Green Guru Gatherings S1E1 : In Conversation with Dr. Abhishank Mishra

In the captivating opening chapter of "Green Guru Gatherings," MH Vatavaran embarked on an exhilarating journey into the world of environmental activism. Against the backdrop of global environmental milestones, we had the privilege of delving deep into the insights of Dr. Abhishank Mishra, an Assistant Professor in the esteemed Department of Political Science of Miranda House. His expertise illuminated the pressing issues at the heart of our planet's future, making this interview an absolute must-read for all eco-enthusiasts. 🌿🌻

Dr. Abhishank Mishra,Assistant Professor,Miranda House

Q1)First question, would you mind introducing yourself to our gripping onlookers?

Ans: My name is Abhishank Mishra. I did my PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University and I'm an Assistant Professor here at Miranda House and that's a short introduction to me.

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Q.2) Could you provide some insight into your academics areas of specialization and share what inspired your pursuit of them?

Ans: So, I specialize in International Politics. My PhD research topic was ‘India and the Asia-Pacific: A Theoretical Reappraisal of the Regional Strategic and Economic Order’. My research focused on problematizing the Balance of Power theory within the ambit of the Asia-Pacific region in a bid to generate theoretically generalizable ontologies that best encapsulate the modalities of actions of the countries of this region. Since high school, I was keenly interested in international politics. When I was younger, I used to read the newspaper backwards and the first section that one comes across if you do that is world affairs. I used to pay acute interest to international affairs. In particular I was fascinated by weapons technologies and their tactical and strategic use. I was also in awe of interlocuters and their skills in negotiation. So, during the formative years of my schooling experience, I had already amassed a working knowledge of international affairs. In my bachelors I kind of lost touch with this deep-seated interest about the world. However, international relations found a way back into my life when I cleared the JNU entrance for International Studies at School of International Studies. A paper in my Masters that nudged me towards the Asia-Pacific and towards my research interests was Problems of International Relations (PIR), taught by Rajesh Rajagopalan. In this paper, the theoretical research problems that were taught really intrigued me and got me interested in the future theatre of great power politics that is Asia-Pacific.

Q3)What are your thoughts on the current state of the environment and how do you see the intricate connection between international relations and environmental issues unfolding in today’s world ?

Ans:Okay, so there is definitely an intricate connection between international politics and environmental issues. Climate change continues to be a significant global challenge. The state of the environment remains a pressing concern. Climate change continues to accelerate, leading to more frequent and severe extreme weather events. Biodiversity loss is escalating due to habitat destruction and pollution, threatening ecosystems and species. Air and water pollution persist as significant issues, affecting human health and well-being. According to the IPCC Working Group sixth assessment report, the world will probably reach or exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming within just the next two decades which will set off irreversible changes in the environment. We have reached this point due issues concerning the global environment being treated like a ‘global commons’ or those areas which are outside the exclusive jurisdiction of the nation states and require common governance and management by the international community. And like most global commons concerted efforts pertaining to the environment fall in the category of ‘tragedy of commons’ which means nation states acting in their self-interest, deplete or degrade a shared resource or "commons" to the detriment of the wholegroup.

At the global level, there exist frameworks such as the United Nations framework convention on climate change (UNFCCC) which periodically conduct conference of parties (COP) dialogues to discuss and negotiate actions to address climate change on a global scale. Despite increasing magnitude of information and concerted efforts such as the Paris Accord, there still exists pathological deferment in meeting targets to limit climate change. This has been due to the operation of science related populism, anti-environmentalism and corporate denial simultaneously growing around the world as well. Moreover, the North-South Divide is quite evident on issues related to climate change. Developing countries often cite cost and affordability challenges as a primary barrier to transitioning to renewable energy, emphasizing the high initial investments and technology acquisition expenses. Additionally, some nations stress historical responsibility and equity, calling for support from developed nations in terms of technology transfer, capacity building, and financial aid to aid a sustainable transition without compromising economic stability, trade, and livelihoods. Developed countries, argue that argue that developing countries should bear a larger share of the burden since they are expected to be the main contributors to future emissions and highlight concerns about technology transfer, intellectual property rights, and loss of competitiveness, suggesting that sharing advanced technologies with the global South may undermine the North's economic advantages

Q 4) Do you believe that the environment conferences contribute meaningful benefits to our world’s efforts in environmental protection ?

