India’s emissions strategy

for transport.

By NOEL G. DE SOUZA

The Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Trinidad, by focussing on combating climate change, became a precursor to the Copenhagen climate change conference in December. President Sarkozy of France, an invited guest, hoped that the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would attend the Copenhagen meeting to help reach an agreement.

However, in Copenhagen, two strongly demarcated divisions are emerging: the old industrial countries which caused the original problem, and the world’s new industrial countries (China, India, South Africa and Brazil). The latter met in Beijing and rejected any legally binding targets as this would retard their progress (industrialisation and improved living standards).

The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh rejects any agreement which allows the “perpetuation of poverty”. As a gesture of co-operation, China has pledged a reduction of 45% and India of 25% by 2020, both being non-binding targets.

China and India are being portrayed as the world’s new polluters. But India is not in the same league as China because its carbon emissions are only a quarter of those of China. China has the dubious reputation of being the world’s biggest emitter of carbon dioxide at 21.5% which matches the USA with 20.2%; however, the USA’s per capita emission of 18.68 metric tons far outweighs the Chinese per capita of 4.57 metric tons. China in 1996 emitted 2.39 metric tons of carbon dioxide per capita and by 2006 rapidly increased to 4.57.

Some Middle East oil-producing countries have high per capita carbon emissions such as Kuwait at 29.01, Qatar at 32.78 and the United Arab Emirates at 30.34. These are largely attributable to petroleum refining. The refined product is exported to petroleum consuming countries.

In contrast, Scandinavian countries, which habitually top development ranks, have high per capita emissions caused by their lifestyles. These include the Netherlands at 10.17 metric tons, Finland at 12.46, Norway at 8.29 and Denmark at 9.75 though Sweden is lower at 5.45.

In 1980, India contributed a miniscule 0.43 metric tons of carbon emissions per capita but by 2006, it had reached 1.29. This phenomenal increase was caused by industrialisation, urbanisation and greater agricultural production. But India’s emissions are still well below the world average of 4.18%. If India would accept a binding cut in its emissions then it could harm its rate of progress.

However, India can try to reduce an increase in its carbon emissions by reducing its dependence on coal and oil. That is why India is keen to increase nuclear and solar generated power. India has signed nuclear deals with France, the United States and Canada. Canada is the world’s largest producer of uranium.

The Greenhouse Gas Market Report

2008, issued by the International Emissions Trading Association, says that India leads in Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects (352 were registered) and stands to earn five to ten billion US dollars by trading Certified Trading Emissions (CERs)

Russia comes third, being responsible for 5.5% but with a per capita of 11.02 metric tons whilst India follows at 5.3% but with a small per capita of 1.29 metric tons. The European Union exceeds Russia and India by contributing 13.8% with a per capita of 5.35 metric tons.

Carbon emission is an indicator of industrialisation as well as of lifestyles such as using cars and modern devices. Japan is in this league emitting 4.6% of carbon dioxide with a high per capita of 10.13% whilst Germany and Britain emit 2.8 and 2% respectively with a per capita of just over 9 metric tons.

Australia emits 1.2% of the world’s carbon dioxide but its per capita is a very high 16.68 metric tons. Canada is in a similar category. A good deal of their emissions are caused by lifestyle factors such as the predominant use of cars

An ambitious “Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission” has been launched to tap India’s enormous solar potential (around 5000 trillion kWh per year). The projected plans are expected to be completed by 2022 and include 20 million solar lighting systems for rural areas. Europe is planning to tap solar power from North Africa!

An article by Malini Mehra in the Greenhouse Gas Market Report 2008, issued by the International Emissions Trading Association, says that India leads in Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects (352 were registered) and stands to earn five to ten billion US dollars by trading Certified Trading Emissions (CERs). Some suggest a much greater earning capacity.

India has long opted for innovation. The Energy and Resources Institute (successor to the Tata Energy Institute) was established in 1974. Its current head is R. K Pachauri who also heads the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. That Panel shared the Nobel Prize in 2007 with Al Gore. India sees efforts to combat climate change to be an international co-operative effort. For that it requires technology transfer, particularly green technologies. Currently India faces restrictions in getting certain US technologies, restrictions which European Union countries do not face. The battle against carbon emissions requires equitable international co-operation which does not impede progress in developing countries for a better lifestyle including enhanced food output.