Climate Change is any alteration of Earth’s climate and temperature due to the changes in the atmosphere as well as the interactions between geological, chemical, biological, and geographical factors It causes various damages like more frequent and intense hurricanes, floods, cyclones, flooding, tsunamis, etc. Due to the increasing temperature caused by climate change, the ice in the Arctic regions is melting at an accelerated rate, causing sea levels to rise and damaging the coastlines due to increased flooding and erosion.

The causes of the sudden climate change in the world are mainly due to human activities.

• India is one of the largest producers of greenhouse gases. The largest driver of warming is the emission of greenhouse gases of which more than 90% are carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane
• Fossil fuel burning (coal, oil, and natural gas) for energy consumption is the main source of these emissions, with additional contributions from agriculture, deforestation, and manufacturing.

The harsh effects of climate change are:

• Temperature rise leads to desert expansion and more common heat waves and wildfires.
• It has contributed to melting permafrost, glacial retreat, and sea ice loss.
• Increasing rates of evaporation, cause more intense storms and weather extremes.
• Dangerous effects on food insecurity, water scarcity, flooding, infectious diseases, extreme heat, economic losses, and displacement.
• The spreading of contagious diseases as the long-term warm weather allows disease-carrying insects, animals, and microbes to survive longer.
• Increase in death due to extreme heat, natural disasters, and diseases due to climate change.

These human impacts have led the World Health Organization to call climate change the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century. Even if efforts to minimise future warming are successful, some effects will continue for centuries, including rising sea levels, rising ocean temperatures, and ocean.

Climate change is an accelerating global problem and has been identified as the defining issue of this century by the United Nations.

To limit the impacts of climate change, the world must rapidly reduce its dependency on fossil fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

Nuclear energy is low-carbon and can be deployed on a large scale at the timescale required, supplying the world with clean, reliable, and affordable electricity.

Nuclear power plants produce less greenhouse gas emissions during their operation, and over the course of their life-cycle, nuclear produces about the same amount of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions per unit of electricity as wind, and one-third of the emissions per unit of electricity when compared with solar. nuclear power can directly replace fossil fuel plants, avoiding the combustion of fossil fuels for electricity generation.

Experts have stated that without an increased role for nuclear, the deep decarbonisation for combating climate change would be much harder.

Electricity is increasing its importance in transport, domestic purposes, and industrialisation, and its generation currently produces over 40% of all energy-related carbon emissions. In Decarbonising the electricity supply, as well as providing affordable and reliable electricity to a growing global population, Nuclear energy has shown its potential to be the catalyst for delivering sustainable energy transitions.

Many countries generate their electricity from nuclear power – the largest nuclear share globally is by France which uses 70 percent of electricity from nuclear power.

Climate change and Global Warming have already started targeting the poor and the most vulnerable. Nuclear power and Hydropower form the backbone of low-carbon electricity generation.

The government should take necessary actions that aim to ensure the safe operation of existing nuclear power plants, support new nuclear construction, and encourage new nuclear technologies.

Alongside renewables, energy efficiency, and other innovative technologies, nuclear can make a significant contribution to achieving sustainable energy goals and enhancing energy security.

It is considerably cheaper than other clean energy options like solar or wind projects. Nevertheless, they still represent a substantial capital investment.

Nuclear power plants contribute to energy security in multiple ways. They keep power grids stable.

Policymakers should formulate rules and regulations for achieving the clean energy transition with less nuclear power as Without nuclear investment, achieving a sustainable energy system will be much harder.

Securing investment in new nuclear plants would require more intrusive policy intervention given the very high cost of projects and unfavourable recent experiences in some countries. Investment policies need to overcome financing barriers through a combination of long-term contracts, price guarantees, and direct state investment. there is a case for governments to promote it through funding for research and development, public-private partnerships for venture capital, and early deployment grants.

Continued activity in the operation and development of nuclear technology is required to maintain skills and expertise.

Strong policy support is needed to secure investment in existing and new nuclear plants. The capacity of nuclear energy to ensure our energy independence and to guarantee the production of low-carbon electricity is invaluable for tackling the climate emergency.

In addition to being a climate-friendly energy, nuclear power provides continuous and controllable electricity and is one of the least expensive sources of electrical power generation.  Nuclear power emits no fine particles, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrates or phosphates into the atmosphere.

Today, the world is home to the largest generation of the important drivers of global change and innovation i.e. the youth, contributing about 43% of the global population. A temper of will, quality of imagination, the predominance of courage, and appetite for adventure make this huge cohort a vibrant, constructive force which can address global issues and create a more just, equitable and a peaceful world.

The empowered youth from diverse backgrounds like food to fashion to finance are the forerunners of assessment, awareness, action and advocacy for sustainable development. They are the main stakeholders, policymakers, powerful resources in handling responsibilities, revolutionizing fellow men, and a catalyst for change.

Sustainable development is an overarching paradigm of the United Nations. This concept was described by the 1987 Brundtland Commission Report as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations.” Thus, it envisages a future agenda that balances the four pillars i.e. social, economic, cultural, and environmental objectives.

“No one knows better than youth, the issues at stake or the best way to respond. That is why I am calling on young people to speak out – and urging leaders to listen.” - Ban ki Moon

It’s a dire need to tackle these huge challenges by promoting the rights and aspirations and increasing the participation of youth in decision-making.

In India, the magnitude of the SDG demands a strong policy that is inclusive, participatory, gender-responsive, comprehensive, and knowledge-based with priorities on education, health, and employment.

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