Climate Action and Unemployment

What are the two big problems or at least two of the biggest problems haunting our country today? What would be their impact on the future of our country?

According to a report by Deloitte, India could lose up to 6 trillion dollars by 2050 as an outcome of climate change. This means that the country and its population will be poorer by 6 trillion dollars. Even if we keep the facts aside, the impact of climate change is something that has spared none. Be it the soaring temperatures at a time it should have been raining or the frequent floods and heat waves that are occurring, everyone is able to feel the impact of climate change.

Next up is unemployment. Today India is a country with the highest proportion of youth in its population. It means a huge percentage of the population should be working and should be generating revenue and resources for the country. But the situation happens to be the other way around. We can attribute it to COVID or to something else, but we also need to acknowledge the fact that skill deficiency is one of the reasons for unemployment today, clubbed with COVID and other reasons.

Two huge problems that we are staring at right now, if aren’t worked upon might well end up in a disaster. Both these do not look related to each other and quite so because they might not be actually related. However, if we try to look at the solution side of these problems, we can actually use one problem to solve another one which in turn would have solved the former problem.

Sounds weird? Getting confused? What is the simplest solution to global warming and climate change? Reduction in carbon emission or rather reduction in the amount of carbon-based gases in the atmosphere right? What simplest action can help achieve this reduction? Reforestation. Reforestation is something that is possible. A lot of people have started with barren land and have ended up with forests. What is the skill required for reforestation? Absolute minimum is good enough. If one person who understands how we can convert a barren land to forest and if he can have a team of people who can be given simple tasks such as watering and other gardening activities, we can grow forests over a period of time. And if you are still wondering how this is linked to unemployment, here is how it is. If we can get the unemployed into forest building, create a job role called “Climate action change maker”, pay them good enough for their impeccable contribution, we are done. We just gave jobs which will save an eternity from the consequences of climate change.

But the question is, “Is the money spent on paying the climate action change makers and other necessary things economically worth it?” Is the idea even feasible? Consider the fact that India is going to lose 6 trillion dollars due to climate change by 2050. We don’t know the numbers for 2060, 2070, 2080, 2090, 2100 and more. Consider the fact that giving a job to someone will help them spend more and contribute to the economy and much more apart from giving him/her a dignified life. Now let’s ask that question again. Is it worth it?