Click to play videoFour days before the summit for global climate starts in Copenhagen, India on Thursday announced that it will reduce its emission intensity by 20-25 per cent by 2020 from the 2005 level.
Minister of Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh, while addressing Parliament, made it clear that any action India takes to cut emission on its own cannot be reviewed by any outside agency.
As part of this initiative the Government will take many steps, including making fuel efficiency norms mandatory for all vehicles.
CNN-IBN on Talking point discussed: Is India’s stand truly independent or global pressure?
To discuss the issue, in the panel of experts were: Director of Centre for Science and Environment Sunita Narain and Member of Prime Minister’s panel on climate Nitin Desai.
CNN-IBN:India will not accept any legally binding cut on emissions, India also made it clear in that sense that they are not under pressure. Do you agree with the Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh when he says there is absolutely no pressure on India?
Sunita Narain: I am glad that the Minister has clarified that India will not take on legally binding cuts but let’s be very clear that the very fact the minister has announced the target today (Thursday), which is not an emission reduction target, but an emission intensity target, it is something that the Minister is reiterating what India is already doing. There is nothing new. India’s economic emission intensity has already been declining by 1.7 per cent a year in the last 10 to 15 years. What the Minister is saying is that in spite of India’s constraints, we will continue to decline which means that India is already doing its bit – we will continue to do our bit. What we have to understand is not what the Minister said but what the Minister did not say – that India could well be doing this to help the Americans because the Americans want to shift the goal post, they want to move from legally binding cuts to voluntary targets. That is bad for the climate.
CNN-IBN:Is this a really progress ahead of the Copenhagen Summit? Have we already reduced our expectations?
Nitin Desai: Expectations were reduced much earlier but to go back to your basic question, it’s just possibly a product of global pressure. It could be. So what? We are part of a global neighbourhood and like any good neighbour we have certain obligations to act as a good neighbour. What I liked about Jairam’s statement was his strong emphasis on the importance of action on climate for the people of India.
CNN-IBN:The big question that everyone is asking is that if every country comes forward and puts this "voluntary emission" cut then why go to Copenhagen for a global climate summit?
Nitin Desai: The reason is because this is only the baseline. As Jairam made it clear that if something emerges out of Copenhagen which goes more than this, India is willing to do more provided there is support in terms of finance and technology. So in that sense, what countries are laying down is that – this is what we are going to do but we are ready to do more if you are ready to do more. In a sense, what has happened over the past few weeks is that notice has been served on the industrial countries that – we are ready but you better come up with something much more serious.
CNN-IBN: When the Minister says that by 2020, India would agree to 20-25 per cent reduction, he is doing what the others countries (China and Brazil ) are doing, why should India be isolated in a global fora?
Sunita Narain: Undoubtedly, but all I am saying is that the Minister has reiterated what we are already doing. Where I disagree with Nitin is - yes, one approach could be that this will put pressure on Americans to take 40 per cent reduction over 1990 levels – that’s really what the world needs. US President Barack Obama has offered a three per cent reduction over 1990 by 2020. The world needs a 40 per cent reduction. If India can use this to bargain and push the Americans to get the 40 per cent reduction – great, but if India has announced this to endorse implicitly what the Americans want, which is a voluntary approach, which is to do very little at home, which is to agree that there will be comparative actions from all countries – then I think the world is in trouble. We need to do things at home but more importantly we need to get the Americans to cut their emissions.
CNN-IBN:Does India fear of America not adhering to its promises and India being forced to make commitments?
Nitin Desai: Responsibility has two meanings. Responsibility means culpability and duty. What we are saying is that I am doing my dharma (religion) and I will certainly pressure others to do their dharma. The point is that we shouldn’t walk into this with a sense of fear. I believe what Jairam has announced today (Thursday) is very positive, very constructive, basically in India’s interest, much more importantly, I believe it is in the global interest.
Sunita Narain: The facts are very clear. America’s emissions have actually increased by 20 per cent. It is very clear that America even with the commitment that has been put on the table is planning to do even less than what it has agreed what the world needs. The focus has to be on the industrialised countries in terms to cut. What we should be asking in Copenhagen is a framework which will allow us to make the transition, pay for our solar transition, pay for the big ticket solutions that we will need but by shifting the balance by saying we are also a part of the same club of polluters – you do not have the same framework which gets you that money and technology.
CNN-IBN:When India says it is going to reduce emission intensity in a legally nonbinding way domestically, what does it really mean?
Nitin Desai: No. Jairam said domestically it will be binding. He was talking in terms of mandatory cuts. What he says is that this is something that we are doing on our own with our own resources, I am not going to be accountable for this to you. If you want to hold me accountable then come up with finance and technology. I believe that we have demonstrated the seriousness of intent. It started with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s pledge when he said India will keep its per capita emissions below the average for industrial countries. That was a positive statement. India has now taken the second step that yes we are serious and now you show that you are also equally serious.
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