ISSN (Print) - 0012-9976 | ISSN (Online) - 2349-8846

Articles by D RaghunandanSubscribe to D Raghunandan

Indian Climate Change Policy

There is a growing body of climate-related policy in India; at the same time, there is no clear and consistent approach or framework that directs and guides these efforts. In this paper, we propose and develop a methodology for operationalising a co-benefits approach to climate policy formulation. We use the technique of multi-criteria analysis, which requires making choices between and examining trade-offs across multiple objectives of policy, such as growth, inclusion and environment. In addition, we develop a framework for consideration of implementation issues. We focus on policies related to energy; but we believe the approach can also be modified to address adaptation concerns. The structured tool of the sort proposed here would hopefully contribute to more informed and deliberative decision-making on climate-related issues.

Durban Platform: Kyoto Negotiations Redux

The official narrative on India's position at the climate change talks at Durban has it that the country resisted the proposal to negotiate a new legally binding instrument until its concerns on equity had supposedly been accommodated. However, this ignores more important issues whose neglect by India has severely weakened its ability to intervene effectively in the international climate debate and shape the emerging new global climate architecture.

Kyoto Is Dead, Long Live Durban?

The Kyoto Protocol, with its crucial distinction between developed and developing countries, was critically wounded in Copenhagen and has virtually been buried at Cancun. It may be predicted with some confidence that the Kyoto Protocol will be replaced at the next climate change conference in Durban by a single framework for all categories of nations. Binding and stiff emission reduction targets for developed countries, decided on the basis of the science and the sustainable upper limit for atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations, now appear set to be replaced by a bottom-up pledge-and-review process with potentially dangerous outcomes for global climate.

How Much 'Carbon Space' Do We Have? Physical Constraints on India's Climate Policy and Its Implications

It is necessary to determine the role of various nations, including India, China and the other major developing countries in keeping the total atmospheric stock of greenhouse gases below 450 ppm (carbon dioxide equivalent) which, in turn, would provide a 50% probability of keeping the global temperature increase below 2°c. An analysis of future emissions of co2 in Annex I countries, large developing nations and other nations is done using a gams-based emission model. This analysis underlines sharply the historical responsibility of the developed nations for global warming and their duty to cut emissions drastically to mitigate climate change. Also large developing nations like China and India also need to contribute strongly to mitigation. It is argued that this necessity makes evident that carbon offsets will act as "double burden" on developing nations, as also a major disincentive to innovation in critical migration technologies in the industrialised world. The analysis implies that India needs an alternative climate policy that recognises proactive action for climate change mitigation while ensuring that the developed nations do not pass on their burden to the global South, which would otherwise seriously

BHOPAL- Ill-Effects Persist-Report of a Survey

BHOPAL Ill-Effects Persist Report of a Survey D Raghunandan MORE than a year after the world's worst industrial disaster, its perpetrator, Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) is sitting pretty. It has neither accepted strict liability nor has it paid any compensation for the immense damage caused to life, health and property. Despite the world-wide outrage and the numerous independent studies conclusively proving its culpability, UCC continues to evade responsibility by hiding or refusing to submit information, by passing the buck to its Indian subsidiary (UCIL) or even brazenly suggesting sabotage, first by workers and now by 'terrorists'. All this even though by now, it is well established that UCC was knowingly and deliberately following double standards at its plants in the US and Bhopal.

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