Rishika Pardikar
rishpardikar.bsky.social
Rishika Pardikar
@rishpardikar.bsky.social
Environment and climate reporter covering science, law & policy | Drilled, Article-14, AGU's Eos, African Arguments, The Hindu, The Continent

📍Bengaluru, India
Pinned
A 'Coal in India' explainer for @drilledmedia.bsky.social. Historical roots to nationalisation & back to privatisation, worker issues, Adani & state favour, resistance by Adivasi communities & police action & underground mining. Context: non-existent energy transition
drilled.media/news/india-c...
In India’s Coal Belt, a Window into the Challenges Facing Energy Transition
India’s reliance on coal is tied to a complex set of economic, social, and energy security factors; any successful energy transition plan will have to address all of them.
drilled.media
Use coal for over two centuries. Close the last plant in 2024 and claim 'climate leadership'. Drill the North Sea for oil and gas to near-depletion. Then announce a 'ban' with relaxations to drill more in existing fields. No one does 'climate leadership' like the UK
November 27, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Reposted by Rishika Pardikar
Applies also to other bans worldwide (Ireland, Denmark, NZ when the ban came in) - easier to ban exploration when you have minimal prospectivity.
November 27, 2025 at 9:26 AM
So, there are likely very few oil and gas reserves left after drilling for about 50 years. Some of these leftover reserves could still be extracted given the relaxation for existing fields. And there is a significant investment in CCUS, the merits of which are up for debate
November 27, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Now that COP is over, rich countries can go back to not pretending. Until next COP when both them and their pet journalists can celebrate their climate leadership
November 26, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Summary by Earth Negotiations Bulletin #COP30. This section captures the crux enb.iisd.org/belem-un-cli...
November 26, 2025 at 6:01 AM
Reposted by Rishika Pardikar
While many rued the lack of reference to phasing out fossil fuels and deforestation in the #COP30 “Mutirão” decision and the decision on the #GGA, they applauded the new Gender Action Plan and the decision to develop a #JustTransition mechanism

Summary ➡️ enb.iisd.org/belem-un-cli...
November 26, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Unintended impacts that are also unpredictable and unintuitive. Had covered such issues a while ago eos.org/articles/clo...
November 25, 2025 at 5:10 AM
Reposted by Rishika Pardikar
My issue with SRM, leaving aside the equity and governance issues (which are IMO insurmountable), is that most (all?) of the research on SRM is based in models which struggle to agree on how even relatively recent volcanic events (our only albeit quite imperfect analog) affect surface climate. 1/2
October 26, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Reposted by Rishika Pardikar
At COP30, while public statements talked up "high quality" carbon markets, concerted efforts were made in negotiations to water down the already inadequate Article 6 rule book.

Our conclusion: countries must fix Article 6 and not use carbon credits.
carbonmarketwatch.org/2025/11/22/c...
November 22, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Reposted by Rishika Pardikar
#cop30 decision's "recalling with concern" that "historical cumulative net carbon dioxide emissions account for at least four fifths of the total carbon budget for a 50% probability of limiting global warming to 1.5C" was true *in 2019*.

It's now 94%, best guess. /1

unfccc.int/sites/defaul...
unfccc.int
November 23, 2025 at 8:18 PM
After every COP, I have only this suggestion: source of news should be a careful and deliberate choice. And getting news from a diversity of sources is good because it allows comparison and hopefully, critical thinking. Another tip is to check for attribution and evidence in media reports
November 24, 2025 at 5:07 AM
This is a good example to understand what gets classified (often wrongly, in my view) as obstruction by some developing countries. Seeking equitable climate action and opposing phaseouts that are not supported and funded is seen and portrayed in media as inherently bad cssn.org/wp-content/u...
November 24, 2025 at 4:38 AM
Reposted by Rishika Pardikar
China at the #COP30 closing session:

"History will remember the footprint that was left in Belém"

