Source:The Hindu

Unequal Carbon Responsibility

• At an international conference on “The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics”, the Indian PM highlighted disparities in global carbon responsibility.
• India’s per capita carbon emissions: about 2.2 tonnes annually, against the global average of 4.7 tonnes.
• Per capita emissions are significantly higher in developed economies:
• US: 14.2 tonnes
• Russia: 14 tonnes
• Cumulative carbon emissions, 1751–2024:
• US: 23.5%
• China: 15.4%
• Russia: 6.6%
• Germany: 5.1%
• UK: 4.3%
• India: 3.5%
• India argues that historical emissions from industrialised countries must be considered while allocating present and future climate responsibilities.
• This approach is rooted in the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC). 

India’s Climate Action

• India maintains that climate equity does not imply avoidance of climate responsibility and points to its implementation of Paris Agreement commitments.
• Major initiatives and outcomes:
• Solar capacity increased from around 2 GW in 2012 to about 160 GW.
• PM-KUSUM has provided solar pumps to around 30 lakh farmers.
• One Nation One Grid has helped avoid an estimated 200 million tonnes of carbon emissions.
• Expansion of wind and hydropower and decentralised/rooftop solar.
• Annual EV sales rose from around 3,000 in 2014 to about 25 lakh in the previous year.
• Metro rail expanded from less than 250 km in five cities to over 1,000 km across 20 cities.
• 100% railway electrification has been achieved.
• Inland waterways and around 3,000 km of Dedicated Freight Corridors support lower fuel consumption.
• India has also promoted global cooperation through the International Solar Alliance, Global Biofuel Alliance and International Big Cat Alliance.

Development and Environmental Protection

• The conference highlighted the need to move beyond the binary of “development versus environment” towards sustainable development.
• The judicial approach to environmental protection is increasingly concerned with harmonising development and conservation.
• Climate-related rights are gaining importance alongside conventional environmental rights, reflecting the link between a healthy environment and human well-being.
• India’s conservation agenda includes protection of tigers, elephants, lions, the Great Indian Bustard and vultures.
• The underlying policy challenge is to pursue economic growth while reducing emissions, protecting ecosystems and ensuring livelihood security.

India’s Climate Diplomacy and COP31 Priorities

• Ahead of COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, India is expected to emphasise:
• Climate equity and climate justice.
• Recognition of historical responsibility.
• Implementation of existing climate commitments.
• Greater support for vulnerable developing countries.
• Alignment of climate action with developmental needs.
• Loss and Damage Fund (LDF): Increasingly important for vulnerable countries facing climate-induced disasters, particularly where adaptation capacity is limited.
• India’s position seeks to balance three dimensions:
• Historical emissions and present-day per capita disparities.
• Developmental aspirations of poorer countries.
• Collective responsibility for accelerating global climate action. 

Significance for Global Climate Governance

• Climate equity raises the question of how mitigation burdens, finance and technological responsibilities should be distributed among countries.
• India’s argument combines historical responsibility + per capita equity + differentiated capabilities + developmental needs.
• At the same time, India's expansion of renewable energy, electric mobility, railway electrification and conservation demonstrates its emphasis on combining development with environmental sustainability.
• The broader challenge for COP31 is to ensure that climate ambition is accompanied by finance, technology transfer, capacity-building and equitable implementation, particularly for developing and climate-vulnerable countries.