Jairam Ramesh

on climate change

Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha; Chairman of the Indian Parliament’s Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment, Forests & Climate Change; former Minister of Rural Development Fisher Family Fellow 2015-2017

Clearly, humanity is in danger of crossing what scientists have called ‘planetary boundaries’ of which nine have been identified and studied. True, we have had some success in areas like controlling the depletion of the ozone layer thanks to the Montreal Protocol, but in all other areas—climate change and biodiversity loss, to give two notable examples—we are already across the tipping point. Further, the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates yet again the interconnectedness of what we consider to be ecological issues and public health concerns. The two can no longer be discussed and dealt with separately. Diplomacy is ultimately about politics and maximising opportunities for economic advancement but it must informed by a collective commitment to address in a meaningful way with tangible roadmaps the ecology-public health interface as well.

What advice do you have for the next generation of diplomatic practitioners?

Most importantly, diplomatic practitioners will have to be better informed on science and technology, better networked with the scientific and technological community—at the national, regional and global levels.

Former Speaker of the UK House of Commons, the Right Honourable John Bercow speaks at a JFK Jr. Forum event moderated by Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook on September 16, 2019.