11-15-2007, 07:49 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Hands of India's rich as dirty as West: Greenpeace</b>
By IE
Wednesday November 14, 02:47 AM
There are two worlds in India as far as greenhouse gas emissions are concerned. Just like developed countries, India's highest income group emits 4.5 times of GHG as much as the lowest income group. According to a Greenpeace survey, titled "Hiding behind the poor", released on Tuesday, India's low average per capita emissions is because of its 800 million poor population whose emissions are negligible. The difference in emissions between the highest and the lowest income groups in India is almost as glaring as the difference in the average per capita emissions between the EU and India.
This demands that common, but differentiated responsibility for CO2 emissions reduction, which the government is justifiably advocating at a global level, be implemented in India. With less than a month to go for the United Nations Climate Change Council conference in Bali, the report challenges the Indian government's hardline of not committing to greenhouse gases reduction on grounds of development and makes an argument on why India must de-carbonise its development.
According to the proposed national strategy on climate change, India will not abide by any international commitment to mandatory reduction of greenhouse gas emission. India's approach of measuring world GHG emissions is per capita emission rather than country-wise emissions which is the approach of the developed nations.
Although India is the sixth largest carbon emitter in the world, it has one of the lowest per capita emission rates. Greenpeace proposes a third approach of measuring emissions by differentiating the carbon footprint of the various income classes in the country, thus calling for climate change mitigation that addresses international and national climate justice.
Speaking at a press conference, G Ananthapadmanabhan, Executive Director, Greenpeace India, said: "While the government continues to point at low average per capita emissions to justify non reduction of India's CO2 emissions, over 150 million Indians are emitting above the sustainable limit which needs to be curtailed to restrict global temperature rise below 2 degree centigrade."
"Hiding behind the poor" is based on face-to-face surveys of 819 households from the seven different income classes across the four metros, medium and small towns and rural areas for energy consumption patters.
According to the report, the average CO2 emissions of an individual from the highest income group of above Rs 30,000 (1494 KG) is 4.5 times compared to the one from the lowest income group of below Rs 3000 per month (335 Kg). Fourteen per cent of the Indian population, which earns more than Rs 8,000 per month, contributes to 24% of the country's CO2 emissions.
The carbon intensity in the life-style of higher income groups is primarily due to an inefficient and carbon intensive infrastructure ranging from coal-based electricity production to largescale use of energy inefficient household appliances and cars.
The lack of efficient public transport systems in cities and that of fast train connections between cities adds to the carbon intensity of the lifestyles of income groups who can afford private transport.
According to Ananthapadmanaphan, "electricity production in India is already extremely carbon intensive, emitting more than twice as much CO2 per kilowatt-hour in the EU."
Greenpeace argues that while rightfully demanding that developed nations reduce CO2 emissions and provide developing nations the carbon space to grow, the Indian government must not hide India's emissions behind the vast poor population.
The principle of climate justice must be included in the national development plan. The emissions of the higher income groups in India need to be regulated so that the poor and the underprivileged are not only protected from future destruction due to climate change but also obtain the carbon space to develop. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
By IE
Wednesday November 14, 02:47 AM
There are two worlds in India as far as greenhouse gas emissions are concerned. Just like developed countries, India's highest income group emits 4.5 times of GHG as much as the lowest income group. According to a Greenpeace survey, titled "Hiding behind the poor", released on Tuesday, India's low average per capita emissions is because of its 800 million poor population whose emissions are negligible. The difference in emissions between the highest and the lowest income groups in India is almost as glaring as the difference in the average per capita emissions between the EU and India.
This demands that common, but differentiated responsibility for CO2 emissions reduction, which the government is justifiably advocating at a global level, be implemented in India. With less than a month to go for the United Nations Climate Change Council conference in Bali, the report challenges the Indian government's hardline of not committing to greenhouse gases reduction on grounds of development and makes an argument on why India must de-carbonise its development.
According to the proposed national strategy on climate change, India will not abide by any international commitment to mandatory reduction of greenhouse gas emission. India's approach of measuring world GHG emissions is per capita emission rather than country-wise emissions which is the approach of the developed nations.
Although India is the sixth largest carbon emitter in the world, it has one of the lowest per capita emission rates. Greenpeace proposes a third approach of measuring emissions by differentiating the carbon footprint of the various income classes in the country, thus calling for climate change mitigation that addresses international and national climate justice.
Speaking at a press conference, G Ananthapadmanabhan, Executive Director, Greenpeace India, said: "While the government continues to point at low average per capita emissions to justify non reduction of India's CO2 emissions, over 150 million Indians are emitting above the sustainable limit which needs to be curtailed to restrict global temperature rise below 2 degree centigrade."
"Hiding behind the poor" is based on face-to-face surveys of 819 households from the seven different income classes across the four metros, medium and small towns and rural areas for energy consumption patters.
According to the report, the average CO2 emissions of an individual from the highest income group of above Rs 30,000 (1494 KG) is 4.5 times compared to the one from the lowest income group of below Rs 3000 per month (335 Kg). Fourteen per cent of the Indian population, which earns more than Rs 8,000 per month, contributes to 24% of the country's CO2 emissions.
The carbon intensity in the life-style of higher income groups is primarily due to an inefficient and carbon intensive infrastructure ranging from coal-based electricity production to largescale use of energy inefficient household appliances and cars.
The lack of efficient public transport systems in cities and that of fast train connections between cities adds to the carbon intensity of the lifestyles of income groups who can afford private transport.
According to Ananthapadmanaphan, "electricity production in India is already extremely carbon intensive, emitting more than twice as much CO2 per kilowatt-hour in the EU."
Greenpeace argues that while rightfully demanding that developed nations reduce CO2 emissions and provide developing nations the carbon space to grow, the Indian government must not hide India's emissions behind the vast poor population.
The principle of climate justice must be included in the national development plan. The emissions of the higher income groups in India need to be regulated so that the poor and the underprivileged are not only protected from future destruction due to climate change but also obtain the carbon space to develop. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->