INDIA REFUSES TO COMMIT ON EMISSIONS CUTS

India Holds Ground on Emissions Caps
Krishna Pokharel, September 2, 2009 (Wall Street Journal)

"India is digging in against legally binding caps on carbon emissions, ahead of December's climate change talks with the U.S. and Europe in Copenhagen…[T]he Indian government released a report that showed the country's per capita greenhouse-gas emissions -- the cause behind global warming -- will be lower over the next two decades than the global per capita emissions in 2005. These levels will also be lower than those of Western countries for about the same period, the report said.

"The findings aim to rebut concerns that India's quest to become a global economic power will transform it into a leading emitter of greenhouse-gasses. Still largely agrarian and poor, India has bristled at suggestions from industrialized countries, such as the U.S., that it should do more to cap emissions even if it means curbing growth."

This is an excellent graph but it's not a pretty picture. (click to enlarge)

"Still, the release of [the] study also demonstrated India's eagerness to justify its pro-growth stance before it heads into global climate change talks. Indian officials have said the government remains focused on eliminating poverty through aggressive economic growth and industrialization.

"Jairam Ramesh, India's minister for environment and forests, has led India's fight against legally-binding caps. He's also opposed such caps for other developing countries, including industrial powerhouse China…"

The rest of the world needs to get involved. (click to enlarge)

"In December, countries meeting in Copenhagen will try to forge a pact on carbon emission reduction targets beyond 2012, when the existing international agreement expires. Mr. Ramesh said India won't be an obstacle to any accord. The Indian government has pledged that it won't allow per capita emissions to surpass the average per capita emissions of developed countries.

"By 2031, India's per capita emission of greenhouse gasses would stay under 4 tons of carbon-dioxide equivalent, four of the five studies in the report showed. That level is under the global per capita emissions of 4.22 tons in 2005, according to the report, which was compiled by five different research agencies, including the Energy and Resources Institute, a research group based in New Delhi, and global management consultants McKinsey & Co."