Page 5 - 5th TERI-KAS Environmental Governance Policy Dialogue
P. 5
Policy Paper
The discussion on SDGs points to the fact that the path example fossil fuel subsidies), countries’ own plans for
of progress and development which has been shown reduction of carbon emissions and review mechanisms
by developed countries in the past has led to adverse for measuring progress on these plans. Countries have
consequences as has been realized by these countries started submitting their Intended Nationally Determined
themselves and this process is an exhortation for developing Contributions (INDCs) that are shaping the scenario on
countries to not follow the same path. the post 2015 action to reducing GHG emissions and limit
the increase in global temperatures below 2 or 1.5 degrees
UNFCCC negotiation processes and post 2015 Celsius above pre-industrial levels. 120 submissions
agenda representing 148 parties have been made.3
The INDC submitted by India states that development
The process of negotiations for a global agreement on is a right of every human being as the right to improve
action to tackle climate change began taking form with the upon one’s condition; however, what this improvement
Bali Action Plan that was accepted at the 13th conference entails and how it affects the lot of others is in question.
of parties in 2007. The Action Plan included five main The challenge is to ensure one’s development does not
categories of: shared vision (long-term vision for action become detrimental to the development of another and of
on climate change, including a long-term goal for emission the environment that eventually supports all human beings.
reductions), mitigation, adaptation, technology and It is important that a legal instrument is designed
financing. While some considered the Bali Road Map to and agreed upon at this conference of parties which can
be highly ambitious, it nevertheless started the negotiation translate into national actions tailored to their contexts and
process and gave proper direction for future interactions needs. Discussions around binding global actions have not
of the parties in this aspect. given the results that were hoped for and hence the focus is
The Bali Action Plan was given a further boost with the now moving to countries (at least the big emitters) and the
Durban Platform for Enhanced Action as it recognized a actions that they decide themselves. Major GHG emitters
need for a legal agreement to tackle climate change. Four such as the USA, China, EU and India are expected to
main areas on action and implementation were agreed: take the lead in terms of reducing emissions as compared
Second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol to base year levels and some progress shall definitely be
A new platform of negotiations under the Convention made. Developing countries have and still maintain that
they have the right to economic growth which has already
to deliver a legal instrument by 2015 for the period been achieved by developed countries and have used the
beyond 2020. This aims to increase the level of national principle of ‘common but differentiated responsibility’
and international action to reduce greenhouse gas when negotiating.
(GHG) emissions The foremost concern of most countries is the source
A decision on concluding the broad based negotiations and sharing of the means of implementation (MoI).
by 2012 and making existing work on reducing national Countries have been asked to create action plans and
emissions more transparent. management plans and urged to formulate ambitious goals
A global review of the science and data to ascertain the for achieving the SDGs. If there are 17 SDGs with 169
extents of the climate challenge. targets for countries to follow, there is a need for resources
At the UN Climate Change Conference in Warsaw, to achieve them. There are countries that may have already
governments decided to communicate their contributions reached some of the goals that are prescribed for others
towards the universal agreement which is to come into force and it means that they don’t require those resources while
in 2015 at the Paris COP. The conference also addressed others need them.
important issues such as the rulebook for reducing emissions
from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD), the Sustainable development of natural resources
modalities for the Green Climate Fund and the mechanisms and understanding complexities of ecosystems
to address damage and loss from long term climate change
impacts. Environmental governance in India no longer only deals
The COP 21 is slated to take place in December 2015 with issues of environmental protection. It exists within
in Paris and three main issues would be discussed – sectors a background of the economic growth paradigm, issues
that need to be focused upon to reduce emissions (for
3 As accessed on UNFCCC webpage on INDCs http://unfccc.int/focus/indc_portal/items/8766.php on October 1, 2015
5
The discussion on SDGs points to the fact that the path example fossil fuel subsidies), countries’ own plans for
of progress and development which has been shown reduction of carbon emissions and review mechanisms
by developed countries in the past has led to adverse for measuring progress on these plans. Countries have
consequences as has been realized by these countries started submitting their Intended Nationally Determined
themselves and this process is an exhortation for developing Contributions (INDCs) that are shaping the scenario on
countries to not follow the same path. the post 2015 action to reducing GHG emissions and limit
the increase in global temperatures below 2 or 1.5 degrees
UNFCCC negotiation processes and post 2015 Celsius above pre-industrial levels. 120 submissions
agenda representing 148 parties have been made.3
The INDC submitted by India states that development
The process of negotiations for a global agreement on is a right of every human being as the right to improve
action to tackle climate change began taking form with the upon one’s condition; however, what this improvement
Bali Action Plan that was accepted at the 13th conference entails and how it affects the lot of others is in question.
of parties in 2007. The Action Plan included five main The challenge is to ensure one’s development does not
categories of: shared vision (long-term vision for action become detrimental to the development of another and of
on climate change, including a long-term goal for emission the environment that eventually supports all human beings.
reductions), mitigation, adaptation, technology and It is important that a legal instrument is designed
financing. While some considered the Bali Road Map to and agreed upon at this conference of parties which can
be highly ambitious, it nevertheless started the negotiation translate into national actions tailored to their contexts and
process and gave proper direction for future interactions needs. Discussions around binding global actions have not
of the parties in this aspect. given the results that were hoped for and hence the focus is
The Bali Action Plan was given a further boost with the now moving to countries (at least the big emitters) and the
Durban Platform for Enhanced Action as it recognized a actions that they decide themselves. Major GHG emitters
need for a legal agreement to tackle climate change. Four such as the USA, China, EU and India are expected to
main areas on action and implementation were agreed: take the lead in terms of reducing emissions as compared
Second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol to base year levels and some progress shall definitely be
A new platform of negotiations under the Convention made. Developing countries have and still maintain that
they have the right to economic growth which has already
to deliver a legal instrument by 2015 for the period been achieved by developed countries and have used the
beyond 2020. This aims to increase the level of national principle of ‘common but differentiated responsibility’
and international action to reduce greenhouse gas when negotiating.
(GHG) emissions The foremost concern of most countries is the source
A decision on concluding the broad based negotiations and sharing of the means of implementation (MoI).
by 2012 and making existing work on reducing national Countries have been asked to create action plans and
emissions more transparent. management plans and urged to formulate ambitious goals
A global review of the science and data to ascertain the for achieving the SDGs. If there are 17 SDGs with 169
extents of the climate challenge. targets for countries to follow, there is a need for resources
At the UN Climate Change Conference in Warsaw, to achieve them. There are countries that may have already
governments decided to communicate their contributions reached some of the goals that are prescribed for others
towards the universal agreement which is to come into force and it means that they don’t require those resources while
in 2015 at the Paris COP. The conference also addressed others need them.
important issues such as the rulebook for reducing emissions
from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD), the Sustainable development of natural resources
modalities for the Green Climate Fund and the mechanisms and understanding complexities of ecosystems
to address damage and loss from long term climate change
impacts. Environmental governance in India no longer only deals
The COP 21 is slated to take place in December 2015 with issues of environmental protection. It exists within
in Paris and three main issues would be discussed – sectors a background of the economic growth paradigm, issues
that need to be focused upon to reduce emissions (for
3 As accessed on UNFCCC webpage on INDCs http://unfccc.int/focus/indc_portal/items/8766.php on October 1, 2015
5
