Green Options

For the first time, the United States has agreed to recognize the national mitigation measures proposed by the developing countries in the proposed climate treaty.

United States (and EU) have objected to the principles of Kyoto Protocol and demand that developing countries should also accept responsibility to reduce carbon emissions by accepting mandatory emission targets.

A bill mandating energy usage and new energy efficiency measures for more than 700 energy intensive industrial units will be tabled in the Indian Parliament in November.

India has announced numerous changes in its climate policy signaling a renewed effort to cement its credentials as a global environment leader.

The developed countries are struggling to build national consensus for ambitious mitigation measures while the developing countries have gained the higher ground in the negotiations for the next climate deal by announcing voluntary sectoral emission reduction targets.

With so much going on at the international front the Indian government has struggled to chalk out official negotiations plan for the Copenhagen Summit. It must now decide if it wants to be a deal breaker or a major initiator at the climate talks.

With an international deal in doubt, India and China look to increase cooperation in areas like renewable energy, climate change research.

US has once again made unreasonable demands that developing countries adopt similar emission reduction targets as the rich countries. Such demands are against the Bali (Climate Conference) Action Plan and threaten to derail the climate negotiations.

After playing leader in global climate change negotiations, United States is now under pressure to respond to India and China’s announcements of mitigation measures.

After months of resistance against emission reduction goals the Indian government now seems willing to take proactive measures to reduce carbon emissions.