What is India’s position before going to Copenhagen Summit?
India stands at number four greenhouse gas emitter in the world.
Stepping down from its hard-line stand India has said that it would slow down the growth of its carbon dioxide emissions in the coming ten years and after. It has agreed to scale down the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by up to 25 per cent from 2005 to 2020. It was not ready legally to be binding on this but only voluntarily.
That means it has the liberty to do whatever it likes and may even not keep its promises.
However, India's intensity of carbon dioxide or CO2 use is among the lowest in the world which is equal to that of Europe in 2007, in contrast China's is among the highest and may sometime in future equal to the world’s combined carbon emission. China’s prime goal, the positive goal is to become the leader in economic front and number of industries. Number one in foreign trades and super o super one in carbon emission levels. Not just number one but greater than it. Funnily, China has been the top receiver of tradable credits, thanks to the Kyoto provisions, getting as much as 59 per cent. Therefore, China dreads the end of Kyoto Protocol.
China, which is a leading exporter of solar-power and wind-power equipment, expects more demands and getting more funds and technology transfers from developed nations.
China’s emission cuts, which it promises to be of 40 to 45 percent, would compensate in its 7% growth estimates and finally end up emitting more of carbon dioxide in the year 2020 from the 2005 level.
If China’s economy grows at 10 per cent per annum, then the emissions will increase by 150 per cent over 2005 levels
India and U.S.
The current Indian per capita emission is 1.1 tonne. For the US, this figure is more than 20 tonnes. U.S. has much to do who earlier was not a signatory to Kyoto Protocol.
The United States had rejected the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, with the then US President George W Bush arguing that the 5 per cent reductions required by Kyoto would 'wreck the American economy'. Hmmm… more concerned with economy then the health of its people and the people of the world.
Russia
Russia is not much interested in climate change talks. Its focus now is on investments and it wants its industries to be more energy efficient.
However, the diplomats like other countries have said that the country is willing to reduce emissions between 20 per cent and 25 per cent from 1990 levels.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says Russia will join a post-Kyoto agreement only if other countries sign up for it and if Russian forests' contribution to reducing global carbon dioxide is taken into account. So, it depends on other countries efforts and interests on these climate changes.
So almost every country are demanding, “You reduce first then ask me.”
However, Copenhagen summit has given a glimmer of hope when President Barack Obama's stated that his country intended to achieve an 80 per cent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Wow, some people have even named the event the 'Hopenhagen' Summit. Obama knows until 2050 no one can question him or his country and he can do whatever he wants.
The US wants other countries, mainly China and India to commit on when their greenhouse-gas emissions will peak.
The country also seeks for reporting, monitoring and verification of emissions and reductions.
It seems a good idea, but there will be no takers and could lead to walkouts.
The laughing thing is… The Centre for Science and Environment said that for the US, the emission cap translates into a mere 3 per cent reduction below the 1990 levels while the actual demands made to developed countries to cut their emissions are 40 per cent below 1990 levels.
Besides, the US targets remain domestic and are not covered by a multilateral legally binding agreement.
Brazil
Brazil has envisaged running its automobiles on biofuels and it is keen to cut greenhouse gas emissions by reducing deforestation in the Amazon rain forest. It intends to reduce the emission by 39 per cent with this condition if it receives enough funds.
It is better said then none for Brazil which already has to deal with lawlessness in the poverty-stricken Amazon.
The EU aims to cut CO2 emissions 20 per cent by 2020 from 1990 levels. It is also willing to raise that target to 30 per cent if other countries agree to do their part.
Smoke rises from a chimney of a garbage processing plant at Daddumajra village near Chandigarh.
Poland
Poland can sell credits worth billions of Euros since it has reduced CO2 emissions by 30 per cent over the past 20 years.
As the EU's eastern members' energy sectors rely heavily on coal, they are likely to pay more.
Africa
African countries are demanding compensation from the developed countries. They believe that greenhouse-gas emissions of these developed countries have resulted in record droughts in East Africa as well as flooding in other regions.
They simply demand that to adapt to climate change they be paid billions of dollars.
Oil-producing nations, such as Nigeria, fear that they could lose revenues from expected declines in oil consumption and hence seek compensation.
Indonesia
Indonesia is a heavy carbon dioxide emitter. It seeks technology and funds to preserve its forests. It has agreed to reduce 26 per cent by 2020. It opposes monitoring and wants funds to raise its target to 41 per cent.
Ecuador
Ecuador, which is participating at the Copenhagen Summit, has put this distinctive proposal: it asks rich countries to pay $3.5 billion to keep 850 million barrels of its crude in the ground. The oil they say is located in a natural reserve of the Amazonian forest. Immediately an Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries team has visited the reserve and this is going to be debated much in this ongoing summit.
Finally, the summit gives everyone the opportunity to know what is going on in other countries, though there is no monitoring nor does it have any confirmation.
We people have very much responsibility to see that in whichever country we live we ask the Government to device ways and means for reducing carbon emissions. Let, `you do first’ may not be the slogan. But, let `I do first’ be the slogan to cut carbon emissions.
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