"As a developing country, China will continue to promote global climate governance"
November 23, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Ok I see news reports lacking clarity. The two roadmaps announced by the COP30 Brazilian presidency on halting deforestation and transitioning away from fossil fuels are voluntary in nature. They were announced at the closing plenary without gavelling. They do not constitute a COP decision
November 23, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Reposted by Rishika Pardikar
At #COP30, Panama, Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, & Ecuador denounced the gavelling of the decision on the Global Goal on Adaptation despite their delegations having raised their flags and signalling points of order

They lamented that the indicators erase 2 years of work conducted with expert input
November 22, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Reposted by Rishika Pardikar
Intervention by 🇮🇳 on behalf of 🇧🇷🇿🇦🇮🇳🇨🇳 BASIC, following the suspension of the closing plenary at COP30

Says intervening countries hold "extreme positions"

Adds: "It is in our interest to make sure climate multilateralism succeeds"
November 22, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Reposted by Rishika Pardikar
Delegates exit #COP30 with mixed feelings

The decision to develop a #justtransition mechanism, adoption of the new #gender action plan were applauded

But many raised concerns on the #GGA indicators and the lack of a reference to fossil fuel transition

Read ➡️ enb.iisd.org/belem-un-cli...
November 23, 2025 at 12:47 AM
A key outcome of COP28 was that countries agreed to transition away from fossil fuels. This was and continues to be a binding agreement regardless of whether future COPs mention the same/ similar language again
November 22, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Reposted by Rishika Pardikar
🆕 UNILATERAL TRADE MEASURES #COP30

After fighting for inclusion on COP agendas in Dubai, Baku and Belém, climate-related trade measures are on the verge of having their big moment on the cover of COP30 climate talks.
November 22, 2025 at 3:40 PM
About the #COP30 'fossil fuel transition roadmap': it was not on the formal agenda. It was not formally negotiated by parties as part of UNFCCC processes. Some developing countries support it outright. Others either support it while seeking finance and more clarity or are opposing it outright
November 22, 2025 at 2:27 PM
"... many African and Latin American countries also confronted the COP30 Presidency, asking why the roadmap had been introduced without mandate or consultation... without clarity on funding or implementation — would impose commitments they cannot deliver."

www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-chan...
COP30’s no fossil fuel roadmap in Mutirao text sparks south–north clash, civil society rebuts ‘false narratives’ of obstruction
A contentious proposal for a “fossil fuel transition roadmap” (TAFF) has ignited one of the fiercest political clashes at COP30, with Global South negotiators a
www.downtoearth.org.in
November 22, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Reposted by Rishika Pardikar
As the final text is being hammered out here in Belém for #COP30, the issue of fossil fuel phase-out is on the table again.

Looking at the actual numbers from the IPCC AR6 1.5°C assessed scenarios to decompose reduced fossil fuel output vs. carbon capture and storage - CCS (i.e. abatement)

1/3
November 21, 2025 at 7:10 PM
The EU won 'Fossil of the Day' award at COP30 for a "committed and impressively diverse portfolio of obstruction and avoidance". Context for people wondering why some developing countries have concerns about fossil fuel phaseout. It is because of lack of support

climatenetwork.org/resource/sol...
November 22, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Reposted by Rishika Pardikar
Another example of what happens when countries attempt to suddenly reform subsidies that keep fossil fuel prices low, especially without sufficient flanking policies to protect the poor and ease the transition.
What’s behind the attack on Daniel Noboa in Ecuador

The attack took place amid protests that Noboa is facing for having cut subsidies that held down the price of diesel. The measure, signed in September, caused fuel to go from US$1.80 to US$2.80 per gallon (from R$9.60 to R$15, at the current…
What’s behind the attack on Daniel Noboa in Ecuador
The attack took place amid protests that Noboa is facing for having cut subsidies that held down the price of diesel. The measure, signed in September, caused fuel to go from US$1.80 to US$2.80 per gallon (from R$9.60 to R$15, at the current price). Source link
virtualnewss360.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Reposted by Rishika Pardikar
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said today that the fight against climate change was not against the fuels that cause it — only the pollution they emit.
Von der Leyen says EU is not fighting fossil fuels, only emissions
The comment could undermine European countries’ push at COP30 to move away from coal, oil and gas.
www.politico.eu
November 21, 2025 at 2:10 PM