The new minister of environment & forests will have an ambitious agenda to follow in the Manmohan Singh government. India s climate change agenda is sure to be tracked strongly against its compulsions to raise its carbon footprint in its efforts to push the growth of GDP.
Though the ongoing climate change talks, which are scheduled to conclude in Copenhagen this December, are for setting the emission reduction targets for developed countries in post-Kyoto period commencing in 2012, yet pressure is building on developing countries like India to commit to targeted emission cuts. India and other developing countries, on the other hand, want to put pressure on developed countries to fulfill their emission commitments as per the Kyoto Protocol, and also resist pressure from the developed world to commit to targeted emission cuts.
The new minister will also have to emphasise upon developed countries to take on enhanced emission cuts, in keeping with the principle of differentiated responsibilities. Developed countries are not only responsible for accumulating greenhouse gases in the atmosphere in the first place, but are also emitting more on per capita basis. For example, the US emits about 20% of global CO2 emissions and India s share is only 4%. Similarly, India s per capita CO2 emission is 1.8 tonnes against 20 tonnes for the US .
While doing so, India and other developing countries need to lobby against stray voices emerging from the US and the EU asking for imposition of tariff barriers to ensure a level playing field. Its time to promote trade rather than restrict it.
Simultaneously, India s priority will be to continue its bilateral negotiations with countries like the US . President Obama, who has launched renewable energy initiative worth $150 million spread over 10 years, has already sought India s cooperation. The US has identified clean coal technology, solar technology and energy efficiency measures for partnership. Since India has the potential to become a hub for developing and deploying clean technology, its time to avail of the business opportunity not only in the US , but also in other countries, which have launched green stimulus packages. According to HSBC, $430 billion have been earmarked for climate change-related measures in 20 countries.
All of it is quite possible because the political will is already there. It was demonstrated last year when Manmohan Singh set up the Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change, appointed a special envoy for climate change and launched the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). There have been a series of brainstorming sessions between the council members, and even with NGOs and business leaders since the launch of the NAPCC. Its time to consolidate the outcome, elaborate on all the eight missions under the plan, take action and monitor progress. Besides, the ministry needs to find funds for the Green India Project for greening six million hectares of land over a period of 10 years.
India also needs to wear green colours. The three stimulus packages that the previous government launched did not label anything under green schemes. This is in sharp contrast to countries like the UK , which put rail transport projects under their green stimulus package. Similarly, India can put spending under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), which also creates adaptive capacity for addressing water stress in rural areas, under its green initiatives.
It wont hurt to correct misconceptions about India that it’s not doing much. All of it means that India needs not only a well-meaning candidate for the ministry, but also an articulate candidate, who can lead not only the country on the green path, but other developing countries too. India not only needs to walk the talk, but also needs to be seen doing so.
Source: The Financial Express
Published on 23 May 2009