Hon.
Speaker Sir, all the problems of climate change or global warming stem from the
mistaken belief of the humankind that it is the master of this planet and it
has a right to exploit the resources to satisfy its lust for the comforts and
luxuries of life. Sir, the man is only a strand in the web of life and he
cannot leave away from the web of life and use the resources only to enrich the
humankind itself.
On
the international front, we have not been able to negotiate a fair deal. So,
what is being demanded by the developed nations is that we should preserve our
resources for them. They have plundered the resources. As pointed out120 by the hon. Member who spoke earlier, the
fair deal would have been to compensate the third-world countries and the140 (1) under-developed countries for
the preservation of the resources that we are now expected to preserve for
them, which have already160
been exploited and plundered by the West. That is not being done. We are very
happy that we are being labelled or counted as the most developed nation, but
we fail to realize that by doing this, they want to deprive us of the term of
the deal that is expected to be negotiated. We cannot leave our forests and
water resources unexploited only because it helps them. They have already done
it in their countries as also in countries240
they have colonised.
Sir,
what is unique about the things like climate change? These things do not
respect any political boundaries. It is not that political boundaries restrict
the impacts of whatever is being done in a country. These do280 not respect political boundaries and not
even geographical boundaries. (2) If resources are plundered in some
country, if emissions are done in some country, that is going to affect some
other country somewhere else. As our country has a major say320 in the world affairs, my request would
be that we should help in negotiating a just and a fair deal for the third-world
countries. Sir, there has to be a shift to sustainable development. We cannot
eat up our resources.360 We
have a duty to pass on to the next generation our planet and our resources at
least in the same manner that we had inherited in our preserves. That is not
being respected domestically or internationally. We have ended up now as the
third largest carbon dioxide emitter. So, when we take up a discussion on it,
all these420 concerns are to
be addressed.
Hon.
Chairman Sir, climate change has become a threat to the humanity. It is an
international issue. It is a crisis as well as a (3) challenge faced by
the humanity. Global warming is the biggest problem which we face today. Human
beings are responsible for this. Earth is the only planet with a suitable
temperature480 and climatic
conditions where human beings and other living things can live. Every human
being is having the responsibility to protect this earth. It is not only the
issue of India but it is the issue of the whole world. Not only Indians are
facing these challenges, but every human being across the world is facing
similar challenges due to climate change and global warming. We have different
seasons like summer, winter, autumn and spring. These seasons are now very560 much affected resulting in natural
disasters. Humanity faces natural disasters in the form of heavy rain, heavy
flood, severe cyclones, landslides and earthquakes throughout the world.
Scientists have alerted us about these changes in nature due to the impact of600 global warming. We have to contain
global warming. We have (4) to reduce the increase in temperature. This
is the responsibility which each one of us have to shoulder. Not only the
Government, but every citizen should understand his responsibility of640 protecting the earth. We should be
committed to work with the international community. We should be committed to
fulfill our promises and assurances which we make in the various conferences at
international level.
Sir,
I thank you for giving me an opportunity to participate in this very important
discussion on climate change. Given the rate of change in climate in700 our country as well as globally, we are
likely to face irreversible impacts that will be a doom for the720 entire humanity, not only for the
current generation, but for the future generations to come. Therefore, my
humble submission is that remedial actions on climate change should not be
limited to international conferences or declarations or statements in the
media. Tangible and visible actions should come before we reach the (5) doomsday.
We are responsible to the future generations. They should not blame us. Let us
not be complacent. Increasing heat waves, droughts, erratic rainfall during the
recent years are indicators.800
Depletion in the glaciers due to global warming has resulted in the rise of sea
level. We should expect frequent and intense heat waves, extreme rainfalls and
erratic monsoons as well as more and more cyclones along with other weather-related840 calamities in the coming decades, as
indicated by a report released by IPCC. There are various aspects which I wish
to present to the House regarding this subject. But due to very limited time, I
will only press upon one issue. All the major democracies in the world
conducted special sittings and sessions in their Parliaments or elected bodies
to discuss this issue. I appreciate the initiative taken by this House to have
a discussion on this topic under Rule 193. I also urge upon the Government to
have a (6) special session to have a discussion on this issue.
I take this opportunity to
congratulate the hon. Speaker for allowing us to take part in the discussion
because this is960 a very
serious and important subject as far as India is concerned, especially in the
light of Glasgow Conference. Sir,980
climate change is a phenomenon which refers to a change of climate, attributed
directly or indirectly to human activities, which alters the composition of
global phenomena. According to me, climate change is due to the global warming
and it is having a direct link to the development process in the country. The
concept of development has to be changed. The mindset regarding development has
to be changed. The concept of development should meet the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own
needs. That should be the concept of development. Otherwise, nothing1080 is going to happen. The Summits or
Conventions or Conferences (7) or decisions or declarations made at the
global level will never give fruitful results. So, the concept regarding
development has to be basically and drastically changed. The hon. Minister is1120 listening and having a patient hearing
of the entire debate. I am thankful to him also.
Hon. Chairman Sir, thank you for
this opportunity to speak about an important issue of global warming. Our Hon.
Prime Minister has clearly stated our viewpoint on this subject. He has also
mentioned about the fact that how far India is committed on this subject. While
we talk on behalf of the developing countries, we should not only put forth the
arguments against the1200
domination of the developed countries and their irresponsible behaviour but we
should also place similar arguments as regards internal domestic issues. It has
become an issue between the rich and the poor of this country. Whatever be the
disaster, the poor people are the affected lot. Whether it is rain (8) or
flood or drought, the poor people are very much affected. 1260
Sir,
India started COVID-19 vaccination drive on 16th January, 2021. So far, six
different types of vaccines have been administered1280 in India. The Statement of the hon.
Minister goes to show that 51 per cent of the total population in India has
already been administered two doses of vaccine. The Omicron variant, which has
spread from South Africa, is creating great apprehension among the people. It
is also learnt from media reports that some of the developed countries have started
giving the booster dose of the vaccine. During the Discussion under Rule 193 on
COVID-19, I had put a very specific question, but unfortunately the Minister
did not answer that question. I would like to know from the Minister the
booster dose policy of the Government of India. Is it being insisted or will it
be administered to (9) the people? Other countries, especially the
developed countries, have already started giving the booster dose. Even after
having taken two doses of vaccine, this virus is infecting the people. In such
a situation, will it be mandatory to provide the booster dose1440 of the vaccine?
I
would also like to know from the hon. Minister the target for completion of two
doses of vaccine. It is still less than 51 per cent. What is the target fixed
by the Government of India for the complete vaccination of the targeted
population? Sir, once my State Kerala was declared by everybody as a model to
the whole nation and even to the globe. But, unfortunately, nowadays, it is
seen that more than 55 per cent of the cases reported in the country are from
the State of Kerala. The mortality rate is also very high. I would like to know
from the (10) hon. Minister whether the Government of India, especially,
the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare or Indian Council of Medical
Research has conducted any research or study or analysis of the situation
prevailing in the State of Kerala. If so, kindly give us the details.1596
