Climate and Development Lab
Connect with the CDL on Twitter:
  • Home
  • About
    • Authors
    • Alumni
  • CDL in the News
  • Publications
    • Scholarly Articles & Chapters
    • Policy Briefings
    • Books & Special Issues
    • Submissions to the UNFCCC
  • Projects
  • Multimedia
  • Contact

India at COP21: A new approach or more of the same?

12/11/2015

 
​By Mili Mitra
Picture
In the halls of the Paris climate talks, India has been widely criticized as a potential obstacle. Others see it as a wild card or a volatile swing vote. Either way, it has dominated the headlines from Paris, emerging as a make-or-break player alongside powerhouses like the US and China. This has prompted questions about its transformation on climate change. 

While it may seem as if India has undergone a sea change on climate policy, the reality is more nuanced. By and large, India’s actual demands are consistent with its position in previous negotiations. However, it has modified its rhetoric to become a more assertive force in Paris.
Shifts in Rhetoric
 
The Indian government has definitely changed its tune in the last year. When Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in May 2014, there was an optimistic buzz among climate activists. Modi had a strong background on energy and climate policy, and even mentioned climate change in his election manifesto. Yet in his first year in power, he remained relatively silent on the issue.
 
Between 2014 and 2015, however, Modi’s official statements on climate change have increased by over 50 percent. Of course, the increase can also be attributed to the hype around the Paris talks, but I would argue that the difference is significant enough to signal a deliberate shift. His language has also changed, with greater focus on climate justice and development. The Modi administration has prioritized climate change in the lead-up to Paris, and this has played out in its aggressive substantive position in negotiations.
 
Shifts in Substantive Demands
 
Climate Justice and Equity
India has historically been a watchdog for equity at climate negotiations. With a large population under the poverty line and high dependence on fossil fuels for growth, India needs support to transition to a low-carbon economy. The idea of equity may not be new, but India has reframed its version of climate justice.
 
Indian negotiators and activists have argued that the unregulated development of wealthier nations has placed India at a disadvantage. It has the same developmental needs, but less atmospheric carbon space to use. India has demanded that it has “room to grow” in the new climate regime, with rich countries carrying more of the burden. It has thereby taken a more forceful stance on climate justice in Paris. In doing so, it has put pressure on wealthy nations to step up and do their utmost.
 
Climate Finance
Climate finance has emerged as a key issue in negotiations. India has been calling for greater climate finance for years. But once again, they have devoted more attention to this issue in Paris. As part of G77+China, India issued a stern warning to developed countries in the early stages of the conference. The statement called on rich countries to acknowledge the “obligation” of climate finance due to their historical responsibility.
 
India’s Finance Ministry has also recently released a discussion paper criticizing developed nations for their “creative accounting” of climate finance. It slammed a recent OECD report that claimed developed countries were providing $62 billion a year in climate finance, estimating that the number was closer to $2 billion. Overall, it has not drastically changed its position on climate finance. It has instead become a more vocal advocate for scaled-up, transparent finance from developed countries.
 
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is Modi’s pet project at both the national and international levels. He began the year with the landmark announcement to increase the country’s solar capacity to 100GW by 2022. This seemed to catalyze a new focus on renewable energy, especially solar power, in India.
 
In the Paris talks, this shift has been evident: In the first day alone, Modi discussed renewables extensively in his opening statement and announced the International Solar Alliance with France and 120 other countries.  He pledged to mobilize $1 trillion by 2030 to promote solar power in developing countries. It’s too early to tell if the plan will be ambitious and well-implemented, but the announcement was a bold move from Modi early on in the conference, signaling his emphasis on renewable energy.
 
Conclusion
For the most part, India’s demands have not changed at the Paris climate talks. It has simply become a more aggressive player in negotiations, and a focal point for countries demanding climate justice. It has also become more solitary among major powers with its hardline stance. But whatever the outcome in Paris, one fact has become obvious: India is shaping up to be a real heavyweight in the post-2015 climate regime. 

Mili Mitra is a member of Brown University’s Climate and Development Lab. The opinions in this article are the sole responsibility of the author. ​

Comments are closed.
    Tweets by @ClimateDevLab
    CDL in the News

    28 Dec 2018 - Edwards in the NYT on electric vehicles in Latin America

    24 Dec 2018 - The Public's Radio RI interviews Roberts on how the fossil fuel industry outspends environmental groups on campaign contributions & lobbying

    19 Dec 2018 - EcoRI News: New Report Claims RI Climate Council Falling Behind Targets

    17 Dec 2018 - 'We must move beyond business as usual,' says new report on Rhode Island's inadequate climate plan.

    12 Dec 2018 - 
    Isabel Cavelier, Guy Edwards and Lina Puerto “COP25 en 2019: reto y oportunidad para elevar la ambición climática en América Latina” El Espectador

    4 Dec 2018 - Whitehouse, Ciciline meet with climate lab

    28 Nov 2018 - Edwards quoted in New York Times story on Brazil backing out of hosting UN summit on climate change

    11 Oct 2018 - Brookings Institute Climate reality requires starting at home: Weaning from fossil fuels

    23 Sep 2018 - Edwards quoted in Financial Times on Argentina energy future

    13 Jul 2018 - Europe and Latin America can blaze a trail on implementing the Paris Agreement
    ​
    1 Jun 2018 - Brookings Institute One year since Trump's withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement

    21 May 2018 - Edwards article in World Politics Review: Is the G-20 Heading for a Showdown With Trump on Climate Change?

    11 May 2018 - Edwards Op-Ed in Washington Post 

    22 Jan 2018 - Roberts Op-Ed The climate solution no-one in Davos will be talking about

    ​15 Dec 2017 - Edwards' article on how Regional and domestic politics could sabotage Brazil's bid to host UN climate change talks in 2019 ​
    ​
    8 Nov 2017 - Roberts quoted in Reuters story on financing loss and damage

