New Type Energy||Renewable Energy

The Indian government released a report recently which predicted a fourfold increase in carbon emissions output in the next two decades. According to the government report, India’s carbon emissions would increase to 4 to 7 billion tonnes from last year’s level of 1.4 billion tonnes by 2031.

India’s environment minister, however, preferred to point out another finding in the report. The report predicts almost 100 percent increase in per capita emissions but the minister noted that even with a 3.5 to 4 tonnes per capita output it would remain below the global average. The globally agreed limit of per capita emission for sustainable development is 2 tonnes.

That is the argument that the Indian government has put forward frequently in order to dodge international pressure to reduce its carbon emissions. India maintains that its per capita carbon emissions are way below those of the developed countries and thus it would be unfair to ask it to set mandatory emission reduction targets.

The timing of the report is crucial given that Copenhagen round of climate talks for finalizing the next climate treaty are just three months away. The report noted that even though India is among the four largest producers of greenhouse gases its footprint is very small as compared to China or the United States. The Indian government certainly hopes to dodge the growing international pressure calling it to act boldly to reduce its carbon emissions.

Yet another tool the Indian government would be looking at in order to save itself from the demands of mandatory or even voluntary emission reduction goals is the forest cover. The report stated that India’s forest cover absorbs 11 percent of the carbon emissions produced. India is looking to market its forest reserves as efficient carbon offsetting resource and gain monetary assistance from the developed countries through the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) credits.

With China in close talks with the United States and considering voluntary carbon emission cuts India is finding itself in a precarious situation. China and India were the face of developing countries’ resistance to emission reduction targets but concentrated diplomatic efforts by the Obama administration have resulted in clear divisions in the developing countries’ camp.

The failure of Kyoto Protocol is widely agreed upon by experts around the world and the next climate treaty could meet the same fate if there is no global effort to reduce carbon emissions. The responsibility rests with both developed and developing countries since the carbon emissions of developing countries are now also reaching alarming levels. It is critical, therefore, that developing countries take steps to reduce the same and make the transition to clean energy systems and the developed countries must provide the technical and monetary help necessary.