Another talk-fest

Global climate meet in Marrakech achieves little

Not much was anticipated from the 22nd global summit on climate change (COP 22) at Marrakech, barring laying down the rules to implement the Paris agreement from 2020 and the spadework needed before that. The actual outcome of the meet, sadly, falls short of even these meagre expectations. All it has managed to achieve is to make over 190 participating countries agree to a 2018 deadline. The core issues of finance and technology for clean development and of assistance for adaptation to rapidly altering weather patterns have remained largely undressed. These measures, which formed part of the path-breaking Kyoto protocol on climate change, envisage mobilising $100 billion a year from rich nations by 2020. These countries have chosen not to make firm commitments for these funds. Nor did they agree on transparent measurement and accounting of their emission reductions, though developing countries somehow succeeded in retaining these issues on the agenda for the next climate summit at Bonn in 2017.

Among the very few positives from the meet is the unanimity over the “Marrakech Action Proclamation” that reflects the shared political resolve to keep the Paris agreement going to stave off a rise in temperature to catastrophic levels. A reassertion of this vow became imperative in the wake of US President-elect Donald Trump’s remarks during his poll campaign that climate change was a “hoax” and that he would on assuming office pull the US out of the Paris accord. The US has a past history of taking such drastic steps; it had wriggled out of the Kyoto protocol of 1997 by not ratifying it even after signing the deal. However, such an irrational step seems difficult and, more so, unwise at this time since the US, under President Barack Obama, has already signed and ratified the Paris deal.

Back home, the government seems satisfied that its pet concerns regarding equity, climate justice and differentiated responsibilities received considerable support at Marrakech. But, the truth that cannot be disregarded is that these concepts have failed to find any mention in the final proclamation though, mercifully, they are still on the table. New Delhi can, however, draw solace from the fact that its initiative to form an International Solar Alliance (ISA) registered noteworthy progress with over 20 countries, including France and Brazil, joining it on the sidelines of the Marrakech meet, and many expressing their willingness to do so in the near future. This initiative is meant to promote international cooperation in harnessing solar energy and mobilising over $100 billion by 2030 for investing in this sector. India has also done well to set an ambitious target of producing 175 Gigawatts (Gw) of renewable energy by 2022, of which 100 Gw will be solar power. Though this appeared utopian in the beginning when solar power was far costlier than conventional thermal electricity, that is no longer the case. Solar power tariffs are now on a par with those of coal-based energy and may soon fall appreciably below them, thanks to technological upgradation. This apart, India’s nationally determined goal to slash the carbon footprint of its economy by 33 to 35 per cent by 2030 over 2005 levels — declared before the Paris climate summit of 2015 — has been widely acclaimed. With such domestic credentials, India has acquired legitimacy to play an active role in framing rules for the Paris accord and to carry forward the Marrakech action plan.