India finally responded to China's challenge and announced that it will cut its emission intensity by 20-25% . What are your reactions? Do you think it is adequate? Will this help us regain a leadership position. What are the implications for the Green Tech Industry? Discuss on Indian Environment Network.
Four days ahead of the Copenhagen climate summit, India on Thursday announced it will reduce its emission intensity by 20-25% by 2020 from the 2005 level.
Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh, in an eloquent exposition of the country's stand which he said was worked out in concert with some developing countries including China, said India was reducing the emission intensity -- the level of greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GDP -- in its own interest.
India's announcement came a few days after China announced a 40-45 percent cut in its emissions intensity by 2020 compared to 2005, Brazil announced 38-42 percent and Indonesia 26 percent.Read the TOI News story here
You need to be a member of Paryavaran.com- Indian Environment Network to add comments!
In my view India's diplomatic efforts towards Cop 15 was confusing and directionless (playing to all in the gallery, invariably leads to such an impression) India could easily have taken a more pro-active stance rather than a defensive and later a reactive position. In contrast China's diplomacy was much smarter, subtle and effective. Here is a slightly older (Nov 3) commentary on China's diplomacy en-route to Copenhagen -
Well! Now that India has joined the other major developing economies in providing a better blueprint for its emission control goals - I would expect Manmohan Singh to go to Copenhagen. Hope, US could be pressurised or isolated by the rest to commit a much larger emission cut target than the pitiable 17% of 2005 emissions.
India never had a leadership position on climate change issues - on the contrary, India always took a defensive stand. Now, India perhaps has been forced to take a leadership stand - I would say for the good. Even though, this is a voluntary and non-binding commitment on emission control, I would expect that this would enforce significant commitment from our polluting industries, our forestry managers, our city administrators, and the likes. This commitment is likely to be heavily criticised by some of the NGOs (I would expect CSE to lead the charge) and the opposition politicians (for of course, reasons, which neither they or anybody else can comprehend). But would hope that we would see creation of 'better' (I can only hope for, nothing more) urban infrastructure, better enforcement of our forestry and environmental codes, more commitments on researches and innovations from our academia and industry, and closure of our heavily polluting industries.
Replies
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/433e0ebc-c89c-11de-8f9d-00144feabdc0,dwp_...