Thread by @ruhie

Want to know the real #climatebudget? Then look beyond Ministry of Environment. #ClimateCrisis is beyond carbon policies and schemes. It's where money is being allocated to not just mitigate but also add to fuel the crisis (1/n) #UnionBudget2022 #India

Let’s take health ministry for example. One of the big reasons we are all bothered about climate is because it’s impact on health. India has some of the most polluted cities in the world, which means more people at risk from respiratory disorders. (2/n)

But you will not find any specific allocation in the health ministry’s budget for respiratory or lung missions, or any new project announced for the same. So firstly, enough money is not allocated under the National Clean Air Action Programme (NCAP) #UnionBudget2022

(NCAP) whose aim is to reduce pollution over a period of time looking at different sectors, and much ambiguity exists on how much of last years NCAP budget was used. #UnionBudget2022 #ClimateBudget

Additionally, a clear lack of understanding on what public health crisis is, which pans beyond COVID 19 pandemic. Severe and hazardous air qualities certainly require more than just allocation for air quality monitors, it requires 360 degree intervention esp in budget allocations

Now, let’s look at ministry of ports, shipping and waterways. The budget allocation is 412.70 Cr for Sagarmala project, which is essentially port led development and part of the Blue Economy (see image) And obviously 412.70 Cr is nothing for construction of new ports

as they would be built by private shipping companies. BUT, the point is, with India’s vulnerable coastline, increasing rate of cyclones in not just the Bay of Bengal but now also in the Arabian Sea, are we allocating enough money for protection of coastlines? #UnionBudget2022

Building more ports despite the perceived economic growth, potentially it leads to a) loss of livelihoods for the local fishing communities across the 9 coastal states b) risk to coastal communities for their habitat c) destroying eco sensitive zones & affecting marine wildlife

d) cyclones affect a vital source of food and economy – fish stock and all the allied industries which depend on fish and coastlines – from logistics to sellers to restaurant and FMCG. So where is the budget to look at preservation of coastlines...

Wait, it’s here but only a meagre 195 Cr under the National Coastal Mission for the ENTIRE coastline, that is, 9 states and vulnerable from climate impacts. Of course, states finance ministries are responsible for a lot of action, but for an Indian citizen..

.. it tells you a lot when the union ministry looks at climate as a ‘trend’ or buzz word as a follow up from the disastrous #COP26. #UnionBudget2022 #ClimateBudget

Hence, do not look for climate budget under just Ministry of Envt, dissect every ministry’s budget – coal, health, urban planning, women family welfare, tribal affairs, earth sciences, (investment in research and dev for our weather systems for extreme event forecasting models)

Look deeper, look beyond what meets the eye. This is the most urgent issue of our times but it’s also the most over simplified one. Climate intersects with everything, especially in the current social justice reality #UnionBudget2022 #ClimateBudget

If fund allocation is responsible for developing hopeful project on circular economy (as mentioned today by the FM), it also has to look at what is causing pollution and exacerbating climate crisis regionally. Paying attention to details and beyond optics is beyond urgent

Fin