Cricket helps fight climate change

Yesterday I joined with millions of Indians all over the world, bearing witness to history in the making. A team of 15 men hailing from all parts of India defended national pride and love for cricket by playing against fellow South Asian country, Sri Lanka, for the Cricket World Cup 2011.

The Sri Lankan Lions put up a great score of 275 in the opening innings and left Indians flummoxed and in an extremely challenging position. But as they say, if Cricket is a religion, there is only one GOD and that is SACHIN TENDULKAR.

The whole match hinged on the performance of our opening batting pair, Veeru (Sehwag) and Sachin. After their dismissal, Indians all over the world, including myself live streaming into the match, hoped against hope that the team would survive. And they did. The team went as men and emerged as gods. To be worshiped forever.

But with this great victory, came great insight, most of which can provide clarity on what happens at the Climate Change Conference and how governments could win against climate change together.

1. Its a team game

Everyone needs to be in this together. Whether you’re a poor country or a rich one, the vulnerable or the oil rich, the islands or the mountain alliance - you have to put up a fight against climate change together. Internal frictions exist amongst teams, but when on the field you’re one.

2. There is a common goal. Chase the target or get a big score on the board.

Everyone knows how much CO2 needs to be reduced and by what timeline, but at the moment countries are missing the big picture. Of the existing pledges and actions, there is a gap on the order gigatonnes of CO2 reductions missing (developed countries need to commit to more than 40% of emissions below those in 1990 by the year 2020). Moreover you need to establish a long term goal and stick by it (a peak emission year for economies that are expanding, and a long-term goal of reducing at least 80% emissions below 1990 levels by 2050).

After all, sometimes teams are able to put less runs on the board (less ambitious reduction targets for co2), you have to stand by the target (at least reduce that much) and go beyond to meet the larger goal (be more ambitious).

3. Everyone contributes according to their capacity

A Harbhajan is not expected to hit a century but to bowl well. A Sehwag lets his bat do the talking for him. A Raina is ace at fielding but needn’t bowl. Everyone performs according to their respective capabilities pretty much like countries at climate talks. They pledge or commit to reduce emissions according to their respective capabilities - the technical wonkys call it ‘common but differentiated responsibility’ and ‘respective capability’.

4. Need a strong opening pair

Sachin and Sehwag are among the best opening batsman in the world. Sehwag batted like an item girl who sizzles for a few minutes and disappears thereafter, breaking bowlers into pieces. Sachin was more of a class act - the “master blaster” who stabilized and hammered bowling orders to such an extent that he must have given world class bowlers like Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne nightmares.

For the climate talks to really deliver we need the two strongest and most powerful polluters in the world to show ambition and promise. The China – US partnership, once established, could help us win against run-away climate change.

5. Need public support

No team wins on its own. Usko jeetana parta hai (we have to make them win!), and for gathering support for climate change you first need to believe that its happening. Read, share and contribute your stories and your personal experiences.

Basically, domestic political conditions continue to determine how far and how fast UN negotiations move. For example, in India, many in parliament reacted negatively to some of the progressive positions that India took in Cancun. How can India win without Indian’s making their team win? So you need to step up and support!

6. Fighting the nerves and balls of steel

We could have collapsed to 220 all out, but two crucial lower-order partnerships involving Dhoni/ Yuvraj and Dhoni/Gambhir led Team to a win. India showed class and poise when the chips were down. Countries like the US and Europe should show poise when political situations might be challenging.

7. Being flexible

The flexibility and attitude of Indian players is reflected in their fielding. We should keeping our negotiating positions strong but agile so that we have a grey area where we can find compromise in the spirit of the larger goal.

8. Great coaching

Steering the process in the right directions and setting the tone is critical. No one is better than Christiana Figueres to do that in international climate talks - very much like our Garry Kirsten (coach of the Indian Team)

9. Perfect timing. Delivering when required.

With the world facing unprecedented natural disasters, freaky change in weather, and nuclear crisis, its the perfect time to shift to greener economies with special emphasis on the renewable sources of energy. And nothing like delivering that shift in the upcoming Durban climate talks.

10. Cricket Diplomacy

Cricket drives politics. Politics drive positions. Positions drive response to climate change.

Needless to say. You always need luck.
And more than luck. Hope.
And more than hope. Faith.

See this video and you will feel the faith, cheer and power of people

and dont miss the photos here

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/04/india-wins-2011-cricket-world-cup/100038/

Still want more ?
http://greatbong.net/2011/04/03/the-day-we-won-the-cup-once-again/
http://www.espncricinfo.com/
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/video_audio/509308.html