India US And Climate Change
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.
- 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.
Related Articles
