February 15, 2010 by akhilendra

India’s Target: to cut carbon emission by 25% in 15 yrs

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India today announced that it would reduce the carbon emission intensity by 20-25 per cent by 2020. This announcement came ahead of Copenhagen summit on climate change. India is going to achieve this by a series of policy measures which will include mandatory fuel efficiency standards. China has already announced a cut of 40-45 per cent, Brazil 38-42 per cent and Indonesia 26 per cent. Indian emissions are far below than most of the developing and developed nations.

Environment Minister of India, Jairam Ramesh was today speaking in parliament on the issue. He has said that if the Copenhagen Summit is successful in reaching a “comprenhensive and equitable agreement”, India would be willing to do more but only through voluntary measures. “We are telling the world that India is voluntarily ready to reduce emission intensity by 20-25 per cent in 15 years from 2005,” he said that while replying to a question in the parliament on impact of climate change. Minister had listed out a series of steps including introducing mandatory fuel efficiency standards on all vehicles by December 2011, model green building code and amendment of Energy Conservation Act to make it necessary for industries to have energy efficiency certificates. He added that clean energy will be used for energy production. He started his speech by saying that ‘India is the country most vulnerable to climate change’. Minister said that it is due to four reasons- the country’s dependence on monsoon, receding of Himalayan glaciers, presence of ecologically sensitive areas and climate change would affect mining in states of Jharkhand, Orissa and Chhattisgarh.

The Copenhagen summit starts on December 7 and approximately 90 states heads are expected to participate on the concluding day on December 18. India is confident that China will stand by India on the issues of carbon emission reduction. Indian government has already made it clear that it would not accept any commitment for a large scale cut in emissions but is ready to cooperate with the developed countries that the India will maintain a lower per capita emission in comparison of developed nation. Developed nation produce more carbon than developing countries like India, Brazil etc.

Indian finance minister had recently met his counterpart and discussed the issue of carbon emission and its stand on it. India is expecting to get support of china, Brazil and Russia. India is a developing nation and a large portion of the country is still under developed. Indian government made it clear repeatedly that it is ready to cooperate with the world to bring down the carbon emission but developed nations can’t run away from their responsibilities.

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