IndiaPost.com - Targeting India on climate change is unfair: Pranab

India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Targeting a developing country like India for lending to increased greenhouse gas emissions in the context of climate change is "completely one sided" stated Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee before an enlightened audience at the Asia Society in New York on Sept 30. The Minister's emphatic critique of the developed nations came during his speech on 'India and Global Challenges: Climate Change and Energy Security', which was part of a series of talks by Asian leaders hosted by the Asia Society at its New York headquarters in conjunction with the opening of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) from September 22 to October 3.

"Even if we were to focus on current emissions, India's record is impressive," Mukherjee informed the audience comprising academics, professionals, scientists and experts. "Despite being a continental-sized economy with a billion plus population, India's total emissions of carbon dioxide, the most important of the greenhouse gases, constitutes only 4% of the global total, while the US, for instance, accounts for 20% and Europe for around 15%. India's per capita level of emission is only 1.1 ton, as against 20 tons in the US, and that of Europe is over 10 tons.

Additionally, during the past decade, while our economy has grown at 8% per annum, our energy growth has been a modest 3.7%, thus keeping the rise in emissions considerably low." Mukherjee said that in the context of climate change, historical accountability is often conveniently ignored. On the other hand, the current discourse, particularly in developed countries, has focused almost entirely on current greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, virtually side-stepping the scientific fact that it is accumulated GHG emissions in the atmosphere - collected over a hundred years - that are responsible for climate change. Current emissions only add to the problem, particularly as they accumulate for the future, he said.

Mukherjee reiterated that the present global crisis with regard to climate change is the result of activity over the past two centuries, where the contribution of developing countries had been minimal. "It is, therefore, completely one sided to target countries like India, whose emissions, though modest, are rising, but fail to bring to account those who have been responsible for more than 70% of the accumulated emissions in the atmosphere," he stressed. Mukherjee further castigated the developing countries stating that "despite the targets for reductions in emissions that these countries assumed under the Kyoto Protocol, there are few signs that these will be met. And if they are not met, will there be any accountability?"

"The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which was agreed to by consensus in Rio in 1992, recognizes this historical responsibility. It is for this reason that emission targets were confined to developed countries and the Framework Convention accepted the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities"," he added. Mukherjee was also critical of the Bali Action Plan as being short-sighted. "Unfortunately, what we are witnessing at the multilateral negotiations on the Bali Action Plan is that attempts are being made to reach only the usual least common denominator outcome at the Conference of State Parties scheduled in December 2009.

There is no sign, whatsoever, that the negotiations are being undertaken with the spirit of seeking an extraordinary and ambitious outcome." To eradicate poverty and raise the living standards of its people, India needs to significantly increase its energy consumption. The Report of the Expert Committee on Integrated Energy Policy envisages an increase in power generation from a current level of 160,000 megawatts to about 8,00,000 megawatts by 2030-31. Currently India's energy mix is 51% based on coal, 36% on oil, 9% natural gas and only 2% from hydropower and nuclear energy respectively. "If this energy mix remains unchanged over the next 25 years then our dependence on fossil fuels will continue and much of our energy requirement will have to be sourced from abroad," Mukherjee informed.

"It is estimated that in 2030-31, we would have to import 66% of our coal, 90% of our oil and 60% of our natural gas. This is obviously not good news for India's energy security, particularly at a time when the prices of fossil fuels are steadily increasing. Unless this is effectively addressed, India's growth is likely to confront a major energy constraint." Having now obtained a waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers' Group following the India-US civil nuclear agreement, Mukherjee said, India will "not only close a chapter of over three decades of global nuclear apartheid against India, but open a new chapter in India-US and international cooperation in addressing shared interests in energy security, combating climate change and preventing non-proliferation in weapons of mass destruction". India is now also poised for a major expansion of its nuclear power sector.

Our current estimates are that we can scale up nuclear power to at least 63,000 MW by 2030-31, he said. India, he said, was prepared to make its own contribution, with a sense of global responsibility. "But, it must be recognized that no outcome will be viable and command a global consensus, unless it is seen as being fair and equitable.

Equity demands the acknowledgement, indeed acceptance, of the principle that each citizen of the globe has an equal entitlement to the global atmospheric space. This would eventually lead us to a per capita convergence of greenhouse gas emissions. We recognize that this cannot happen overnight. But this is a principle which should inspire our ongoing negotiations," he stressed.

Further on the point, Mukherjee said developing countries are committed to sustainable development, to be supported by transfer from developed countries of new and additional financial resources and technology on preferential and concessional terms. "Emission reductions would follow as a result of sustainable development and not be the vehicle for sustainable development. This is an important distinction, which is largely being ignored in the debate today," he stated. "The risks from such Climate Change are real, serious and immediate," Mukherjee said.

"They must be addressed with a sense of urgency, if potentially catastrophic consequences are to be avoided. Bringing out the interconnectedness of the world today, the minister said, the growing energy crisis with oil and gas prices reaching unprecedented highs has been further compounded by increase in food prices. "And now the financial markets have plunged into a volatile and high risk situation due to the cumulative impact of the US sub-prime crisis, a continuing credit crunch, and a severe decline in investor and consumer confidence.

Like it or not, along with all the advantages that this implies, we are all exposed, in different degrees, to the risks and uncertainties inherent in the situation." He, however, said that by being focused on the fundamentals the very challenges that seem overwhelming now can be turned to opportunities to enable the world economy regain its dynamism and restore positive outlook, particularly for developing countries.

Later, during a question-answer session, the External Affairs Minister said that despite having vast deposits of thorium, India could not pursue production of nuclear energy as access to critical nuclear technology was denied to it over the last 30 years. He said India was now collaborating closely with the US to tap space solar power. To another question on how India can tap NRI expertise at the public sector level, Mukherjee said there has been a recent initiative by the finance minister to expand the Indian Foreign Services to allow talent from outside to play a participative role in developmental projects.

On the ubiquitous question of how India hopes to deal with Pakistan, Mukherjee said, since one cannot change neighbors, India has to choose whether to live in perpetual tension or in peace with Pakistan. "We chose the latter," he said. The talk was moderated by Ambassador Frank Wisner, while Citigroup's Victor Menezes introduced the minister. Among the dignitaries present were Ambassador Ronen Sen, Ambassador Nirupam Sen and Consul General Prabhu Dayal.