Addressing Climate Change: Can India Overcome the Challenge?

Climate change is amongst the most serious environmental crises faced by mankind today. With high atmospheric concentration of globally warming gases continuing to rise further, the world is not on track to meet the internationally agreed goal of stabilising climate at 1.5- or 2-degree below pre-industrial level. Adverse impacts of climate change are aggravating. On the other hand, remedial actions initiated by countries have made little impact on the trajectory of global emissions. This paper argues that the failure of global efforts to arrest the growth in emissions is largely attributable to inadequacy of mitigation targets set by countries in comparison with the scientifically estimated goal, inequity in the international regime about sharing of global efforts based on responsibility and capability, and absence of a credible and internationally implementable plan for financing national transitions in developing countries.

The paper also analyses the challenges to India's climate policy. While India has made substantive progress towards meeting its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) goals, it needs to prioritise investments in energy transition and climate resilient infrastructure to ensure that the issues of transition are addressed in a just manner with full recognition of the needs of vulnerable communities. As India has a goal of being a net zero emissions economy by 2070 coupled with that of becoming a developed country by 2047, India's strategy towards contribution to global climate goals must remain anchored in the principles of equitable sharing of global efforts, mainstreaming of climate concerns in the development strategy, and strong involvement of communities.