ginjawarrior
Well-Known Member
India steps up to climate change commitments
On the climate front, on Dec 4 India announced it would slow the growth of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 2020 following similar announcements by the U.S. and China.
India is a key player in the climate conference. It is ranked second globally in terms of population with an estimated 1.2 billion people and fifth in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. Jairam Ramesh, Indias Environmental Minister, in a speech to Parliament on 12/3, laid out a plan to reduce the growth of GHG by up to 25% by 2020 using 2005 as a baseline. He said that India is prepared to do more if an equitable deal can be worked out in Copenhagen.
This speech has the appearance of a major change by India on climate change. In the past it has resisted measures that might slow the countrys development. Whats changed is a growing realization that India is not immune from the effects of climate change. Chief among them are potential shifts in the Monsoon rains and flooding of coastline areas by rising sea levels.
Not everyone has bought into the idea that resistance to climate change is futile. Top Indian diplomat, Shyam Saran, PM Singhs go to guy for the nuclear energy agreement with the U.S., said in a speech to Indian industrial CEOs Dec 3, We have to be very careful that we are not hustled into a position, inadvertently, where our economic interest is harmed.
The other factor influencing Indias policy shift are recent announcements by the U.S. and China. The Obama Administration said 12/2 it would cut total GHG by 17% below the 2005 baseline by 2020 and by 83% by 2050. On 12/3 the Chinese government followed suit announcing a plan to reduce the grow of GHG by up to 45% by 2020 compared to 2005 levels. All three nations based their targets on the concept of carbon intensity, which is an allocation of carbon dioxide emissions relative to gross domestic product.
On the climate front, on Dec 4 India announced it would slow the growth of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 2020 following similar announcements by the U.S. and China.
India is a key player in the climate conference. It is ranked second globally in terms of population with an estimated 1.2 billion people and fifth in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. Jairam Ramesh, Indias Environmental Minister, in a speech to Parliament on 12/3, laid out a plan to reduce the growth of GHG by up to 25% by 2020 using 2005 as a baseline. He said that India is prepared to do more if an equitable deal can be worked out in Copenhagen.
This speech has the appearance of a major change by India on climate change. In the past it has resisted measures that might slow the countrys development. Whats changed is a growing realization that India is not immune from the effects of climate change. Chief among them are potential shifts in the Monsoon rains and flooding of coastline areas by rising sea levels.
Not everyone has bought into the idea that resistance to climate change is futile. Top Indian diplomat, Shyam Saran, PM Singhs go to guy for the nuclear energy agreement with the U.S., said in a speech to Indian industrial CEOs Dec 3, We have to be very careful that we are not hustled into a position, inadvertently, where our economic interest is harmed.
The other factor influencing Indias policy shift are recent announcements by the U.S. and China. The Obama Administration said 12/2 it would cut total GHG by 17% below the 2005 baseline by 2020 and by 83% by 2050. On 12/3 the Chinese government followed suit announcing a plan to reduce the grow of GHG by up to 45% by 2020 compared to 2005 levels. All three nations based their targets on the concept of carbon intensity, which is an allocation of carbon dioxide emissions relative to gross domestic product.