Developing countries must equip themselves to develop capacities to become climate Resilient: Kapil Sibal

Developing countries must equip themselves to develop capacities to become climate resilient. For this, technology solutions and financial resources are required at an accelerated rate to cope with and adapt to the inevitability of increased global warming in the coming decades. This was stated today by Union Minister for Science and Technnology and Earth Sciences, Shri Kapil sibal who is leading the Indian delegation at the 13th Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Bali.

Following is the text of his address:

“We know that the impact of climate change on India will be very serious. The frequency of extreme weather events leading to natural disasters may increase. We may face multiple risks resulting from rise in sea levels, problems with water availability, recession of Himalayan glaciers, food security and public health. To coordinate national action on climate change at the highest level, we have set up a Council on Climate Change chaired by the Prime Minister himself.

The disproportionate impact of climate change will fall on the developing world given our vulnerabilities, inadequate means and limited capacities to adapt to its effects.

Developing countries must equip themselves to develop capacities to become climate resilient. For this, we require technology solutions and financial resources at an accelerated rate to cope with and adapt to the inevitability of increased global warming in the coming decades.

Estimates of adaptation costs for developing countries run into several tens of billions of US Dollars on an annual basis. I hope that there is clear recognition by all concerned that these have to be met through “new and additional” monies and not by re-appropriation of funds meant for development.

Resource mobilization of this magnitude requires that we tap all possible sources, including the carbon market and make full use of the potential from all the Kyoto flexibility mechanisms.

300 million people live in India on less than US$ 1 a day. We need to improve their quality of life and we need to do that urgently. To stagger and slow down the pace of improving human development for those living with such limited pecuniary means is unacceptable; and energy is the sine qua non to development.

600 million people in India do not have access to electricity. We have no choice but to rapidly expand energy use to realize our national development goals and the Millennium Development Goals.

Our per capita emission of CO2 is amongst the lowest in the world at around 1 ton per annum as against a world average of 4 tons. Nevertheless we have been taking measures that inherently promote sustainable development.

This includes a National Environment Policy, an Energy Conservation Act and a new Electricity Act that mandates the procurement of electricity from renewables. We now have the fourth largest wind power capacity in the world.

We also understand the importance of carbon sinks and, in addition to protecting our existing forest cover from deforestation through a national law, we are launching the world’s largest afforestation project covering six million hectares of degraded forest land at a cost of over US$ 1.5 billion.

Our Bureau of Energy Efficiency is continuously engaged in adopting and implementing policies and measures on energy efficiency and energy conservation. An energy efficiency code for new buildings has been issued. Standards and labeling are being introduced in a major way along with energy audits. Targeted interventions have raised energy efficiency in all the major energy intensive sectors – steel, aluminum, fertilizer, paper and cement – to world levels. We are also working on making available Compact Fluorescent Lamps at affordable prices to all.

Technology is a key enabler in our efforts to tackle climate change. It is imperative that international efforts significantly enhance availability of cost effective advanced clean technologies to developing countries many of which rely on fossil fuels as a major source of energy.

The IPR regime must balance rewards for innovators with the common good of humankind. Standards and norms must reflect the development levels of where they are being deployed.

It is, therefore, good that at Bali we have brought technology transfer on the agenda for implementation. Mere discussion is not enough. We need to reach decisions. Absence of decisions only reinforces the perception that there is lack of will on the part of the developed countries to fulfill their commitments. We need to reach consensus on technology transfer and capacity-building – two issues that are really central to the global response to climate change.

On our part, we would be happy to share with our friends in the developing world, the S&T expertise and capacities that India has built over the years.

At the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm, our Prime Minister offered that India’s per-capita GHG emissions would at no stage exceed the per capita GHG emissions of developed countries even as we pursue our economic development.

The Earth’s atmosphere is a common resource. Yet more than three-fourths of the present stock of CO2 has been emitted by developed countries, which account for less than 20% of the world’s population. According to the recent UNDP Human Development Report, historical emissions account for 1100 tons of CO2 per-capita for some developed countries as compared to 23 tons for India. It is absolutely imperative that this excessive usage ends and we move to a paradigm of equal per-capita entitlements.

Developed countries have committed to take the lead in reducing GHG emissions. Yet, the figures tell a very different story. Since 2000 emissions of all Annex I Parties have increased in aggregate by 2.6%. And, if EIT countries are excluded, the rise since 1990 has been 11%.

Moreover, with a single exception, no Annex I Party has given any indication of the range by which they would reduce their emissions in the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol. This must change.

We are concerned at the attempts to create a new framework, which may result in the dilution of specific and time bound commitments on emission reductions by developed countries. This should not be allowed to happen. Any such dilution would have disastrous and irreversible consequences for future generations. We must not fail their trust.

Bali needs to send out strong messages. Without doubt the most important one should be that the negotiations under the Kyoto Protocol for quantified, time bound and substantial GHG reductions by developed countries post 2012 will be completed by 2009.

This is also the only way to deliver on the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC. We acknowledge the selfless contribution made by the global scientific community for its preparation, for which it has been fittingly recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize.

Bali must also focus on urgent action for enhanced implementation of the Convention. Adaptation and technology cooperation, forestry issues including afforestation, sustainable lifestyle patterns, sustainable consumption levels and financial arrangements are key: only then will we fully address the issues of global warming.

As a responsible member of the global community, in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, we would do all that we can for pragmatic, practical solutions, which are for the benefit of all.

Let me conclude by saying that our efforts in the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol must move in a decisive manner for enhancing their implementation. That should be the singular message from Bali. Then alone will the journey to Poland and Denmark be truly fruitful”.

Source : Press Information Bureau
Date : December 12, 2007