The ratification by the European nations ensured that the Paris deal to combat climate change crossed the required threshold. The deal will come into force on November 4 and the focus now shifts to the 22nd session of the conference of parties (COP 22) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to be held in Marrakesh (Morocco) from November 7. Prominent on the Marrakesh agenda will be framing of rules that can facilitate, not thwart, the implementation of the pact, especially by the developing nations, which lack the wherewithal to do so without diluting their efforts to meet basic needs of people. The deliberations would, therefore, have to revolve around the provision of adequate technical and funding assistance to developing countries in areas such as cleaner power generation, low-emission transport, and promotion of efficient energy use in various sectors. By being one of the timely movers to ratify the deal and having played a notable role in crafting this agreement at Paris in December, India has retained the moral high ground to negotiate hard at Marrakesh.
India has, notably, kept room for according priority to its national developmental needs even while executing the Paris deal. The ratification document has explicitly underscored domestic obligations for poverty alleviation, provision of basic amenities, including power, to all citizens, and capacity building for climate initiatives. More importantly, it has made it clear that climate actions or a low carbon growth path will not be possible without adequate financial and technological support. By doing so, New Delhi seems to have kept a window open to review its climate commitments if other countries fail to fulfil their promises on finance and technology transfer.
Regardless of such plain speaking, however, New Delhi seems to have done well to begin the necessary spadework by setting up inter-ministerial committees to go into new obligations that might arise from this pact. The NITI Aayog is reportedly revisiting energy-related policies against the backdrop of the Paris pact. The power ministry, too, is looking at possible energy scenarios and actions that will be needed to align with international practices. India's compulsion to persist with thermal power may not matter much as long as it manages to meet its self-declared climate improvement goals. These include slashing the carbon footprint of its economy by 33-35 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) from the 2005 level; generating 40 per cent power from non-fossil sources; and creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3.3 billion tonnes by revamping the forest cover. The country's ambitious renewable energy targets - 100 Giga watts (GW) solar, 60 GW wind and 15 GW bio-energy - will also come in handy to deflect objections to the use of coal-based electricity.
However, the country will need to frame new rules, or perhaps a new law, to mandatorily monitor and collect emission data from various sectors, including industry and agriculture, for reporting to the UN. With backing from the poor nations - which may be readily forthcoming - India can push its treasured ideals such as climate justice and sustainable lifestyle. Unless deliberations at Marrakesh deliver a series of result-oriented roadmaps to achieve the Paris agreement's objectives, the UNFCCC's COP 22 will not be deemed a success.