Ans :- To answer this question I would like to quote one of my post graduate professor, Prof CSR Murthy, who ended up teaching us about International organizations. He used to say and I quote ‘International organizations may not be the most potent tools to bring about change in international system, but the international system would be much worse off without them’. Yes, these conferences can serve as platforms for experts to share vital knowledge, research findings, and innovative practices, raising awareness about critical environmental issues. Conferences facilitate international collaboration and networking, enabling professionals from diverse backgrounds to form partnerships and work collectively towards sustainable solutions. Environmental conferences, while important, face several challenges. Firstly, accessibility and inclusivity can be issues, as attendance and active participation may be limited due to financial constraints, visa restrictions, or inadequate representation from marginalized communities. Additionally, achieving meaningful and enforceable agreements can be difficult, with divergent interests and the prioritization of economic concerns often impeding the creation of strong, unified global policies. The efficacy of these conferences can also be questioned, as translating discussions into actionable policies at the national and local levels is not always guaranteed. To overcome these shortcomings, promoting transparency, holding attendees accountable for commitments through local action plans, and adopting sustainable practices. Moreover, engaging local communities through educational programs, continuously monitoring and evaluating conference outcomes, and emphasizing concrete follow-up actions based on discussions would further enhance the impact and effectiveness of environmental conferences.

Q5)To what extent do you find the commonly held belief in the success of the Montreal Protocol to be accurate and impactful in the realm of environmental protection?

Ans- Definitely, I think the Montreal Protocol is one of those pioneering environmental agreements that have proved that if nations have the intent to solve problems, they can succeed. The agreement succeeded in phasing out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS), leading to a gradual healing of the ozone layer. The success of the protocol can be attributed to its science-based approach, international cooperation, innovative financial mechanisms, and inclusive decision-making processes. Strengthening engagement and interaction based on these salient components should definitely be taken as an archetype for future multilateral agreements to emulate.

Q6)In your view, how effective has the recent G20's engagement with environmental issues been in aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

Ans- There were some significant attempts made through the New Delhi Declaration, such as setting a number of specific targets, such as reducing global greenhouse gas emissions by 43% by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Adopting the Chennai High Level Principles for a Sustainable and Resilient Blue/Ocean-based Economy, which aim to promote the sustainable use and management of marine resources. Launching the Global Biofuel Alliance, which aims to promote the development and use of sustainable biofuels. Providing financial and technical support to developing countries to help them implement climate change mitigation and adaptation measures, as well as to protect biodiversity and reduce pollution was also a significant part of the agenda of this summit. In certain respects the G-20 could have done more such as agreeing on a specific timetable for phasing out coal, mobilizing the $100 billion per year in climate finance for developing countries, providing more support for the implementation of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, taking more ambitious steps to reduce pollution. G20 needs to do more to accelerate its progress on key issues in order to align its engagement with environmental issues with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Q7)Apart from you being a cool professor of Miranda house, have you done anything cool to help the environment?

Ans- I believe in being a conscientious and responsible global citizen. Through my own conduct, I try to be conscientious towards the environment as much as possible. I try to limit my own carbon footprint in the consumer and food choices that I make. I try to invest in recyclable and organic clothing, I am a practicing vegan in my diet. I am currently trying to abstain from shopping online or buying things I don’t need. I also am hopeful that we can change things. I hope we can grow resilient with time but not hopeless. In all of these things, I am failing in my own way but trying to stay true to who I am, trying to do my part. That’s all any of us can do. All we can do is try. Trying is cool.

Q8)How are our ways of sustainable practices different from that of your college days and as a Professor how do you view both the sides?

Ans- I would say that the future generation, which is you the reader, interviewer is more conscientious about the environment. We as a generation might have been a little more reckless than you. Its not that we weren’t conscious of our choices, but it’s just the folly of youth , that you think you’re immortal when you’re younger , that consequences don’t matter as much. I think what I have learnt over the years is that your choices and habits will always catch up to you. So you have to change with time, every phase of your life needs a newer and better you. I am certainly more conscious today than I was yesterday and that’s how it should be. I think in India, as a culture, we are more frugal and that’s not a bad thing for the environment. It helps us manage our carbon footprint. I am also cognizant of the fact that when you’re younger you don’t have as much control over the things you buy but as you gain financial independence you ought to be more conscious where you spend and what you spend on. I also feel that we have been dealt a bad hand in terms of what to aspire for in life as most of our freedoms so far have been energy-intensive. modern freedoms stand on an ever-expanding base of fossil-fuel use.

Q9) Last but not the least, do you love plants and if you are creating your own garden, what kind of plant would you choose and why?

Ans- From a very young age, I had the luxury of being in a house where we had a garden. We had wall hanging plants and indoor plants, green hedges and decorative flowers. In my conscious memory, I have seen my mother nurture plants like she nurtured us. She was very hands on with it. Sadly, I’m not very literate about plants but I have had the good fortune of being gifted plants by my students, one of them sitting across from me interviewing me, Tanisha. I personally feel that everyone should own a plant. While you take care of plants, you learn accountability, care, consistency. To take care of a plant is a selfless act. Owning a plant makes you a better person overall.

Interviewed by: Tanisha Victor (Editorial Head, MH Vatavaran)

Edited by:

Palak Sharma,Ekanshi Ojha,Nandini Kanwar,Tanya Choudhary (MH Vatavaran Volunteers)

Picture credit: Pankhuri Mittal,Palak Mittal