Is PM Modi A Climate Change Skeptic?

NEW DELHI: Climate Change has been in the news this week, and deservedly so, with a recent UN report titled “Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability” painting a grim for the future of the world.

Taking the report seriously, 120 world leaders gathered at a United States Climate in New York on Tuesday. Ahead of the summit, thousands of people across 150 countries took to the streets to demand action on climate change, with the biggest such march being in New York City that drew almost 500,000 people.

A recent study on climate change was also in the news, revealing that the world, instead of reversing the trend, has released more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere last year than ever before, with the United States, China and India leading the figures.

Source: Quartz

The world spewed an estimated 39.8 billion tons (36.1 billion metric tons) of carbon dioxide into the air last year by burning coal, oil and gas, which is 778 million tons (706 metric tons) or 2.3 percent more than the previous year.

The study, published in journals Nature Geoscience and Nature Climate Change, forecasts that emissions will continue to increase, with the world warming by 1.1 degrees celsius (2 degrees fahrenheit) in a span of 30 years. In 2009, policy makers had set the 2 degree fahrenheit mark as a dangerous level and had pledged not to reach it.

India, saw the biggest increase in carbon emissions, according to the study, with emissions growing by 5.1 percent. China’s emissions grew by 4.2 percent and the US’ by 2.9 percent. India and China’s leaders have said that they will not attend the summit on Tuesday, with China and India together accounting for nearly a third of all global emissions.

Source: Quartz

Both India and China are heavy users of coal -- which was the largest source of carbon emissions in 2013 -- and a recent visit by Chinese Premier Xi Jinping to India culminated in agreements that include cooperation on clean energy. However, both countries have resisted internationally imposed restrictions and have leveled pressure on the release of $100 billion promised to developing countries to help deal with the threat of climate change.

Source: Quartz

Despite this reality, carbon emissions continue to increase, with India, as stated earlier, leading the list. Only two dozen of about 200 countries cut their carbon emissions last year, with Spain representing the biggest decrease.

With this background, it is relevant to see the position of the three biggest polluters -- China, the US, and India -- on climate change.

1.China

Chinese Premier Xi Jinping, as mentioned, did not attend the summit. However, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, speaking at the UN Summit on Tuesday, pledged that China will slow the rise of its emissions and reach a peak “as soon as possible.” “Responding to climate change is what China needs to do to attain sustainable development at home,” Zhang said. Zhang said that China will reveal its plans to reduce emissions post-2020 during the first quarter of 2015, as the US plans to do, adding that the goals are likely to include efforts "to markedly reduce carbon intensity, increase the share of non-fossil fuels," boost forest conservation and "we will also try to bring about the peaking of total carbon dioxide emissions as early as possible.”

However, China reiterated its commitment to 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, that accounts for developing countries and industrialised nations having "common but differentiated responsibilities" in addressing concerns related to climate change. The treaty is based on the understanding that industrialised nations caused most of the damage to the climate via the industrial revolution. Referring to this, Zhang said, “all countries need to follow the path of green- and low-carbon development that suits their national conditions," and called upon all industrialised nations to "truly intensify emissions reduction and fulfill their obligations of financial support and tech transfer."

In short, China does seem to be ready to take some concrete moves on reducing its carbon footprint, although, as stated by Xie Zhenhua, vice chairman of China's National Development and Reform Commission, at a press conference following Zhang’s address, it cannot be specific about a date -- enabling it to keep its plans flexible enough.

2.The United States

The US’ position on climate change was expressed by US President Barack Obama at the UN Summit on Tuesday, although it was overshadowed to some extent by Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio’s statement. Nevertheless, Obama made some relevant points, calling climate change the most consequential issue of the 21st century. The most significant part of Obama’s speech, however, was in accounting for the limitations that are going to continue to plague action on the part of governments, made all the more relevant by the fact that the US is the second largest emitter after China.

“Today, I am here personally, as the leader of the world’s largest economy and its second largest emitter, to say we have begun to do something about it….but let me be honest, none of this is without controversy. In each of our countries, there will be interests that will be resistant to action. And in each country, there is a suspicion that if we act and other countries don’t, that we will be at an economic disadvantage. But we have to lead,” Obama said.

The President added, “yes, this is hard. But there should be no question that the United States of America is stepping up to the plate. We recognize our role in creating this problem. We embrace our responsibility to combat it. We will do our part. And we will help developing nations do theirs. But we can only succeed in combating climate change if we are joined in this effort by every nation, developed and developing alike. Nobody gets a pass.” All well and good but as an AP fact checker points out, Obama’s claim that US. reduced total carbon pollution “by more than any other nation on Earth,” is incorrect, and fails to account for the fact that this was achieved by “sending dirty fuel abroad to pollute the same sky.”

In short, the US may be talking the talk, but is not walking it.

3.India

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, like China’s Jinping, skipped the summit. The good news is that we do nevertheless, have a recent speech made by Modi on India’s Teacher’s Day earlier this year as a reference point for his views on climate change. The bad news: Modi’s position on climate change is downright confusing.

Addressing students on September 5, Modi wondered if anything has really even changed. “Older people – 70, 80 and 90 years old – say in winter ‘this time it’s colder than last year’. Actually, it’s not colder. People lose their ability to tolerate the cold as they grow older. In the same way, the climate hasn’t changed. We have changed.”

Sound like the words of a climate change skeptic? Modi went on to add, “We have changed. We have developed bad habits and because of that we have spoilt our environment. If we change then Nature is ready to restore its balance.”

Modi’s statement is especially confusing because when he was Gujarat’s Chief Minister, he pioneered climate action by setting up the first government department on climate change. He focused on renewable energy, encouraging solar power in the state.

This is exactly what Prakash Javadekar, India’s Environment Minister, who was at the UN Summit on Tuesday, pointed to when he said that PM Modi is “"very much interested in climate change and environmental issues. He has proved it in Gujarat for 12 years that both conservation and protection of environment along with development is simultaneously possible” (as quoted by Zee News).

"What we expect from the world is that the developed world must walk the talk on the Green Climate Fund as well as cutting their own emissions," Javadekar said, maintaining that India will take action on climate change not "at somebody's dictation" but on its own volition.

In short, we are as confused about India’s position as you are.