COP29 in Baku ended with a climate finance goal of $300 billion annually by 2035. The goal remains insufficient for developing countries, highlighting persistent global climate negotiation deadlock.
Challenges in Global Climate Negotiations
- Inadequate Climate Finance: The $300 billion annually by 2035 goal set by developed nations falls short of the financial needs of developing countries, creating a critical point of contention.
- Continued Reliance on Fossil Fuels: Developed nations’ ongoing dependence on fossil fuels hinders meaningful emission reductions and the transition to net-zero targets.
- Fossil Fuel Lobby Influence: Powerful lobbying from the oil and gas industries delays strong climate policies, obstructing necessary global emissions reductions.
- Political Backlash: The re-election of Climate change skeptics such President Donald Trump undermine international climate cooperation, delaying urgent reforms.
- Differential Impacts of Climate Change: Developing countries face more severe climate impacts, yet developed nations fail to meet their financial and mitigation commitments, causing gridlock.
- Slow Progress in Emission Reductions: Despite global frameworks, emission reductions have been sluggish, and the 1.5°C threshold may soon be exceeded, amplifying the urgency.
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Achievements of Previous Global Climate Negotiations
- Montreal Protocol (came into force in 1989): Successfully protected the ozone layer by phasing out harmful chemicals.
- Kyoto Protocol (came into force in 2005): First global accord to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Paris Agreement (2015): Set a goal to limit global warming to 2°C, with revised targets every five years.
- Glasgow Climate Pact (2021): Introduced a loss and damage fund and formalized net-zero dates.
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What needs to be done
- Increased Climate Finance: Developed countries must fulfill and exceed their financial commitments to support climate action in developing nations, ensuring more robust funding for mitigation and adaptation efforts.
- Stronger Climate Policies: Strengthen international climate policies, ensuring that they are not influenced or diluted by fossil fuel industry lobbying, and enforce accountability to meet climate goals.
- Political Will and Global Cooperation: Political leaders must prioritize long-term climate action over short-term gains, fostering a unified, global response to the climate crisis.
- Support for Developing Nations: Enhance support for developing countries to build resilience against climate impacts, focusing on technology transfer, capacity-building, and financial resources.
- Urgency in Emission Reductions: Swift action is needed to meet the 1.5°C goal, with a stronger commitment to immediate and drastic cuts in global emissions to avoid catastrophic climate impacts.
- Local and National Action: While global agreements are crucial, more focus should be placed on national and sub-national efforts, empowering local communities to drive climate action on the ground.
India’s Stand and Steps Taken
India recognizes the urgency of the situation and has taken several steps to address it:
- NDC of India: India has committed to reducing its emissions intensity (CO2 per unit of GDP) as part of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, aligning with global climate goals while continuing its development trajectory.
- Energy Transition Focus: The focus on green energy includes large-scale projects for solar and wind power, along with efforts to decentralize energy production and improve access to clean energy.
- Self-reliance: While advocating for increased climate finance from developed nations, India recognizes that international support may be limited.
- Hence, India is focused on self-reliance and has initiated several national programs to drive its climate agenda.
- Co-benefits Approach: India’s co-benefits strategy addresses climate change while also tackling social issues such as energy poverty.
- Programs like the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, which subsidizes rooftop solar installations, are examples of this approach, helping to improve energy access while reducing emissions.
- FAME: The Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme was a policy in India that aimed to promote the use of electric and hybrid vehicles.
- Promoting Clean Transport: Through the PM E-DRIVE initiative, India is accelerating the adoption of zero-emission vehicles, including electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and trucks, providing subsidies and building necessary infrastructure.
- Energy Efficiency and Emission Reductions: India’s Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) scheme, now evolving into the Indian Carbon Market, incentivizes energy efficiency improvements and emission reductions across industries, helping to achieve national climate targets.
- LiFE Initiative: The Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) initiative promotes sustainable consumption and encourages individuals and communities to reduce their carbon footprints, aligning with India’s broader climate goals.
- State-Level Adaptation Plans: India’s State Action Plans on Climate Change target region-specific vulnerabilities, focusing on agriculture, water resources, disaster risk reduction, and forestry to build resilience against climate impacts.
Despite being a developing country, India continues to make tangible progress towards meeting its climate targets, demonstrating commitment to both emission reductions and socio-economic development. This comprehensive approach reflects India’s resilience in the face of global climate challenges.
Way Forward for India
- Sustained Mitigation Efforts: Continue reducing emissions intensity and transitioning to clean energy.
- Mindful Consumption: Align individual and societal practices with Mission LiFE for sustainable lifestyles.
- Resilient Infrastructure and Communities: Invest in adaptive infrastructure and disaster risk management.
- Heat Action Plans: Address extreme heat challenges with targeted strategies.
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| Current Relevance of COP:
Despite global inertia, COP remains highly relevant for several reasons:
- Global Platform for Dialogue: COP continues to provide a unique space for nations to discuss climate change and share progress.
- Progress Monitoring and Accountability: COP serves as an important check on nations’ climate promises.
- While actual progress may be slow, the regular review process encourages countries to update their commitments and hold each other accountable for meeting climate goals.
- Climate Finance Advocacy: Developing countries continue to push for more robust financial support, and COP meetings are essential for pressuring developed nations to deliver on their climate finance pledges, which remain a key issue.
- Public awareness: The urgency of climate change, emphasized through scientific reports presented at COPs, drives public awareness and political pressure. Even with global inertia, these meetings highlight the need for immediate action.
- Building Coalitions and Partnerships: COP fosters cooperation between governments, businesses, and civil society.
- Shaping Global Norms: COPs continue to shape global climate norms, influencing policies and regulations at national levels.
- While global agreements may take time, the COP process steadily shifts the global discourse toward stronger climate commitments.
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Conclusion
Robust domestic policies and international cooperation are crucial for effectively addressing the climate crisis and ensuring sustainable solutions. Collaborative efforts at all levels are key to combating global environmental challenges.
December 4, 2024
