Why I will put on a “bindi” through COP15

I am so proud to be an Indian.

After the announcements that Environmental Minister Jai Ram Ramesh has made in the parliament on Thursday, I wanted to respect the positive direction by adorning a “bindi” (a traditional Indian accessory you stick on your forehead between your eyes), eagerly looking forward to greater leadership from India at the COP15 negotiations.

A bindi is a symbol of pride, of commitment to one’s husband, but in my case, commitment to a proactive leadership by India and a fair, ambitious and binding deal at Copenhagen.

What have they done right?

From all the stances, post the recent announcements from the US, China, Brazil et. al, India seems to have projected a serious concern backed by appropriate actions and keeping all stakeholders in the process very very happy.

1.Opening the debate to the parliament floor

Although the US has not taken to acceptable commitments, it was positive to see that all the US Congress members key to pushing the Waxmen-Markey bill are aware of the nitty gritty details about climate change and the negotiations. For too long, climate change was never debated on the parliament floor back in India.

Jai ram Ramesh, however, has succesfully managed to bring the debate to the parliament floor on Thursday. It was amazing to see 18 MPs speak about climate change issues and concerns, including some young MPs like Sandeep Dikshit, Jyoti Mirdha, Supriya Sule, and Jayant Chowdhry. Dr. PD Rai spoke on north-eastern states getting additonal incentives for protecting the biodiversity, especially the forest cover that also acts as a big carbon sink.

2. On the provisional targets

India has proposed it would reduce its carbon emissions intensity by 20-25 per cent of 2005 levels by 2020, but that the reduction would be made voluntarily rather than as part of any legally binding international agreement to combat global warming.

Despite no additional financing and technology transfer coming in we have managed to come up with these carbon intensity targets which sounds great for a country with such high levels of poverty as ours. This really puts developed countries to shame, considering they aren’t coming up with acceptable emission cuts themselves.

Ramesh said India’s cuts are based on a mid-term appraisal by India’s Planning Commssion review in the country’s 11th 5-year plan. On the basis of past performance – between 1990 and 2005, when India’s emissions intensity declined by 17.6 percent – the Planning Commission concluded that we can have a 20-25% reduction in emissions intensity between 2005 and 2020.

Quote from Jai(mes) Bond- “We are not doing the world a favour,” he said. “Forget Copenhagen. Forget the US. Our future as a society depends on how we respond to the climate change challenge.”

3. On domestic standards

These include mandating fuel efficiency standards for all vehicles by December 2011, legislating an energy-efficient building code and ensuring that half of all new coal-fired power generation uses clean coal technology and regularly report to the Parliament on the status of the forests.

4. On International Scrutiny – MRV (measurable, reportable, verifiable)
India could “modulate” its rejection of the international scrutiny of domestic mitigation efforts, which are not supported by international finance or technology.

Unlike earlier, this is a positive direction to make the deal breaker a deal maker situation

5. Shift to a low carbon pathway

He also mentioned that the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) is going be based on ‘low carbon strategy’, and the next 2 years will be the transitional years. Considering this years budget wasn’t green and giving tax holidays to oil and oil derived products producing industries, I would like to see how they shift this in the coming years.

6. Non-negotiables for Copenhagen- the dark RED lines

India will not accept a legally-binding emissions reductions cut. Speaking of “some attempt by some countries to get developing countries to announce when they will peak …” Jai Ram Ramesh said: “We will not accept an agreement that will ask for a peaking year for India.”

8. Intergenerational Equity

Considering that the average age of negotiators was around 60 years it’s a welcome surprise that there will be younger people on the team. Finally, people closer to my age! The minister mentioned that India’s delegation to CoP is ‘Generational’ (ie. cuts across generations) to include 2 school children and 2 college students + 3 MPs nominated from lok sabha + 2 from Rajya Sabha + 5 other MPs.

What will it take to make me wear a sari at the COP? Read: How can India do still better?

Carry on with its forward leadership but reflect more closely on the following factors :

1. Consider that our emissions will peak in the near future; look at the rate our economy is growing and accept that India will eventually need to take binding emission cuts. It is vital for us not to repeat the mistakes of the developed world.

2. If we talk about equity on an international scale, then we must consider equity within our own country.

After all, what percentage of people actually emit the most? And how many emissions are being made by the 70% of the population living in rural areas?

3. India could do better by GETTING THE PRIME MINISTER TO COPENHAGEN!

4. How adequately are the youth selected in the official delegation representing the Youth climate Movement?

Are they well aware of the international youth council and their role? How effective will they be in the delegation?

I hope they are not brought on the delegation for a mere formality as token members and that rather their voices and concerns are actually considered by the government–after all, they are negotiating for their own future.

Looking forward to great 2 weeks in Copenhagen, brilliant weather, and wearing a sari.