India?s signing of the declaration at the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF) in L?Aquila last week creates an enabling environment for reaching a climate change agreement during the 15th Conference of Parties in Copenhagen in December, according to environment experts.
Accepting the scientific view that the increase in global average temperature above pre-industrial levels should not exceed two degrees Celsius, the signatories agreed that developed countries will act to make robust reductions in their emissions in the mid-term and will ensure a meaningful reduction in emissions below their business-as-usual path in the mid-term.
The declaration also elaborates principles to formulate a financial system to support the deployment of new technologies, lower greenhouse gas emissions and facilitate the adaptation to climate change. The members will seek an agreement in Copenhagen, in line with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Bali Action Plan (BAP). The MEF declaration complements G8 leaders? meeting, in which they pledged to reduce their emissions by 80% or more and global emissions by 50%, by 2050. The base level is unspecified and can be 1990 or 2005. No mid-term targets have been fixed yet.
At the same time, experts say the declaration lacks in detail. For example, while it notes that countries will undertake transparent, nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMAs), subject to applicable measurement, reporting and verification, it?s not clear who will undertake the measurement or verification. BAP also envisages NAMAs, based on national circumstances and priorities of developing countries, supported and enabled by technology, financing and capacity-building.
According to Nitin Desai, former under-secretary general, United Nations, ?The declaration is a reasonable proposition and it?s in India ?s interest to take a proactive approach because the country faces a severe threat from climate change.? Referring to containing the global average temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius from the pre-industrial times, which can translate into emission caps for developing countries, Desai says that nobody is expecting India or China to take on emission targets in the near future. In any case, India has already declared that its greenhouse gas emissions will never exceed those of developed countries, which is an effective cap in itself.
Siddharth Pathak, a climate & energy campaigner from Greenpeace, says, ?The declaration is a step forward and shows India ?s constructive approach to help increase the chances of reaching a global climate change agreement in Copenhagen.? It?s a principle-oriented declaration and the signatories have reaffirmed their faith in the UNFCCC and BAP. Both these instruments protect India ?s interests, he adds. Referring to developing countries undertaking steps for meaningful reduction of emissions below their business as usual path, he points out that India has nothing to fear because India is already taking actions in this direction.
India spends 2.6% of its GDP on climate change adaptation and the National Action Plan on Climate Change is already in place. India also has an Energy Conservation Act, which envisages energy efficiency standards for nine energy-intensive industries. The country is also making a national inventory of greenhouse gas emissions, which will help in assessing risks and suggesting measures?social, economic and technological?to address climate change. This step is being done as part of the National Communication (Natcom) for submission to UNFCCC in 2011.
The signatories have also agreed to establish a global partnership to drive transformational low-carbon technologies. India , in particular, is expected to lead efforts on high- efficiency and lower-coal technologies. Explains Arun Kumar, associate director, KPMG, ?It?s high time India ?s improves its energy efficiency, which can also help in providing energy access to people who lack it.?
The MEF declaration is a political document and is not legally binding on signatories, but it can feed into the global climate change negotiations led by UNFCCC. MEF includes 17 industrialised and developing countries, which contribute more than 80% to global emissions. India is the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases by volume, after China and the US . But India ?s per capita CO2 emission is 1.1 tonne, against 20 tonne of the US and 10 tonne of most OECD countries. While China and the US contribute over 16% to global emissions each, India accounts for just 4%.
However, while global climate change experts have welcomed the MEF declaration, they are not really excited about it. The declaration is weak and doesn?t chart a road map of how the goal is to be achieved. Besides, it leaves the contentious issues of technology transfer and financing unresolved, experts say. The declaration also expresses the willingness to consider proposals for the establishment of international funding arrangements, including the proposal by Mexico for a green fund.