PRIME Minister Mr. Narendra Modi’s idea of climate justice to fight the climate change is borne out of the Indian philosophy of treating nature as a benevolent mother. Health of people and health of their surroundings are two intricately connected issues which now need to become a cohesive idea for humanity for evolvement of the concept of climate justice. Mr. Modi has, in effect, exhorted the international as well as local society to take it as their individual duty to fight the climate change. India has been championing the cause of an integrated fight against climate change with concrete action on the ground as promised in the Paris Climate Change Conference in 2015. The commitment of reduction of emission intensity of GDP by 33-35 per cent is on track with a drop of 24 per cent of emission from the 2005 levels. These actions must find resonance in other developed as well as developing countries for a united front to mitigate climate change. Taking ownership of the environment around oneself is a primary duty of each citizen if the idea of climate justice is to be achieved. It must also cover the haphazardly planned development projects for which humans are ever-ready to disturb nature.

 

INDIAN skipper Virat Kohli has slipped to the fifth spot on the ICC Test rankings for batsmen, pushed down by his English counterpart Joe Root who has climbed to the third place. Root’s imperious form with the bat in Sri Lanka and the double hundred against India in the first Test in Chennai has automatically cleared the upper space in the ranking which is topped by Australia’s Steve Smith. Kohli’s slip is largely due to the three Tests he missed in Australia due to his paternity leave. At the same time, Smith, New Zealand’s Kane Williamson and Root were making their bats talk in the chances they got. Given the talent at his disposal, Kohli will catch up with the other modern-day batting greats in the coming months. However, it is not only about talent at hand but the consistency that is needed to use this talent. Great batsmen make every opportunity count and Kohli needs to up his game a few more notches to use the next three Tests for making a statement of intent. Kohli’s consistency with the bat must translate into some big numbers like Root has done, for, those are pretty much needed for Team India to make a comeback in the series after the massive setback handed by England.