It is truly inspiring to see the hundreds of youth conglomerate from across the world trying their best to understand each other’s perspectives and arrive at a common solution towards climate change, as one person rightly pointed out ‘If climate change had not happened so many beautiful people (youth from almost every country of the world!) might have never come together’. And yet there is unity in the diversity. The diversity is maintained the most by groups routed to the ground and people proud of their cultural heritages. Many of the Global South youth delegates turned up with flags and in traditional costumes celebrating their cultures!, somehow I feel that itself is a statement to say that we want a solution which is global but routed in the local and ensuring principles of inter –national justice and equality. Some of the African youth and, their connections with the Earth and ecosystems has been truly touching.

On the second day of COY, once again we had a very inspiring speaker, the Greenpeace Executive Director- Kumi Naidoo, who told us about the story of how one his childhood friends who had the deepest impact on his life, once asked him: ‘What do you think could be the biggest contribution you could make for humanity’ and he said- ‘Give your life for it’ but his friend said ‘That is wrong, my friend, the correct answer should be ‘To give the rest of your life!’. Solutions to climate change don’t stop at this Conference and all of us are well aware of that, however from this time forth many youth have pledged to work towards lasting and innovative solutions.

What needs however to be true to (in our finding solutions) is to remember the people we represent- the children, the youth, the underprivileged from many villages, coastal, drought prone etc areas, who fight with the multifarious impacts of climate change every day when they have to traverse longer distances to find water and sacrifice meals so that CO2 emitters enjoy more luxuries. Would we be able to impact their lives, will their stories be any better tomorrow, will we be able to make life any better for them!

It is not that these things have not been thought of by the older generation, but as one wise man rightly pointed out ‘sometimes experience contaminates us’. This is why Mr. Naidoo appealed to the youth by saying : ‘We need your voice, We need your energy and We need your leadership!’

‘The young do not know enough to be prudent, and therefore they attempt the impossible — and achieve it, generation after generation’ - Pearl S. Buck

youth at coy

Dr. Srivastava put her research and recommendations forth for the Low Carbon Options for India: Challenges and technological options (TERI Report). It takes forward the dialogue on technology sharing forward, rather than just vaguely speaking about the subject, Dr. Srivastava tried to give a basic overview of the options and technology needs one should have in mind for India while taking about the same.

The paper gives a comparative review of the renewable energy options, their expenditures and feasibility scenarios in light of four different conditions which are namely: Reference (business as usual), Evolution (improved energy efficiency and GTL and CTL included), Resolution (Prime Minister’s commitment) and Ambition (India takes strict emission reduction targets). The results have been presented in accurate manner though seem somewhat inflated based upon the scenario conditions.But as far as the reaction to the TERI’s projection of the business as usual emissions for India by 2031/32 are considered, they were focussed on the rapidly developing strategies the country has been following and not much disagreement was evident either at the event or otherwise on the proclaimed controversial statement.

However the statements are in pretty well agreement with the expected results but one condition to be taken in this context is that it considers the recent nuclear deal and a fuel price of $150/barrel into calculations.

Anyhow, to a greater extent, the paper and the presentation as the first attempt to specifically quantify the otherwise vague area of low carbon technology alternatives for a rapidly developing nation as India should be called a success. Atleast it gave us a direction to further concentrate on the goals and the requirements giving the much needed impetus.