Comment on India’s UN climate commitment

Germana Canzi, ECIU’s International Climate Change Analyst, on the significance on the proposals

By George Smeeton

info@eciu.net

Share

Commenting on India’s submission to the UN climate process ahead of this December’s summit, former UK Environment Minister Richard Benyon MP applauded the country’s commitment to climate change and renewable energy.

India plans to reduce its “emissions intensity” by 33% to 35% below 2005 levels by 2030. Image: Sanyam Bahga, Creative Commons licence
India plans to reduce its “emissions intensity” by 33% to 35% below 2005 levels by 2030. Image: Sanyam Bahga, Creative Commons licence

“It’s highly significant that India is joining the ranks of so many other developed and developing countries in putting serious commitments on the table ahead of the Paris climate talks,” he said.

“India needs to balance the demands of economic growth and reducing emissions, so a primary focus on using energy more efficiently, growing forests and ramping up renewable energy is eminently sensible.

“Like China, India is heading in the right direction and the prospects for a new global deal on climate change appear to be brightening by the day.”

Germana Canzi, ECIU’s International Climate Change Analyst agreed:

“This commitment by India – the world’s third largest emitter and the world’s fifth largest coal reserves, but also a country with low per capita use of energy and emissions – is significant,” she said.

“Issued on the day Indians celebrate the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, it shows the country takes climate change increasingly seriously and knows it is possible to move towards a low carbon economy while eliminating poverty.

“The path of that India will now take in its development is extremely important for the future of the climate, particularly as the country is set to surpass China to become the world’s most populous country by 2028, with 1.45 billion people.

“In parallel, India is making major efforts to promote decentralised clean energy solutions – particularly solar – to reach 300 million people currently without any electricity, as well as investments in energy efficiency and public transport. India will now need a good deal to be reached at the December UN climate conference in Paris.”