India will never accept legally binding emission cuts at Copenhagen. Shri Jairam Ramesh Minister of State for Environment and forests (I/C) said in Lok Sabha yesterday in his reply to a debate on the issue of Climate Change and laying out India’s position ahead of the Copenhagen Global climate talks at the December 8-18,2009.The Minster clarified that India will stick to two non-negotiables. Besides ‘no legally binding emission cut’, the other non-negotiable is not to accept an agreement demarcating the peaking year, the year after which developing countries emissions levels will be at peak. The Ministers clarified that India will not subject its indigenous technology, developed without foreign support, to any international emission Scrutiny, but added that it will beflexible and willing to accept scrutiny of ventures developed with outside financial and technological support. He said, “We would not subject unsupported actions to the same scrutiny as the supported actions”.
Mr Ramesh also said that India is voluntarily ready to reduce emission intensity by 20-25% in 15 years form 2005. The Planning Commission, has on the basis of historical experience, concluded that a 20-25% emission intensity between 2005 and 2020 is possible. Thus India will accept low carbon growth economy, which is essential for our livelihood plans.
Explaining about emission intensity, the Minister said emission in divided by GDP, which is equal to emission intensity. Carbon intensity is the amount of GDP. A reduction in carbon intensity means a country is able to achieve higher levels of GDP without a corresponding increase in carbon dioxide emissions, therefore saving some carbon emissions.
The Planning Commission has made mid term appraisal of the Eleventh Five Year Plan. It is already preparing a low carbon growth path for India for the next plan period. Mr Ramesh said the decision of reduction carbon intensity is also essential for India’s stake to claim for global leadership on climate change and take a moral high ground. India could have chosen not to do anything and remained like the proverbial frog in the well, but the world wild have laughed at India, he said.
Referring to varied climatic zones and uncertainty in rain patterns over the years, the Minister said, “More than to the international community, we have to show the action to our own people- to those living in the Sunderbans, in the north-east, in the Himalayas and in the Andaman and Nicobar islands – that the government was serious about tacking climate change.”
The Minister unveiled a plan of the Ministry to impose a series of policy measures. He informed the Ministry will impose a strict emission regime and bringing laws through Parliament. These include mandatory fuel efficiency for all vehicles by December 2010, energy conservation certificate, appraisal of increase in forest cover on annual basis, , Energy conserving Green Building Code and to bring coal power plants under Clean coal Technology.
The Indian team to Copenhagen will include four Members of parliament, two from Lok Sabha and two from Rajya Sabha. In addition, two school children and two college going students (both girls ) would also be members of the Indian team on environment and climate change. The MP include S/S M.M Joshi, Sitaram Yechury, Bharthari Mahtab and M S Swaminathan. The Ministers explained that inclusion of the students in the official team will convey India’s seriousness in doing something for the future generations. Mr ramesh said,”By 2030, ‘40 on ‘50, you and I will no be alive, so a 70 year and a 60 year old can hardly talk about the future. Those who will face the consequences of climate chang are best suited to articulate these concerns.”
