India must shed its victim mindset while acting on climate change

GS-III: Environment | Climate Change | International Environmental Governance

Context

• The UNEP report, Limiting Overshoot, warns that breaching the 1.5°C global warming limit would lead to irreversible losses that adaptation cannot fully undo.
• Even if all countries fulfil their present climate pledges, global warming is projected to reach around 1.8°C.
• Under current policies, warming could reach around 2.6°C.
• The report therefore accepts the scientific reality of a 1.5°C world, while emphasising that further action can still limit the extent of warming.

‘Overshoot, Peak and Decline’ Pathway

• Overshoot: Global temperatures temporarily rise above 1.5°C.
• Peak: Countries collectively attempt to keep the temperature peak as low as possible.
• Decline: Global temperatures are subsequently brought below 1.5°C by the end of the century.
• Key idea: Preventing an additional 0.1°C rise is considerably easier than removing its warming effect later.

Why Greenhouse Gases Beyond CO₂ Matter

• Climate action has traditionally focused heavily on carbon dioxide (CO₂).
• The report places greater emphasis on other greenhouse gases, particularly methane (CH₄).
• Methane contributes about 0.5°C to current warming.
• Cutting methane emissions can therefore provide an important near-term opportunity to slow global warming.

Global Methane Pledge

• More than 155 countries have joined the Global Methane Pledge.
• Target: Reduce anthropogenic methane emissions by at least 30% below 2020 levels by 2030.
• India is not a member of the Global Methane Pledge.

India’s Position

• India faces a familiar development–climate dilemma.
• India emphasises that:
  • It is already moving towards reduced dependence on fossil fuels.
  • It remains highly vulnerable to climate-change impacts.
  • Its per-capita emissions are below the global average.
  • Developed countries, which are responsible for a large share of historical carbon emissions, should provide greater:
    • Climate finance
    • Affordable technology
• The report is seen as having relatively little emphasis on adaptation finance, despite its importance for developing countries.

India and the Changing Climate Politics

• The Bhotekoshi disaster in Nepal has added complexity to India’s climate position.
• Nepal’s Foreign Affairs Minister Shisir Khanal has argued that major industrial emitters, including China, the United States and India, should consider the impact of rising temperatures on smaller countries such as Nepal.
• This indicates a growing perception in some vulnerable countries that India is not only a victim of climate change but also part of the problem.
• India therefore needs to take such perceptions seriously while communicating its climate position.

Key Challenges

• 1.5°C threshold: Continued warming increases the possibility of irreversible climate impacts.
• Implementation gap: Existing climate pledges are insufficient to keep warming within 1.5°C.
• Current policies: Present policies point towards significantly higher warming.
• Non-CO₂ gases: Greater attention is required to gases such as methane.
• Climate finance: Developing countries continue to demand greater adaptation finance and technology support.
• Equity dilemma: Developing countries face the challenge of balancing development needs with climate mitigation.
• Perception challenge for India: India must reconcile its status as a climate-vulnerable developing country with its growing contribution to global emissions.

Way Forward

• Limit the peak: Even if 1.5°C is temporarily breached, countries should collectively minimise the magnitude and duration of overshoot.
• Strengthen mitigation: Existing climate pledges and policies need stronger implementation.
• Target methane: Greater focus on short-lived climate pollutants, particularly methane, can help slow near-term warming.
• Scale up adaptation finance: Vulnerable developing countries require greater financial support to deal with unavoidable climate impacts.
• Technology support: Developed countries should facilitate access to affordable climate-friendly technologies.
• Climate equity: Climate action should recognise differences in historical responsibility, vulnerability and per-capita emissions.
• Calibrated diplomacy: India should combine its demand for climate justice and finance with credible domestic mitigation efforts.

Conclusion

The Limiting Overshoot report signals a shift from simply debating whether the 1.5°C threshold will be breached to preparing for how the world can minimise the overshoot and subsequently reverse it. For India, the challenge is to protect its development interests and climate-vulnerable population while demonstrating credible mitigation and engaging constructively with the concerns of neighbouring vulnerable countries.

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q. The world is increasingly moving towards a “1.5°C overshoot” scenario. Discuss the significance of methane mitigation, climate finance and climate equity in limiting the adverse consequences of global warming. (250 words, 15 marks)