India US And Climate Change

Business Standard     19th March 2021     Save    
Context: Global “net-zero” emissions can be achieved by 2050 only by recognising the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR).

Ways to achieve “net-zero” emissions:

  • Forests: act as carbon sinks, some densely forested and sparsely populated countries are already deemed to have net-zero — or even negative — emissions.
  • Carbon credits: Some affluent countries claim their net-zero target on the basis of carbon credits.
  • Shift to renewables: or other clean sources and technologies.
International Energy Agency’s (IEA’s) - Sustainable Development Scenarios (SDS): suggests alternate scenarios for achieving the following key outcomes of sustainable development:
  • The goal of limiting rise in global temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius and as close as possible to 1.5 degrees C;
  • Ensuring universal access to modern energy;
  • Reducing air pollution.

IEA’s analysis for India: “India is on track to reach net-zero emission around the mid-2060s”.

  • What India needs to do? Ensure that its “CO2 emissions never return to 2019 levels at any point” and progressively reduce its emissions from 2022

Challenges for India:

  • No room for reducing emissions: The IEA rightly notes that “India’s emissions per capita rank among the lowest in the world today and it accounts for only about 3% of the historic energy sector and industrial process CO2 emissions since 1850.
    • Compared with around 30% for Europe, 25% for the United States and around 15% for China.
  • It would also necessitate outright replacement or a major overhaul of existing power plants and factories, including those that have been recently commissioned.--> increasing costs.
    • Thus, it would require a massive three-fold increase in clean energy investments over 2015-2020 levels.
  • At a low advantage than the developed countries: who use artful accounting for carbon credits and leveraging on the first-mover advantage in technological prowess.

Conclusion: India must declare commitment to the global net-zero emissions by 2050 and pledge full contribution in conformity with the principle of CBDR, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.