INDIA
HAS NO TARGETS FOR REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
25
RICHEST COUNTREIS VIOLATE COMMITMENTS UNDER UN CONVENTION ON CLIMATE
CHANGE
The United Nations
Conference on Climate Change (COP – 8) to begin in New Delhi from
the 23rd of October 2002 will review the actions taken
by various countries to mitigate the climate change by reducing
emission of greenhouse gases (GHG). The United Nations Convention
on Climate Change that came into force in 1994 set the framework
for action by various countries for reducing the emission of GHG.
These gases are responsible for global warming and the resultant
climate change.
Under the Convention
on Climate Change, India and the other developing countries were
not required to meet any specific targets for reduction of emission
of GHG while the developed countries were specifically required
to reduce emission of GHG to the 1990 level by the year 2000.
The latest available data (2000) reveal that greenhouse gas emissions
in the 25 richest countries have risen by 8.4 per cent since 1990.
The objective
of the Climate Change Convention is stabilization of greenhouse
gas concentration in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent
dangerous anthropogenic (human activity induced) interference
with the climate system. Such a level should be achieved within
a timeframe that would ensure that food production is not threatened
and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable
manner (Article 2 of the Convention). Even while specifying targets
for developed countries for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions,
the Climate Change Convention clearly acknowledged that the share
of global emission of greenhouse gases originating in developing
countries will in fact grow as these countries endeavour to meet
their social and developmental needs.
The Climate Change
convention also required the developed countries to take immediate
action to contain climate change in recognition of their large
and historic contribution to climate change. The developed countries
were also required to take lead in combating climate change in
accordance with the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities
and respective capabilities (Article 3). While recognising that
developing countries are particularly vulnerable to the adverse
effects of climate change, the Convention affirmed that coordinated
responses to climate change shall avoid adverse impacts on the
developing countries taking into full account their legitimate
priority needs for sustained economic growth and eradication of
poverty. The developed countries shall also assist the developing
countries in meeting the costs of adaptation to the adverse effects
of climate change besides taking steps to promote, facilitate
and transfer environmentally sound technologies to developing
countries.
Under the Climate
Change Convention, the developing countries were required to prepare
national inventories of greenhouse gas emissions to the extent
their capacities permit. In this regard also, the Convention (Article
4) clearly stated that developed countries shall provide financial
resources to developing countries in preparing such inventories.
186 countries
are parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change and will be meeting in New Delhi from the 23rd
of this month for reviewing the implementation of the convention
focussing on clean technology, adaptation to climate change and
national action to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
The six greenhouse
gases and their sources are : Carbon-di-oxide (burning of fossil
fuels like oil, gas and coal and deforestation), Methane(livestock,
decomposition of animal manure, rice cultivation etc.), Nitrous
Oxide (fossil fuels and fertilizer used), Sulphur Hexaflouride
(used as electric insulator, heat conductor and freezing agent)
and Hydroflourocarbons and Perflourocarbons (used as safe replacements
for Ozone depleting substances).
