| This is the message of the latest Human Development report, 2007-2008, which was released today by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia in New Delhi. The global release was in Brazil |
| The report, "Fighting Climate Change: Human Solidarity in a divided world," calls for setting up of a multilateral agency for climate-proofing the poorer nations from global warming. |
| It also calls for more investments in integrating the adaptation efforts with poverty alleviation goals. The report marks a shift from the earlier focus on HIV/AIDS. |
| While it reprimands developed nations for not doing enough to cut carbon emissions, it says the way forward for developing countries like India "" which has become the fourth-largest carbon emitter "" is to decarbonise its economy. |
| It says adoption of clean coal technologies by energy-starved India will allow it to "change its emissions trajectory" while meeting its energy demand. |
| Since coal is likely to meet most of India's increased energy demand, coal-based emissions are projected to rise from 734 million tonnes (mt) of carbon dioxide in 2004 to 1,078 mt by 2015 and 1,714 mt by 2030. |
| This is due to low efficiency plants. Citing research by the Planning Commission, the report says India can generate the same amount of power with one-third less fuel. |
| The decarbonisation of growth will need an annualised increase in investment of about $5 billion for 2012-2017, it says, citing a study by The Energy Resource Institute (TERI). It says rich nations have failed in their responsibility. |
| The report, which reiterates the position of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that the world cannot take more than a 2 degree increase in temperature and 450 part per million carbon emissions, says India and China are emitting more and more carbon and hence should look at a growth strategy that is less dependent on carbon emissions. |
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