comment articleprint articledownload pdfsend to friend
 

India Climate Change Profile: Growth vs. Climate?

Only economic growth will allow India to lift hundreds of millions of its citizens out of extreme poverty. But rapid Indian development also increases pressure on the global climate and unique ecosystems. How will India face this dilemma?


India Climate Change Profile: Growth vs. Climate?

Picture Gallery (click on the picture to start)

A rickshaw puller transports a commuter along a flooded road in Kolkata in July 2007. Monsoon rains have become more erratic in recent years (Photo: Reuters)

 

India is home to one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, and is currently the fourth-largest emitter of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. With nearly a quarter of its population living below the poverty line, the government is pursuing an ambitious development agenda.

 

Soaring Energy Consumption

Growth in India is expected to cause energy consumption to quadruple from 2005 levels by the year 2030. If current trends continue, most of this energy will be produced from coal-fired power plants, making India one of the top-three greenhouse-gas-emitting countries by 2025. 

 

Against this backdrop India’s government is resisting international pressure to curb its greenhouse emissions. As a developing country India is exempt from mandatory caps on emissions. Developed countries, however, are demanding binding commitments from India. But with per capita emissions less than one tenth that of the average American, India says that it will not contemplate emissions cuts unless industrialized nations radically cut their emissions first. 

 

Global Warming Impacts

Nevertheless, Indian authorities may adjust their “development-versus-climate protection” view. Recent international reports on climate change, such as the 2007 UN climate change report, presented grim environmental and economic scenarios for India if climate change continues unabated.  


India Climate Change Profile: Growth vs. Climate?

World Water Situation (click on the image to start)

A Photo Slideshow with Expert Commentary

 

Some impacts of global warming have already become visible in India. Monsoon rains have become less predictable, glaciers are melting, more floods and droughts occur, and mangrove forests are disappearing at an alarming rate. Public health, biodiversity, agricultural production, access to drinking water, and even national security will be affected. 

 

Indian policymakers are reacting to these threats by launching climate-friendly policies, especially when they serve the country’s development agenda. For example, the government will try to reduce the nation's energy intensity by 20 percent per unit of GDP between 2007–08 to 2016–17.

 

Climate Change Mitigation

Meanwhile big domestic players in the renewable energy sector, such as Suzlon Energy and Tata-BP Solar, are ahead of politicians, making big investments in large-scale products throughout the country.  

 

Answering energy and development needs in a sustainable way will be a big challenge for India this century. But the country could benefit from “leapfrogging” – to develop in the way that makes use of the best and cleanest technologies, policies and resources available without the decades of learning needed to get there.

 

editor: Valdis Wish

publishing date: July 4, 2007

updated: July 8, 2009

 


Please rate this Article.

Rating 2.8 out of 5

poor         outstanding

Amit Kamble 2009-10-24 10:06:54
Global warming
Are you really interested in our future, or we just leave in present. When will we start thinking about our Environment.
Bennett Nana AKuffo 2009-10-15 15:39:14
Ghana and Climate Change
not much importance is placed on this delicate issues with politicians misusing tax payers money on expensive life styles whiles we would wake up one day to find our world we call home...
vinu wilson 2009-05-02 08:03:04
energy for our children
Are we not selfish? Do we not act to deprive energy and nature off our next generations? Let the future beings not curse us. I am talking about EARTH, its FUEL resource and our NATURE....

Write a Comment

Do you have something interesting to add? Write a comment and discuss this topic with other readers. Comments should be on-topic, non-commercial, and not contain abuse of any kind.

Comment Policy
 
Please fill in the code
Salutation*:
First Name*:
Last Name*:
Your E-Mail*:
Subject*: Your Text*:
Please note that fields marked with asterisk (*) are mandatory.
 I would like to receive the Allianz Knowledge Newsletter
 I agree to the Allianz Group Privacy Principles and to the Comment Policy*
> See Privacy Principles
Notification by email:
none
If further comments are written
If replies to this comment are written
> Topic Specials
> Share this
 

Animation: G8 Ranking

Click on the image to see how the G8 countries are doing in the fight against climate change.

Featured Video

India: The Bad Boy of Climate Change?

Video-Interview with Sunita Narain

Watch the video

Knowledge Newsletter

Receive the latest articles, interviews, and graphics