PERSPECTIVE FROM INDIA CLIMATE CHANGE: A


requires for the first time, the developing countries as well to pledge mitigation actions which are to be closely monitored while on the other hand, the developed countries have not been bound by any legally binding emission cuts as were provisioned in the Kyoto Protocol of 1997. The dilution of this fundamental guiding principle of all previous accords has disturbing implications for the developing nations as it reduces their carbon space required for development. Although the Paris agreement has achieved a consensus on a range of issues, the voluntary nature of the pledges and non binding targets would require a strong will at national levels to achieve any meaningful result. Given this backdrop, the fight against climate change


“Within the Parliament, the elected representatives can play a critical role in ensuring that climate


change issues are placed high up on the political agenda, by raising questions, seeking information and bringing attention to issues of climate change. They can review government budgets and spending on climate change issues.”


underscores the importance of the role of not only policy makers but also of various other stakeholders such as the civil society, technology experts, industry captains and media managers.


Mobilizing public support is an important pre-requisite in the underdeveloped and developing countries, in their fight against climate change. The diversion of capital from the immediate developmental needs of the people would create additional pressures on scarce resources and governments could face objections from the opposition parties as well as the tax payers. Parliamentarians can play as a bridge between the people and the government in shaping their country’s policies. They can help to create awareness amongst people by ensuring effective, local level dissemination of information on climate change impacts and of the available adaptation and mitigation options. This would facilitate the formation of a positive environment for governments to effectively enact meaningful policy changes.


Parliamentarians can also elicit the help of civil society to educate people on sustainable development and also to promote sustainable practices in agriculture, forestry and allied activities.


Parliamentarians can encourage the participation of people in supporting government programs of conservation of natural resources and environment protection. They can initiate community effort especially those involving children, in activities such as tree plantation which would help to heighten their sensitivity towards their environment for future security.


To promote renewable energy options as a more sustainable and cleaner option, Parliamentarians can interact


with local businesses and the industrial sector to support measures for energy efficiency and to adopt and promote renewable technologies. Parliamentarians can assist in obtaining government funds to support community resilience- building to the potential threats of climate change.


Within the Parliament, the elected representatives can play a critical role in ensuring that climate change issues are placed high up on the political agenda, by raising questions, seeking information and bringing attention to issues of climate change. They can review government budgets and spending on climate change issues. Parliamentarians can examine the adaptation and mitigation measures being carried out at state and national levels, and also advocate for greater budget allocation to combat the impact of climate change at these levels. They can take the initiative to join existing parliamentary forums that aim to mainstream climate change issues across Ministries and social development sectors. The destructive effects of climate change are more pronounced in regions of high population, low incomes and an economy which is dependent on nature. Thus, it has special significance for India which has 20% of the world’s population living on just 2% of the world land area, and 70% of the people seeking their livelihood from farming.


Realizing this vulnerability, the Indian government has taken strong steps to control and combat the likely effects of Climate Change. India released its National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) on 30 June, 2008, which consists of a series of mitigation and adaptive actions to be taken both at the national and state levels. These include policies for


alternate energy development, enhancement of energy efficiency, establishment of sustainable habitats and smart cities, and conservation of water and natural resources. A budgetary support of Rs. 2,54,731 crores has been earmarked for the 11th 5 Year Plans.


and 12th


The negotiations in Paris have demonstrated that even though the objective is to find a globally acceptable path towards reducing GHG emissions which are threatening the entire human race, countries are not yet willing to rise above their narrow and competing interests to tackle the real issues at hand.


Nations have to ultimately realize that climate change is a global, non-discriminatory, boundary-less phenomenon and requires a strong global response. It cannot be dealt with an approach which is weighed down by self-serving purposes, hidden agendas and commercially oriented attitudes that bind us into groups. The approval of the climate accord by 196 nations gives rise to the hope that the global community has acknowledged the gravity of the situation and is beginning to demonstrate a unified proactive approach in combating the scourge of climate change. On our journey of 27 years, from the first Earth Summit to the conference at Paris, we have passed many milestones, but the tide of events, spawned by global warming, continues to swell. The conclusion of COP 21 has given us an environmental agreement with a clear road map for a secure future. It will now be the test of our vision, leadership, wisdom and the cohesiveness of mankind as a whole to successfully navigate to a cleaner, greener and a safer world.


The Parliamentarian | 2016: Issue One | 23


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