Green Options

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.

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.

Lack of foreign investments owing to the global financial crisis and its own negotiating stance at climate talks could throw back India’s schedule to implement plans of setting up large scale solar energy projects.

Brazil and China have been in talks with the United States about increasing cooperation in expanding clean energy technologies, and possibly reducing their carbon emissions. It seems that the developing countries are finding it difficult to maintain their stance of no emission reduction targets.

A deal between the US and China would raise the chances of a successful negotiation of a new international climate treaty at Copenhagen.

While aspiring to become an economic super power India must ensure that its industrial sector manages its resources in the most efficient manner and reduce its carbon footprint.

India seems to be eying an international funding scheme, which assists developing & poor countries adopt clean energy systems, as it continues to resist mandatory emission reduction targets.

Divisions within the EU have led to an agreement which ignores Carbon Dioxide as a pollutant and allows member nations to delay implementation of stricter emission standards.

No support from United States and adverse economic conditions have forced the European Union to rethink its promise of providing financial support to the developing countries.