PM’s panel on climate change must be activated
The reported decision to revive and reconstitute the Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change comes not a day too soon. The advisory body has been dormant for at least three years and almost all the projects that it had initiated now exist only on paper. Established in 2007, the council framed India's National Action Plan on Climate Change in 2008, which, in turn, gave rise to eight different missions — such as the National Solar Mission and the National Water Mission. And that's about as much progress as it made. The panel was yet another victim of the policy paralysis that plagued the Congress-led UPA regime, especially in its second term. Under the Narendra Modi-led NDA Government, however, things appear different. The new regime has begun to untangle administrative processes and bring about greater synergy within governance structures. This is especially important in tackling climate change, which requires an integrated approach inclusive of environment, energy and power issues, to name a few. Hence, the revamp of the climate change council must be viewed alongside the decision to change the Ministry of Environment and Forests to the new Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. This indicates greater coordination in policy-making efforts. The same can also be said of energy planning following the consolidation of power, coal and new and renewable energy, under one ministry. The Prime Minister has also formed an advisory group to help with the revamp of the power sector, and appointed the experienced and able Suresh Prabhu as its head. During his tenure as Power Minister in the previous NDA regime, Mr Prabhu had revolutionised his sector. Notably, he is also the Prime Minister's Sherpa at the upcoming G20 summit in Australia, where climate change issues are at the top of the agenda.
Climate change poses a two-pronged challenge for India. On the global stage, it is about protecting national interests — the developed world wants India (and other developing countries) to cut back on carbon emissions; but doing so at this stage would stunt the country's economic growth. New Delhi has consistently argued that not only can it ill-afford to commit to emission cuts, but that such demands are also patently unfair since, historically, it is the developed world which has been the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, having resorted to dirty environmental practices on its way to the top. To now expect poorer, developing countries to clean up the mess, is a bit rich. In this context, the favourite Western argument is that India today is the world's third largest emitter of greenhouse gases and thus has to take a hit for the larger global good. Yet, when these figures are adjusted for population, the average Indian still emits 10 times less than the average American.
That said, there can be no disputing the need for a sustainable development model. While the fight abroad is justified, at home, India cannot ignore the changing weather patterns, the extreme temperatures, the rising sea levels and the melting glaciers — all of which combined can wreak havoc on the country. In this context, the Modi Government’s reforms in the power sector and its push towards clean energy are important steps in the right direction.