Context:
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration announced the United States’ intention to withdraw from the Paris climate accord for a second time, a defiant rejection of global efforts to combat planetary warming as catastrophic weather events intensify worldwide.
Paris Agreement COP 21
It is a multilateral agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UNFCCC to reduce and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions Adopted in December 2015 at COP 21 in Paris and signed by 196 countries
- Main Objectives
- Limit global warming to well below 2C above preindustrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it to 15C.
- Achieve a climate neutral world by midcentury and peak greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible.
- Mobilize finance flows to least developed countries and other vulnerable nations to adapt to climate impacts and mobilize support for technology transfer to developing countries from developed countries.
Nationally Determined Contributions NDCs
- Countries set voluntary goals for emission reduction submitted every five years to the UNFCCC.
- NDCs guarantee equity and the countries receive technical and financial assistance in dealing with climate change.
- The commitments are not legally enforceable they allow flexibility and cooperation.
Indias Role and Measures
- Commitments at COP 21
- Emissions intensity per unit GDP must be reduced to 3335 of 2005 levels.
- Non fossil fuel sources generate 40 percent of installed capacities.
- Renewable Energy
- Produce 175 GW of Renewable Energy by 2022.
- Plant forest cover as an absorptive capacity for 25 billion metric tonnes of Carbon Dioxide every year.
- Enhance taxes and abolish subsidies on the use of fossil fuel to curb the usage of fossil fuels.
Emissions in India
- India emits at a below global average per capita with 60.
- Emissions increased by 14 in 2019 which is the lowest in comparison to the average increase of 33 per annum over the last decade.
India’s Initiatives
- National Solar Mission Promotion of renewable energy for sustainable growth.
- Bharat Stage VI Norms Stiffening vehicle emission standards.
- National Wind Solar Hybrid Policy 2018
- Hybrid energy projects for optimum resource utilization.
- This has culminated in 164 million kilograms lesser emissions of CO.
Core Elements of the Paris Agreement
- Financial Agreement
- Developed countries agreed upon 100 billion annually to be provided to developing countries for adaptation and mitigation.
- G7 countries committed 420 million to Climate Risk Insurance.
- In addition they established the initiative of Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems CREWS.
- 3 billion was pledged to the Green Climate Fund.
- Article 6
- Guarantees carbon trading and a universal carbon price.
- Allows for the use of reductions by another country in their own NDCs.
- Paris Agreement vs Kyoto Protocol
- Paris Agreement: No differentiation is made between the developing and the developed world based on shared responsibilities
- Kyoto Protocol: Differentiated on the basis of Annex 1 developed and nonAnnex 1 developing nations
- Global Status After 5 Years
- Major emitters include China 30 the US 135 and the EU 87.
- Only a few nations including Bhutan Costa Rica and Gambia are following Paris targets.
- Reductions in emissions have not yet become adequate enough to reach 15C or even 2C levels.
Climate Ambition Summit 2020
- It was hosted by the UN France the UK Italy and Chile to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the Paris Agreement.
- The focus was on strengthening commitments under the three pillars mitigation adaptation and finance.
- It aimed at accelerating systemic changes to combat climate challenges.
What’s New?
COP29: Takeaways and Stand of India
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Prelims
Q. The term ‘Intended Nationally Determined Contributions’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of (2016)
(a) pledges made by the European countries to rehabilitate refugees from the war-affected Middle East
(b) plan of action outlined by the countries of the world to combat climate change
(c) capital contributed by the member countries in the establishment of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
(d) plan of action outlined by the countries of the world regarding Sustainable Development Goals
Answer: b
Q. With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2016)
- The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in 2017.
- The Agreement aims to limit the greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature by the end of this century does not exceed 2°C or even 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
- Developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility in global warming and committed to donate $1000 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries to cope with climate change.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: b
Mains
Q. ‘Climate change’ is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change? (2017)
Q. Describe the major outcomes of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). What are the commitments made by India in this conference? (2021)
