Events & Issues

New Delhi, 7 October 2015

India’s Climate Goal

ENFORCEMENT OF PLAN VITAL

By Dhurjati Mukherjee

In its bid to face the climate change challenge along with other nations, India has finalised its roadmap—the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), close on the heels of the 21^st Session of the Conference of Parties to be held in Paris in December. New Delhi has sent its plan of action to the UN Forum for Climate Change, after releasing the same on Gandhi Jayanti.  

India has promised to curb intensity of greenhouse gas emissions by 33-35 per cent by 2030 over 2000 levels, boost clean energy in electricity generation by 40 per cent and add carbon sinks amounting to 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes by CO₂. The 38-page document estimated that the country would need around $2.5 trillion between now and 2030 to implement its targets to curb emissions and adapting to climate change. However, there is no commitment to a peaking year as to when emissions would be capped and there are sector specific targets.

It is understood that the focus of the country’s plan has been to switch to energy efficient lighting systems, climate-friendly new building code and improved technology and devices for household level power consumption. Improved energy efficiency would also be focused across industries, specially in the steel and cement sectors where this could be brought about. One may mention here the power efficient technology that has started in the railway sector which is based on the inputs of the Environment Ministry, which appears to have taken up the whole matter quite seriously in drawing up future plans.

However, the question arises about not only how far the measures would be practicable but how these would be implemented in the country. It is a well-known fact that environmental concerns are not given much credence and the various tiers of the administrative process prefer to ignore these. Strict adherence to environmental rules and regulations is not mandatory in the country though there may have been some change in recent years.

Meanwhile, it may be mentioned that in November last year, China had agreed to cap its emissions by 2030 as part of a major deal with the US during President Barack Obama’s visit to Beijing. The US also committed to reduce by 2025 its emissions by 26 to 28 per cent from 2005 levels though a section of critics were of the opinion that the American targets were not quite satisfactory. 

The present government has also been somewhat lenient while dealing with industrial units, which have been the main culprits of violating environmental norms. Many big industries which make profits of crores of rupees violate environmental rules. Still today when there is a world-wide cry on maintaining strict environmental standards, most industrial units violate rules and, if for any reason they are caught, they simply go scot free only by paying a small amount of money as penalty. The main sufferers for a polluted environment are obviously the poor and those from the economically weaker sections who also cannot afford proper treatment and have to bear the hazards.

The problems of a rapidly declining environment have assumed enormous dimensions, gravely affecting human health. Water, air, soil and noise pollution are one of the highest in the country and in spite of several measures taken, continue to be a challenge to both Central and State governments. Diseases have been on the rise and experts believe that high levels of pollution in several areas have been directly responsible for the increased outbreak of diseases. 

India is presently the world’s third largest emitter of carbon dioxide behind China and the US. However, it is also a fact the country’s emissions are less than one-eighth of that of America and also below those of almost every other comparable country than Brazil. The Indian argument that the nation cannot be labelled a major global polluter and that the West can’t lecture it in this regard are subjects of controversy and debate. 

However, the excuse that per capita emissions of the country are much less than Western countries has been aired for quite some time now though the total emissions in the country are one of the highest in the world and have been increasing at a very rapid pace. As is well said –two wrongs don’t make a right. Sadly, India has done very little to curb emissions, specially in the power sector and also in various industries from which both emissions and liquid waste are allowed to pollute surrounding areas and nearby lakes and rivers.

Recall a report of the UN’s apex body on climate change (released way back in May 2007) which stated that reducing emissions in countries like India and China would not hit their economies though global GDP may be reduced by a mere 3 per cent by 2050. The developed countries also have to come forward and curb emissions rapidly. 

Meanwhile, the government has following the hard knock taken significant steps in various spheres to curb emissions. The thrust is on the power sector where the current renewable capacity of 34,000 MW is being increased to 175,000 MW by 2022. Moreover, energy saving devices such as LED bulbs have been planned to be inducted on a massive scale and this is expected to lead to savings of up to Rs 40,000 crores. 

However, it is indeed distressing to note that enforcement of environmental regulations is definitely one of the poorest in the world, resulting in high levels of pollution of air, water and soil. Surveys have revealed that cities such as Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai are badly affected and rank at the lowest rung of the ladder in comparison to other metros of the world. One can then easily imagine the dreadful state of industrial cities like Howrah, Kanpur, Gurgaon, Thane etc.  

The debate pertaining to environment and development has been hotting up for quite some time now not just in India but globally and experts have contended that growth would not be affected if environmental rules are followed. Moreover, there have been various innovations that help in tackling emissions and industry should be encouraged to implement those measures.    

In such a situation, it is imperative that the West should help tackle emissions in the best possible manner so that the world could be saved from the scourge of pollution that would have a devastating effect on future generations. India with its high population growth should also take remedial measures in not just outlining these but also ensuring that rules and regulations are properly adhered to. Time is far over for mere lip service. ---INFA

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