THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 19 December 2018 (Bolstering Paris: on the Katowice consensus)

Bolstering Paris: on the Katowice consensus

Mains Paper 1: Internal Relations
Prelims level: Katowice Conference
Mains level: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests.

Context

•  The UN Climate Conference held in Katowice, Poland, has moved ahead with the implementation of the Paris Agreement through a rule book.
•  This reflecting strong support among citizens of all countries for urgent action to avert dangerous climate change.
•  Public pressure has prevailed over scepticism, although the outcome does not adequately reflect the short window available to make deep greenhouse gas emissions cuts.
•  Yet, the Paris Agreement, endorsed by 195 countries under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), has a long road ahead before carbon emissions can be pegged at levels flagged by scientists.

Key highlights about the IPCC report

•  The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), in a special report, issued a stark warning on man-made emissions.
•  It said that to cap the rise in global average temperature over pre-industrial levels at 1.5°C, a 45% reduction in emissions over 2010 levels must be made by 2030.
•  This is a challenge for all big economies, including India, which is among the top five emitters of carbon dioxide.
•  It highlights the need for action on several fronts: scaling up solar and wind power in line with the goal of reaching 175 GW of renewable energy by 2022, steadily reducing reliance on coal, shifting substantially to electric mobility and adopting green industrial processes.
•  Taxing luxury emissions and using the dividend to give the poor energy access has to be the policy target, building on international green climate funding linkages.
   

India’s negotiations in Katowice conference

•  At Katowice, Indian negotiators put forth legitimate concerns on the likely social impact of the new rules that will operationalise the Paris Agreement in 2020.
•  There is an estimated 1.2 tonnes of CO2 per capita, India emits far below the global average of 4.2 tonnes.
•  Yet, cumulative emissions determine the impact on climate, and India’s emissions grew at an estimated 6.3% in 2018.
•  The prospect of increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and sea level rise in a warming world affecting small island states allows little room for complacency.
•  The task now is to achieve a paradigm shift that will slow down the addition of new sources of carbon emissions
•  India has to systematically assess its emissions and measure mitigation actions for reporting to the UNFCCC at stock-taking meetings.

Way forward

•  This is an opportunity to bring major sectors such as energy production, building, agriculture and transport on board, and make changes to regulations that favour environment-friendly alternatives.
•  China has taken the lead in advancing electric mobility, while individual States and cities are ahead of national governments, as in the U.S., in reducing their carbon footprint.
•  A clean-up in India will help meet emissions commitments and remove the blanket of air pollution that is suffocating entire cities.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1) Super critical and ultra-super critical (USC) plants technologies” sometimes heard in news are related to
a) Trade secrets negotiated under Nairobi package
b) Breeder’s rights under TRIPS
c) Reduction of atmospheric pollution
d) Fusion reactor technologies

Answer: C

Mains Questions:
Q.1) The Katowice consensus does not adequately reflect the challenge to limit global warming. Critically evaluate.