Political Science Teaching Aid

India and Climate Change

India’s climate change policy

Commitment to Global Goals:

  • India is a signatory to the Paris Agreement and aims to limit global temperature rise to well below 2°C, preferably to 1.5°C.
  • It has committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2070.

Renewable Energy Transition:

  • India is aggressively expanding its renewable energy capacity, targeting 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy by 2030.
  • It is a global leader in solar energy, with initiatives like the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

Energy Efficiency:

  • Programs like the Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) scheme promote energy efficiency in industries.
  • The UJALA scheme promotes the use of LED lights to reduce energy consumption.

Afforestation and Biodiversity:

  • India is working on increasing forest cover through initiatives like the Green India Mission.
  • It has committed to restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.

Sustainable Transport:

  • Promotion of electric vehicles (EVs) through schemes like FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles).
  • Development of public transport systems to reduce emissions.

Climate Adaptation:

  • India focuses on building resilience in vulnerable sectors like agriculture, water resources, and coastal regions.
  • The National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) supports adaptation projects.

International Cooperation:

  • India actively participates in global climate forums like the UNFCCC and G20.
  • It collaborates with other nations through initiatives like the ISA and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).

Domestic Policies and Targets:

  • The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) outlines eight missions to address climate change.
  • India has set ambitious targets under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), including reducing emissions intensity by 45% by 2030.

Focus on Equity and Justice:

  • India emphasizes the principle of “Common but Differentiated Responsibilities” (CBDR), highlighting the historical responsibility of developed nations.
  • It advocates for climate finance and technology transfer to support developing countries.

Public Awareness and Participation:

  • Initiatives like the “LiFE” (Lifestyle for Environment) movement encourage sustainable lifestyles.
  • Awareness campaigns and citizen engagement are promoted to drive collective action.

India’s approach balances economic growth with climate action, emphasizing sustainable development and global cooperation.

Kyto Protocol and India

What is the Kyoto Protocol?

The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty adopted in 1997 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It came into force in 2005 and is one of the first global agreements to address climate change by setting legally binding emission reduction targets for developed countries. Key features include:

  1. Binding Targets: Developed countries (Annex I parties) were assigned specific targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions below 1990 levels during the commitment periods.
  2. Flexibility Mechanisms: The protocol introduced market-based mechanisms like:
  • Emissions Trading: Allowing countries to buy and sell emission allowances.
  • Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): Enabling developed countries to invest in emission reduction projects in developing countries.
  • Joint Implementation (JI): Allowing developed countries to earn emission reduction units through projects in other developed countries.
  1. Commitment Periods: The first commitment period was 2008–2012, and the second was 2013–2020 (Doha Amendment).

India’s Stand on the Kyoto Protocol

India has been a strong supporter of the Kyoto Protocol, aligning with its development priorities and the principle of equity. Key aspects of India’s stance include:

  1. Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR):
  • India emphasizes that developed countries, historically responsible for higher emissions, should take the lead in reducing emissions, while developing countries focus on growth and poverty eradication.
  1. No Binding Targets for Developing Countries:
  • As a developing nation, India was not assigned binding emission reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol, which it supported as a fair approach.
  1. Support for Clean Development Mechanism (CDM):
  • India actively participated in the CDM, hosting numerous projects that attracted foreign investment and promoted sustainable development.
  1. Advocacy for Equity and Climate Justice:
  • India has consistently argued that developed countries must fulfill their commitments under the Kyoto Protocol and provide financial and technological support to developing nations.
  1. Transition to the Paris Agreement:
  • While India supported the Kyoto Protocol, it also recognized its limitations, such as the lack of participation from major emitters like the U.S. and the exclusion of developing countries from binding targets. This led to India backing the Paris Agreement, which includes all countries in climate action.
  1. Doha Amendment:
  • India supported the Doha Amendment (2012), which set a second commitment period (2013–2020) for the Kyoto Protocol, though its ratification was limited.

Conclusion

India viewed the Kyoto Protocol as a crucial step in global climate action but stressed the need for equity and differentiated responsibilities. While it supported the protocol, India has since shifted its focus to the Paris Agreement, which offers a more inclusive and flexible framework for addressing climate change.

Paris Agreement on Climate and India’s Stand

What is the Paris Agreement?

The Paris Agreement is a landmark international treaty adopted in December 2015 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It aims to combat climate change and accelerate global action toward a sustainable, low-carbon future. Key features include:

  1. Global Goal: Limit global temperature rise to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit it to 1.5°C.
  2. Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Each country sets its own emission reduction targets and plans, which are updated every five years.
  3. Universal Participation: Unlike the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement includes all countries, both developed and developing.
  4. Transparency and Accountability: A robust transparency framework requires countries to report on their emissions and progress.
  5. Climate Finance: Developed countries are to provide financial support to developing countries for mitigation and adaptation efforts.
  6. Adaptation and Resilience: Emphasizes the need to strengthen adaptive capacity and reduce vulnerability to climate impacts.

India’s Stand on the Paris Agreement

India has been a proactive and supportive participant in the Paris Agreement, aligning its climate actions with its development goals and the principle of equity. Key aspects of India’s stance include:

  1. Strong Commitment to Global Goals:
  • India supports the Paris Agreement’s objective of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C–2°C and has actively contributed to global climate efforts.
  1. Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs):
  • India submitted its first NDC in 2015, committing to:
    • Reducing emissions intensity of GDP by 33–35% below 2005 levels by 2030.
    • Achieving 40% of installed power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
    • Creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5–3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through afforestation.
  • In 2022, India updated its NDC, enhancing its targets:
    • Reducing emissions intensity by 45% by 2030.
    • Achieving 50% of installed power capacity from non-fossil fuels by 2030.
  1. Emphasis on Equity and Climate Justice:
  • India stresses the principle of “Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities” (CBDR-RC), highlighting that developed countries should take greater responsibility for climate action and provide financial and technological support to developing nations.
  1. Focus on Renewable Energy:
  • India is a global leader in renewable energy, with ambitious targets like 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030.
  • Initiatives like the International Solar Alliance (ISA) demonstrate India’s commitment to clean energy.
  1. Climate Adaptation and Resilience:
  • India prioritizes adaptation measures to address climate impacts, particularly in vulnerable sectors like agriculture, water resources, and coastal areas.
  • Programs like the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) support adaptation projects.
  1. Advocacy for Climate Finance and Technology Transfer:
  • India calls for developed countries to fulfill their commitment to mobilize $100 billion annually in climate finance for developing nations.
  • It emphasizes the need for affordable technology transfer to support sustainable development.
  1. Net Zero Target:
  • At COP26 (2021), India announced its goal to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2070, balancing economic growth with climate action.
  1. Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) Initiative:
  • India promotes sustainable lifestyles through the LiFE movement, encouraging individuals and communities to adopt environmentally friendly practices.

Conclusion

India views the Paris Agreement as a balanced and inclusive framework for global climate action. While committing to ambitious targets, India emphasizes the importance of equity, climate justice, and support from developed nations. Its approach integrates climate action with sustainable development, ensuring that economic growth and environmental protection go hand in hand.

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