A Catalyst for Sustainable Food Systems
In recent times, I have encountered numerous news items and articles highlighting the impact of weather vagaries, particularly the accelerated melting of glaciers. This phenomenon has resulted in a reduced volume of water in our water resources, contributing to the current electricity deficiency in Jammu and Kashmir, with its roots traced back to climate change
The challenges extend beyond climate-related issues. The unscientific management of solid waste and liquid effluent, both from domestic and industrial sources, is causing widespread concern. This mismanagement has given rise to an unprecedented situation in the Kashmir Valley, where solid waste is transforming into toxic dumps, posing a significant threat to the well-being of the local population.
Furthermore, air pollution, especially during winter months, exacerbates health issues. The burning of a substantial amount of fossil fuel for warmth in harsh winters leads to respiratory ailments and various lung diseases. An additional concern is the burning of branch twigs, emitting soot and smoke—a serious health hazard that further compounds the challenges posed by environmental degradation in the region.
During COP 28 health is identified as a priority for any climate change action. A worrisome trend is emerging from China about a new virus in Children. This all is to taken up together in the ambit of climate change policy and planning. Climate change is a phenomenon which requires a life style change and touches each facet of life be it economic, social, cultural or ethnic. In this scenario from construction of houses and colonies to cooking, heating, industry all needs drastic overhaul of its policy planning. In construction activities, the concrete structures lead to climate change issues apart from eroding the most fertile entire top soil of say 5-10 mm and destroying it. It brings umpteen problems with the soil structure and leads to climate change. We stress on green buildings which the concept needs to be taken up by the Govt seriously. This is true of our tourist spots. We can benefit economically from the tourism activities, if we resort to green tourism.
Heating activities during the winter months bring disastrous consequences to our climate. The use of fossil fuel, briquette and hard coke is creating smog during winters which brings many lung infections along with it. The cold weather has brought migration with it when most of the people move to weather friendly places which bring more pressure on our planet. Migration is a serious ramification of climate change. Increasingly current climate variability and ongoing climate change are adversely impacting the biophysical system and socio economic systems.
Cooking has been identified as an important part of any Climate Action and hence UNFCC has developed a program, what is called clean cooking. Clean Cooking typically refers to the use of clean and sustainable cooking technologies and practices, particularly in the context of developing countries where traditional cooking methods, such as open fires and inefficient stoves, can have significant environmental and health impacts. Biomass remains the mainstay of cooking for households and institutions in J&K in rural settings, when biomass is neither clean nor efficient, where consumers have few viable alternatives. But in urban settings consumers stack multiple solutions in their day-to-day cooking mix.
Cooking is an integral part of any food system, most obviously impacting consumption and nutrition, but also a major driver of climate change and land degradation. It also has a significant impact on food production. This is driving consumer demand; mobilize investment to build a pipe line of scalable businesses. Clean cooking transforms lives by improving health, protecting the climate and the environment, empowering women and helping consumers save time and money.
Clean cooking aims to reduce the environmental impact of cooking activities. This includes minimizing deforestation caused by the collection of firewood and reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with inefficient combustion of biomass. Traditional cooking methods often lead to indoor air pollution, which can have severe health consequences, particularly for women and children who spend significant time near the cooking area. Clean cooking practices aim to improve indoor air quality and reduce respiratory diseases.
Clean cooking technologies play a crucial role in enhancing energy efficiency, ensuring that fuel sources are utilized more effectively. This not only reduces environmental impact but also makes cooking more cost-effective for households, aligning with broader sustainable development goals. By promoting sustainable cooking practices, clean cooking addresses issues related to health, gender equality, poverty reduction, and environmental conservation.
Despite these benefits, one of the challenges lies in ensuring widespread access to clean cooking solutions, especially in rural and remote areas is to make cleaner technologies and fuels affordable and accessible to communities is essential. Currently, around 2.4 billion people, nearly a third of the world's population, lack access to clean cooking, resulting in trillions of dollars in damages to the climate and local economies. Indoor air pollution, primarily caused by wood-based cooking fuels, claims approximately 2.3 million lives annually, with a higher percentage affecting women.
In regions like Jammu and Kashmir, where a significant portion of the population relies on polluting fuels, urgent action is needed to shift from traditional cooking sources to cleaner substitutes. The use of firewood, cow dung, or other biomass contributes to worsening air quality, adverse health impacts, loss of productivity, and deforestation.
The Government of India has taken significant steps toward decarbonizing the economy, setting ambitious targets for renewable energy generation and launching initiatives like the Go Electric Campaign. In Jammu and Kashmir, incorporating clean cooking mechanisms into policy planning is essential to safeguard the health of women and children. This aligns with the government's efforts and contributes to the broader national goals of transitioning to affordable and clean energy for all citizens.
