The climate changes
India toughens its stand before the Durban conference
After displaying considerable flexibility in global climate negotiations at Cancun and Copenhagen, even if in vain, India seems to have stiffened its stand on several key issues for the forthcoming 17th Conference of the Parties (COP-17) on climate change in Durban later this year. This is evident from Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan’s statement at the recent informal ministerial consultations on this issue in Pretoria. She sought greater commitment on emission reduction from developed countries before India could even begin to discuss the legally mandated agreement on climate change. She also ruled out international verification of India’s voluntary action on alleviating global warming, which the country had earlier expressed its willingness to consider under the proposed “international consultation and analysis” mechanism for member countries’ domestic climate programmes. Clearly, India wants to keep the spirit of the Kyoto protocol alive. Though this may be some re-posturing that would put India back in the developing world camp and may not really be aimed at stalling further talks, it is bound to displease developed countries which want developing countries, especially emerging economies like India and China, to also contribute towards cutting down carbon load of the environment. The ongoing climate talks, in any case, have a slim chance of a breakthrough at Durban. US President Barack Obama had categorically declined even at the last summit, at Copenhagen in 2009, to agree to a new mandatory deal on limiting global warming. Several other developed countries, notably Japan, Russia and Canada, have subsequently expressed their reluctance to set a second commitment period to the Kyoto protocol. China, however, has been among the many developing countries, with India now joining, that insist on the continuation of the Kyoto protocol. The European Union is for seeking middle ground.
Regardless of the outcome of the Durban summit, it is imperative for India to pursue its domestic agenda to promote clean development. It is significant that despite the pressing need for rapid economic development to alleviate poverty, India has set for itself the goal of reducing the emission intensity of its GDP by 20 to 25 per cent by 2020 over 2005. Besides, it has concurred with the international consensus on limiting the rise in the earth’s mean temperature to two degree Celsius. These moves, along with an elaborate National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), aim broadly at striking a balance between economic development and environment preservation. India’s seriousness about pursuing this path is also reflected in the eight national missions under the NAPCC that focus on areas as vital as enhancing energy efficiency, promoting sustainable agriculture and water resources management, and protecting forest resources.
India is spending over 2.6 per cent of its GDP on mitigation and adaptation to climate variability — notwithstanding the fact that the per capita carbon dioxide emission in India is merely 1.02 tonnes vis-à-vis the world average of 4.25 tonnes. The US, which has steadfastly refused to accept mandatory emission-slashing targets, spews over 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide per capita. India’s success in its domestic efforts to mitigate climate change will lend great strength to its voice in the international climate forums.