001 2011 2001 2011

Total
Populatio
n
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
Schedule
d 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
Source: Primary Census Abstract for Total population, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, 2011
Schedule Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India
d Tribes
Concentration - SCs & STs
Poverty Ratio for Social Groups

Inrural 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
Poverty Percentage Among Social Groups
Poverty Percentage Among Social Groups

70
Rural
60
Urban
60
50

50
40

40

30

30

20
20

10
10

0 0
SC OBC ST Others All Population SC OBC ST Others All Population

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

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

Source: Planning Commission
Percentage to Total Population 2011

State/ Percentage State/ Percentage

Union Territory Union Territory
Top 5 Bottom 5
Scheduled Castes
Punjab 31.9 Mizoram 0.1
Himachal Pradesh 25.2 Meghalaya 0.6
West Bengal 23.5 Goa 1.7
Uttar Pradesh 20.7 D & N Haveli 1.8
Haryana 20.2 Daman & Diu 2.5
Scheduled Tribes
Lakshadweep 94.8 Uttar Pradesh 0.6
Mizoram 94.4 Tamil Nadu 1.1
Nagaland 86.5 Bihar 1.3
Meghalaya 86.1 Kerala 1.5
Source: Primary Census Abstract for Total population, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, 2011
Arunachal
OfficePradesh 68.8
of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India Uttarakhand 2.9
Percentage to Total Population 2011 (Major States)

State/ Percentage State/ Percentage

Union Territory Union Territory
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
GujaratSource: Office
Primary Census Abstract14.8
for Total population, ScheduledUttarakhand
Castes and Scheduled Tribes, 2011
of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India
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 on methods
of environment conservation and risk mitigation of climate change

Itwas noted that majority of the farmers committing suicides in drought-hit

Maharashtra belong to SC community
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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

Contd...

Mission Targets Responsible Entity Allocation of funds for 12th

plan (in billion)

Mission focused on
mitigation

National Solar Mission 20,000 MW of solar power Ministry of new & INR 87.95
by 2020 renewable energy

National Mission for 10,000 MW of EE savings Ministry of power INR 1.90

Enhanced Energy Efficiency by 2020

National Mission For EE in residential and Ministry of urban INR 9.50

Sustainable Habitat commercial buildings, development
public transport, solid
waste management

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

Contd...
Mission focused on
Adaptation
National Water Mission
National Mission for
Sustaining Himalayan
Ecosystem
National Mission for a
Green India
National Mission for
Sustainable Agriculture
National Mission on
Strategic Knowledge for
Climate Change
Source: Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, GOI
Targets Responsible Entity Allocation of funds for 12th
plan (in billion)
Water conservation, river Ministry of Water INR 891
basin management resources
Conservation and Ministry of Science and INR 16.95
adaptation practices, Technology
glacial monitoring
6 million hectares of Ministry of Environment INR 460
afforestation over & Forests
degraded forest lands
Drought proofing, risk Ministry of Agriculture INR 1080
management, agriculture
research
Vulnerability assessment, Ministry of Science and INR 9.5
research and observation, Technology
data management
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:
"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.”
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.
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.
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 crore in
solar power installations while TCS spent INR 35.97 crore in 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.
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.
What Can Be Done?

Climate change provides a safety net for the people below the poverty line while
ensuring a conducive environment

Holisticplan 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.
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
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 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

The Way Forward
Contributors to the PPT

Soumitro Chakraborty
CEO, Fiinovation

Rahul Choudhury Rohit Srivastava

Dy. Manager, Fiinovation Graphics Designer, Fiinovation