India is the only major economy that has delivered on Paris Agreement and is on a path where it can navigate its route while guiding others along.
The G20 and COP26 2021 summits held in Rome, Italy and Glasgow, Scotland, have been in the spotlight recently. It has received mixed reviews from the international community. The environmental activists and world leaders are in juxtaposition. Nevertheless, India was the show-stealer. India's assertiveness has displayed a pent up frustration of the developing world.
The Indian leadership led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has claimed some bold commitments and statements to walk the talk. Terming the commitments as "panchamrit", India's gift to the world, the PM reiterated that India is working very hard on tackling climate change-related issues.
Experts have questioned and doubted India's timeline to achieve carbon neutrality more than the global timeframe. India has given a befitting reply, as India wishes to attain the target in "letter and in spirit", unlike various nations who didn't even bother to show up at pivotal global events.
The G20 leaders committed to the key goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, but for the first time, they identified sustainable and responsible consumption and production as "critical enablers" in achieving the goal. The inclusion was in line with PM Modi's vision of promoting the mantra of sustainable lifestyles worldwide.
In a big win for farmers, India pushed for and was able to obtain a commitment from G20 nations on improving livelihoods for small and marginal farmers.
India assumed the position of leader of the developing world at the G20 Summit. PM Modi highlighted India's scientific & technical strength & its use in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and said that India is preparing to produce more than five billion Covid-19 vaccine doses for the world next year. The recent approval of the Indian vaccine Covaxin, received from the World Health Organisation (WHO), has augmented India's reputation as a vaccine maker. India took the opportunity to showcase its strength to become the 'pharmacy of the world'. It was put forward along with the vision of 'One Earth, One Health' to the world.
Amidst the backdrop of COVID-19, India batted for supply chain diversification. Highlighted how India has emerged as a reliable manufacturing hub in such a situation. PM Modi invited the G20 countries to make India a trusted partner in economic recovery and supply chain diversification. The Prime Minister further emphasised that India has always been serious about its global obligations. The Indian commitments are not in isolation. The thread of faith and hope continued in the COP26 Summit.
Indian takeaways- COP26 Climate Summit 2021
• India's economy will become carbon neutral by the year 2070.
• India would reduce total projected carbon emissions by one billion metric tons by 2030 and reduce its carbon intensity to less than 45% by 2030.
• India will also increase its renewable energy capacity to 500 gigawatts by 2030 and increase its share in the energy mix from about 38% last year to 50% by 2030.
• The UK and India announced a plan to improve connections between the world's electric grids, called the "Green Grids Initiative – One Sun One World One Grid." The US has partnered up in this initiative.
• PM Modi said, "More passengers than the entire population of the world travel by Indian Railways every year. This huge railway system has set itself a target of making itself 'Net Zero' by 2030. This initiative alone will reduce emissions by 60 million tonnes per annum."
• PM Modi gave a new mantra for sustainable development. He said 'LIFE', that is, "Lifestyle for Environment", can be the foundation for the same.
• India is the only major economy that has delivered on Paris Agreement.
• PM Modi, in his national statement at the COP26 Summit, urged the developed nations to pledge $1 Trillion for climate financing.
The parsimony of rich nations
India has questioned the West (First World) and their sanctimony. Developed nations have failed to meet the USD 100 billion goals per year of support to developing nations since 2009 and continue to present it as the ceiling of their ambition to 2025. COP 26 must aim for higher global ambition on climate finance and adaptation, along with recognition of parties' differing historical responsibilities and the developmental challenges faced by developing countries.
India has around 17% of the world's population but is responsible for only about 5% of the total emissions. However, the measures taken by India are exemplary; The Global North is still practising climate colonialism. The irrational and short-visioned practices that the developed nations implemented to operationalise development in their regions during the Industrial revolution have created this debate and disturbed the ecosystem. Why the developing nations and the Least Developing Countries (LDCs) should become the scapegoats?
Its action and initiatives strengthen India's words. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Initiative for the Resilient Island States (IRIS) for developing the infrastructure of small island nations with the UK and Australia. It is a dedicated initiative, which will provide technical support for the multifaceted issues posed by infrastructure systems and promote disaster and climate resilience of infrastructure assets in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). These nations are on the frontline of loss and damage caused by global warming. Thus, India is giving its best and rising above this petty and pretentious attitude and calling for Climate Justice for Climate Change. The time of throwing the ball into each others court is gone.
The big picture is not all that rosy. The shadows of optimism and scepticism are looming over the pressing climate change issue. The sceptics have staunchly claimed that these events are a big-time flop and castigated the richest nations in the world. One said, "The COP has turned into a PR event, where leaders are giving beautiful speeches and announcing fancy commitments and targets, while behind the curtains governments of the Global North countries are still refusing to take any drastic climate action." It is hard to disagree.
The lack of resolve, one-sided effects and blame game have procrastinated the solutions to be put forth.
India has surprised the international community with its sincere commitment to combat climate change. India's task is doubly difficult because it must balance its fast-growing development needs with an even faster-depleting global carbon budget while honouring its climate commitments. The claims made by PM Modi must be viewed in this context.
Therefore, present India will not sit idle and wait for any other nation to take action. Rather, it is on a path where it will navigate its route while guiding others along.
These climate change summits have to be output-oriented. The world will not be fooled by the vague and nothing new to offer discussions and deliberations. It is unacceptable to let world leaders walk away without answering the pertinent questions laid across them.
Why India is not a hypocrite- India's global commitments towards a good global order
• In November 2021, the Indian government expects the availability of more than 30 crore vaccines, which will help expand Vaccine Maitri. Thus, it displays India's willingness to help fellow countries in times of need.
• As of July 2021, India had 96.96 GW of renewable energy capacity and represented 25.2% of the overall installed power capacity, providing a great opportunity to expand green data centres. The country targets about 450 Gigawatt (GW) of installed renewable energy capacity by 2030–about 280 GW (over 60%) is expected from solar.
• The Indian government intends to have Electric Vehicles sales penetration of 30% for private cars, 70% for commercial vehicles and 80% for two and three-wheelers by 2030 as there is an immediate need to decarbonise the transport sector. Hence, India could reduce crude oil consumption by 156 million tonnes worth Rs 3.5 lakh crore.
• Indian government's role in the recently agreed upon new global minimum corporate tax by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in October 2021 was hailed.
• Nearly 140 countries, including India, signed up to a historic deal to ensure big companies pay a corporate tax rate of at least 15%, as well as a fairer system of taxing profits where they are earned.
• India sought an equitable global agreement for the third world. E.g., to end harmful fish subsidies, India told the World Trade Organization (WTO) that limiting Special & Differential Treatment (S&DT) to poor and artisanal fishermen is not appropriate, acceptable or affordable and that the sustainability-based approach for subsidies that contribute to overcapacity or overfishing is "unequal, unfair and unjust" as it would lead to capacity constraints for developing countries.
• India to expand the horizon of BRICS' New Development Bank (NBD) to use the resources to strengthen social infrastructure, especially for funding service delivery in the education and health sector, besides promoting infrastructure and industrial sector for developing countries.
• Amidst the US- Iran tensions, India was the key participant in stabilising the Hormuz Strait, one of the busiest and strategically located shipping lanes, a gateway for global oil supplies. Thus, concerned about the global and regional common goals.
• India has reiterated the freedom of navigation in the Indo- Pacific region, implying the South China Sea, which has become a grave issue between China and the ASEAN nations.
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