India’s Persepctive on Development vs. Emissions

November 19th, 2008

Posted by: Roger Pielke, Jr.

In an interview with Der Spiegel India takes a hard line on emissions versus development. Guess which one comes first?

With its enormous population and booming industrial economy, India is set to become one of the planet’s chief polluters. India’s chief climate treaty negotiator, Shyam Saran, talks to SPIEGEL ONLINE his country’s role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Mr. Saran, when will India oblige itself to start restricting its own CO2 emissions?

Saran: Even though there is no legal obligation on India in this respect, the Prime Minister of India made a commitment that India’s per capita emissions will at no time exceed the average of the per capita emissions of developed, industrialized countries. We have thus accepted a limit on our emissions and at the same time provided an incentive to our partners in developed countries to be more ambitious. The more significant their reductions of emissions, the lower the limit we would need to accept for our own.

3 Responses to “India’s Persepctive on Development vs. Emissions”

    1
  1. Jim Clarke Says:
    November 19th, 2008 at 12:18 pm

    Sounds like India is calling the Wests bluff!

    2. 2
  2. jae Says:
    November 19th, 2008 at 12:41 pm

    Brilliant policy statement!

    3. 3
  3. EDaniel Says:
    November 19th, 2008 at 3:28 pm

    I love this part:

    “The more significant their reductions of emissions, the lower the limit we would need to accept for our own.”

    But, maybe the recent Financial Troubles will provide us the mostly factor of 18 or so and drop us to the India level. Then they’ll be in real trouble.

    I also like this part:

    “If India’s plans to expand its nuclear power generation are realized, we could eliminate 140 million tons of CO2 emissions annually — and that alone constitutes virtually the entire European Union target for CO2 reductions under the Kyoto Protocol.”