Recently, the results of the 2024 People’s Climate Vote survey, conducted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the University of Oxford’s Department of Sociology, and GeoPoll, were published
Key Findings of the Survey on Climate Change
- Climate Change Perceptions in India: Around 33% of those surveyed in India said that they think about climate change every day, and more than half worry more about it in comparison to last year. Only 26%, however, think India is addressing climate change “very well”.
- Climate Action Views: Surveyed Indians also performed well on almost all parameters related to people’s priorities – the majority supports replacing oil and gas, protecting people from weather events and restoring nature, transnational support to combat climate change, and gaining help from richer countries.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- About: Established in 1966 by the United Nations General Assembly, the UNDP is a UN agency dedicated to assisting countries in eradicating poverty and promoting sustainable economic growth and human development.
- Focus Areas: The agency’s efforts are centred on three main areas: sustainable development, democratic governance and peacebuilding, and climate and disaster resilience.
- Aim: The UNDP aims to eradicate poverty, foster democratic governance, uphold the rule of law, and promote inclusive institutions. It advocates for transformative change and facilitates the exchange of knowledge, experience, and resources among countries to improve livelihoods.
- Funding: The UNDP relies exclusively on voluntary contributions from member nations to finance its operations.
- Headquarters: Located in New York, USA, the UNDP operates from its headquarters to coordinate global efforts towards sustainable development and poverty reduction.
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Climate Change
- About: Climate change involves long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns. These changes can arise from natural factors such as fluctuations in the solar cycle or from human activities.
Factors Affecting Climate Change
- Natural Factors Influencing Climate
- Continental Drift: Gradual movement of landmasses due to plate displacement, occurring over millions of years. Influences climate through changes in physical features, landmass positions, ocean currents, and winds. Ongoing drift is exemplified by the rising Himalayan range.
- Variation of Earth’s Orbit: Fluctuations in Earth’s orbit affect seasonal sunlight distribution over thousands of years. Three types of orbital variations—eccentricity, changes in tilt angle, and precession— collectively cause Milankovitch cycles. Milankovitch cycles are linked to glacial and interglacial periods.
- Ocean Currents: Critical component of the climate system, driven by horizontal winds. Temperature differences in water influence regional climate patterns.
- Anthropogenic Factors Affecting Climate
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Since the Industrial Revolution, humans have significantly increased emissions of greenhouse gases.
- Land Use Change: Changes in land use during the industrial era, including deforestation for agriculture. Albedo changes resulting from deforestation affect surface temperatures on Earth.
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June 26, 2024