    9 Oct 2017 - EcoRI article describes Roberts' testimony against the natural gas power plant proposed for construction in Burrillville, Rhode Island

    17 Sep 2017 - BBC Radio 5 featured a live interview with Roberts about Trump's conditions for staying in Paris

    4 Sep 2017 - Roberts comments on the use of his work in a report by Rhode Island Department of Health on the proposed power plant in Burrillville, Rhode Island 

    17 Jul 2017 - Roberts mentioned in NPR's story on the US having a say in UN climate spending
    ​
    15 Jul 2017 - Roberts calls for solid climate policies in RI

    5 Jul 2017 - Roberts demands swifter action on CO2 release

    5 Jul 2017 - Roberts demands RI Governor Raimondo to take climate action

    30 Jun 2017 - Roberts gives advice on owning and using electric cars

    23 Jun 2017 - Roberts comments on how voters are persuaded by the terms 'climate change' and 'global warming'

    20 Jun 2017 - Roberts' involvement in local climate group is helping to fight fossil fuel development

    3 Jun 2017 - WPRO Radio's Steve Klamkin interviews Roberts on the Paris Agreement

    2 Jun 2017 - Roberts comments on US involvement in the Green Climate Fund

    2 Jun 2017 - BBC Radio 5's Faye Rusco interviews Roberts on Trump's withdrawal from Paris

    2 Jun 2017 - Roberts discusses the role of mayors and private sector companies post US pull-out of Paris

    1 Jun 2017 - Roberts gives more details about the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement

    1 Jun 2017 - Roberts organizes emergency protest in RI

    1 Jun 2017 - Roberts comments on the implications of US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement

    1 Jun 20117 - Roberts share his views on the US exit from the Paris Accord

    31 May 2017 - Roberts cited on the far-reaching implications of US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement

    31 May 2017 - RI left vulnerable if US pulls out of Paris Accord, says Roberts

    24 May 2017 - Roberts chimes in on Trump's proposed EPA budget

    30 Apr 2017 - Roberts helps to 'fact check' Trump's first 100 days in office

    25 Apr 2017 - Roberts lobbies for people's march in RI to mark Trump's first 100 days in office

    23 Apr 2017 - Roberts cautions against threats to science at march for science in Rhode Island

    7 Apr 2017 - White House Chronicle's Llewelyn King interviews Roberts on Trump’s executive order and climate policy directions

    10 Mar 2017 - Roberts quoted in Providence Business News about new proposed fossil fuel infrastructure in Rhode Island

    6 Feb 2017 - Devex article on climate finance under the new administration quotes Roberts

    18 Jan 2017 - Roberts featured in NPR Marketplace segment on Obama's $500m donation to the Green Climate Fund

    29 Dec 2016 - Roberts quoted in Common Dreams article about the state of environmental justice in 2016

    19 Nov 2016 - EcoRI profiles Roberts and the new Civic Alliance for a Cooler Rhode Island

    14 Nov 2016 - Roberts featured in Rhode Island Public Radio segment on Trump and the Paris Agreement 

    12 Nov 2016 - Roberts quoted in Climate Home article on Republican plans to defund climate change programs

    10 Nov 2016 - Roberts quote appears in EcoRI article about Trump and the environment 

    9 Nov 2016 - Roberts quoted in InsideClimate News article on COP22 reaction to Trump's election

    9 Nov 2016 - Science Daily discusses new CDL article on paying for loss and damage

    9 Nov 2016 - Roberts quoted in Climate Home article on COP22 reaction to Trump's election

    8 Nov 2016 - Roberts' paper on paying for loss and damage discussed and quoted in Phys.Org

    7 Nov 2016 - Roberts' paper on paying for loss and damage discussed and quoted in Futurity article

    21 Sep 2016 - Roberts quoted in a Breitbart News article about Clinton's support following shift in climate change language

    20 Sep 2016 - Roberts quoted in a Climate Home article on Clinton's language around climate change after Sanders' endorsement

    5 May 2016 – Climate Home quotes Edwards on the announcement that Patricia Espinosa will lead the UNFCCC from this July 

    5 May 2016 - Dialogo Chino quotes Edwards following announcement that Patricia Espinosa will replace Christiana Figueres as head of the UNFCCC

    24 Apr 2016 - Deutsche Welle quotes Edwards on how ratifying Paris Agreement can boost prosperity in Latin America

    23 Mar 2016 – Edwards provides extended quote to Dialogo Chino on Obama’s trip to Cuba and Argentina
     
    25 Dec 2015 -  ConexiónCOP conversó con Guy Edwards sobre el nuevo acuerdo climático y America Latina

    14 Dec 2015 - Rhode Island Public Radio quotes Roberts on how Paris Climate Pact should steer New England toward clean energy

    11 Dec 2015 - Associated Press quotes Romain Weikmans on “Wild West” account on climate finance

    10 Dec 2015 -  Climate Home talks to Roberts about the lack of an independent system on climate finance

    Read more...

    Archives

    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    June 2021
    January 2021
    December 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    April 2012
    December 2011
    February 2009
    December 2008

    Authors

    The pieces featured in the blog are authored by CDL members and a diverse group of partners from around the world. The opinions expressed in these articles are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not reflect those of Brown University. 

    Categories

    All
    Civil Society
    Climate Finance
    Conference
    COP17
    COP19
    COP20
    COP21
    Energy
    Equity
    Latin America
    LDCs
    Legislation
    Loss And Damage
    Mitigation
    Policy Brief
    Publications
    Rhode Island
    Small Island Developing States
    UNFCCC
    United States

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly