NEWS Bulletin from Indian Society For Sustainable Agriculture And Rural Development
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1. In the backdrop of Global Financial Crisis - Will Geneva, Copenhagen meets render trade and climate justice - Changing geo-politics may decide the course of events
2. Not much excepted from Copenhagen Climate Conference - India to stick to its negotiating position, give leadership to developing nations - India would resist attempts to bring in black carbon emission issue
3. Thirteenth Finance Commission to submit report on Dec 31, 2009 - India to move towards Green Budgeting soon, GDP to include environmental impact - Twelth Five-Year Plan to have provisions for environment protection ------------------------------------------
In the backdrop of Global Financial Crisis
Will Geneva, Copenhagen meets render trade and climate justice
Changing geo-politics may decide the course of events
New Delhi, Nov 27: World is anxiously waiting for the outcome of two crucial events scheduled at the close of the year 2009. One such event is the three-day Seventh WTO Ministerial Meeting beginning in Geneva from November 30 and the other is the four-day UNFCCC's 15th Conference of Parties (CoP-15) on climate change beginning from December 7 in Copenhagen.
The results of these two crucial events are likely to be on the expected lines. At this particular time of global financial crisis and accompanying recession the developed nations are unwilling to make any substantial commitments that would ensure free and fair practices in the multilateral trading system and give a level-playing field to the developing and least developed countries. The developed nations, with a view to save themselves from the impact of the global crisis, have become more protectionist in trade. The US Administration under President Obama has recently initiated several measures that directly and indirectly restrict free and fair trade. Apart from fostering protectionism in trade, the developed countries are aggressive for opening up of markets in developing countries.
Similarly is the case for cutting down greenhouse gas (GHG) emission levels by the developed countries. Climate politics is taking a new turn. The developed countries are unwilling to reduce their energy consumption and effect a change in their life style as they believe that this existing order would help to keep their economies intact – no matter what happens to the rest of the world. A commitment for a drastic cut in their emission level can, however, save the warming world from a catastrophe!
The climate politics of the developed countries, particularly that of US is to focus more on carbon trading, trade in green goods and services and less on emission cuts. Though under 'the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities', the developing nations are not required to make commitments for emission cuts, the pressure is mounting on them to do so with a mechanism for global monitoring of compliances. Plot is being hatched to rope in developing countries by suggesting black carbon emission as one of the cause for global warming, while there is no conclusive scientific evidence for it. The recent UNFA report has shamelessly mentioned black carbon emission in developing countries as a cause for global warming. However. Some developing countries have, on their own, taken some initiatives to contain their GHG emission.
If the developed countries are interested in roping in developing nations in commitments for emission cuts, it would be better to suggest a global norm for per capita energy consumption and fix the emission cut on per capita basis. This judicious formula may not be agreeable by the developed nations as their per capita energy consumption and emission are much higher than in the developing world.
The developing countries have the right to the development process for lifting millions of people out of poverty. They are in search of appropriate technology transfer and adequate finance from the developed world so that they can carry on their development process as usual without much burdening the global atmosphere with GHG emissions. A trap is being carefully laid in Copenhagen to allure the developing countries with sops like technology and finance transfer and modifications in carbon trading mechanism so that the developed countries can bypass their commitments for effecting their emission cuts.
Technology transfer is likely to carry a tag of stringent intellectual property rights, the price of which the developing countries would have to pay. It would better in the interests of the world as a whole that intellectual property regime do not come in the way of green technology transfer and green goods and services become affordable. Or else the Copenhagen conference is likely to only boost the prospects of the developed world in trade of green goods and services.
The warming world now needs some soothing effect which can come primarily from the commitments from the developed countries to drastically cut their emission levels. If this does not happen then the Copenhagen conference would mean nothing in terms of climate justice. On the whole the developing countries would continue to suffer with increased climate extremities, droughts, floods, cyclones, storm surges, threat of submergence and other natural calamities.
The world leaders need to emphasis and render incentives for not only for preservation and conservation of natural forests but also for increasing the area under dense forests. It is a tragedy that climate sensitive sectors like forestry, mining and fishery are wrongfully placed under Non-Agriculture Market Access (NAMA) ie industrial goods in the WTO. This encourages more deforestation to meet the greed of timber trade and more depletion of natural mineral and marine resources. Forestry, mining and fishery need to placed under Agriculture negotiations in the WTO.
Negotiations in the Seventh WTO Ministerial in Geneva and the Copenhagen climate conference are closely inter-linked. It is not surprising that the trade in green goods and services may figure in the Geneva talks ahead of the Copenhagen meet.
In today's unipolar world, the US holds the key to the success or failure of any international negotiations. Badly stung by the global financial crisis and in a frantic bid to save its ailing economy, it is in search of allies in the emerging economies. The US has, however found two such allies – India and China. The US President Obama has recently offered strategic bilateral partnerships with India and China – two emerging economies that have the capability to influence other developing countries.
Brazil, which is an emerging economy and aggressive in trade interests, may not be vocal in protecting the defensive interests of the farmers in developing world.
The US-India Joint Statement signed on November 24, 2009 has said : "Prime Minister Singh and President Obama recognised that the India-US relationship is important for managing the challenges the world will face in the 21st century."
Recently, The Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Michael Rudd and the Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh struck a Strategic Partnership for comprehensive cooperation in almost all sectors including defence. Australia has an ambition to emerge as a leader in the Asia-Pacific region and intends to sign free trade agreements (FTAs) with India, China, Japan and South Korea. Australia is aware that India is forging closer links with US and is leaving a larger footprint across the Indian Ocean. Rudd has described Asia-Pacific region where the big power relationships most closely intersect – the crucible where the relationships among the US, India, China, Japan and Russia are forged and the template for the emergence of US-China relationship and where the complementary and competitive interests of the major powers would need to be managed, harmonized and reconciled.
The advocates for trade and climate justice on behalf of the developing world should study the fine fabrics of the changing geo-politics and how the developed countries are ganging up and forging alliances with the emerging economies to save themselves from the adverse impact of the global financial crisis.
Majority of G-20 finance ministers are in favour of strengthening the sagging US dollar so that it continues to act as the global currency reserve. Less than three weeks after India stunned global markets with its decision to buy 200 tonne of gold from the IMF for $6.7 billion as a hedge against the weakening US dollar, the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in an interview to Newsweek of US said : "I have heard many times before. When I was in the US in the late 1960s there was Prof. Robert Triffin at Yale who wrote a famous book – Gold & the Dollar Crisis – saying the dollar's role as a reserve currency has come to an end and the US must recognise this. That was said in 1968. Then of course came 1971 when the US went off the Gold Exchange Tender. But the US bounced back. I hope the same thing will happen once again."
On the issue of negotiations for climate justice, the Indian Prime Minister in his recent address to the Washington-based Council on Foreign Relations, however, said : "The negotiations heading towards Copenhagen are proving more difficult than we have liked. There is disagreement among industrialised countries and between industrialised and developing countries." In an interview to the US press he categorically said : "I know there are difficulties. But without the US giving a lead I do not see a deal at Copenhagen can become a reality."
With a view to strengthen India-US Strategic Dialogue launched in July 20 2009, India and US signed MoUs? for cooperation on energy security, energy efficiency, clean energy and climate change, agricultural cooperation and food security, counter-terrorism. MoU on energy cooperation and the India-US civilian nuclear pact signed earlier would give access to American companies and India would gain in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI) flows, but the quantum of benefits to the Indian power sector needs to be assessed in this context. The US-India Knowledge Initiative in Agriculture and the recently signed MoU on agriculture cooperation are likely to give greater control of US seed multinationals over Indian agriculture and pave the way for imposing genetically modified (GM) crops on Indian farmers. Bt brinjal developed by Monsanto's Indian partner, Mahyco is on the verge of commercialisation and is being resisted by many farmers' organisations and civil society groups.
The deals at Geneva and Copenhagen are likely to be on the expected lines. The negotiations at both these venues are likely to be largely influenced by the changing geo-politics with the developed countries in the lead and the supporting emerging economies in the backdrop of the global financial crisis. The advocates for trade and climate justice on behalf of the developing world should better lobby with the least developing countries (LDCs), small and vulnerable economies (SVEs), CARICOM, African Group, Cotton-4 and ACP countries so that real justice can be achieved. Many of these countries are already being allured by developed countries and emerging economies for bilateral trade and cooperation.#
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Not much excepted from Copenhagen Climate Conference
India to stick to its negotiating position, give leadership to developing nations
India would resist attempts to bring in black carbon emission issue
By: ASHOK B SHARMA on: Thu 19 of Nov, 2009 14:04 UTC
New Delhi, Nov 19 : India has said that it does not expect that anything much could be achieved at the 10-day long crucial climate change negotiations scheduled in Copenhagen from December 7, 2009. But it has vowed to stick to its rigid negotiating position and continue to give leadership to the developing countries as negotiations are likely to continue beyond Copenhagen.
India would resist any attempt to bring the issue of black carbon emission in the climate talks.
"So far the debate is on for cutting down the emission limits of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Copenhagen meeting is for negotiations for cuts in GHG emission and not for black carbon emission. We would resist any move for bringing in black carbon emission for discussions. Scientific link between black carbon emission and global warming and melting of glaciers is still being studied," said the Indian environment and forests minister, Jairam Ramesh, while releasing the UNFPA's The State of World Population-2009 report in Delhi on Thursday.
This year's report of the United Nations Population Fund – UNFPA – like the reports of other UN organization has focused extensively on climate change.
"There are other important human-induced influences on climate besides greenhouse gases. Evidence is mounting for significant consequences to climate variability from soot or black carbon, that originates from fires, coal plants, diesel engines and burning by households. Dark particles that remain suspended in the atmosphere absorb radiant energy and warm the air they occupy. Global emissions of black carbon are rising fast, and Chinese emissions may have doubled since 2000. The warming influence of black carbon could be three times greater than estimates from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's latest report, making it the second-most important climate agent after carbon dioxide," the UNFPA report said.
When black carbon falls onto ice it darkens the surface, absorbing more of the sun's energy which leads to local warming and melting. Soot may be a contributor to the disappearance of glaciers in some regions and could even explain the accelerated rates of melt in the Himalaya-Hindu? Kush, the report said
However on the perceived notion of the warming effect of black carbon, the UNFPA report said : "These findings remain controversial because black soot can cool as well as warm."
The Indian environment minister clarified that India would not agree to any legally binding commitments that force the developing countries to cut their GHG emissions. "But we will act domestically on our own. India will stick to its negotiating position and provide leadership to the developing world. As per Bali Action Plan developed countries are legally bound to cut their emission levels, while the developing countries would adopt nationally appropriate mitigation actions," he said
He however said that India was prepared to show flexibility and deviate from the mandated nationally appropriate mitigation actions to nationally accountable mitigation outlook. India has already adopted a National Action Plan on Climate Change. The 12th Five-Year? Plan of the Union Government would focus on combating climate change. By 2025, it planned to cut emissions from transport sector by 20% to 35%. Strategies are afoot for a mandatory fuel efficiency economy. Energy efficiency norms in industry would be adopted. Incentives would be given to steel producers for meeting energy efficiency norms.
Ramesh also suggested a clean power sector and more supply of energy needs from new and renewable sources by 2020. He said that Indian forest cover was at present responsible for 10% neutralization of carbon. He also suggested increasing the area under certified organic farming.
When asked to comment on Brazil's commitment to reduce it emissions by 30% and Indonesia's commitment to cut its emission level by 26%, the Indian environment minister said ;"these countries have done so to avoid deforestation. Brazil has asked for finance for cutting down its emission level."
He said that India believed in setting performance targets on its own. He called for a water legislation and better pricing of water use.
On the issue of transfer of appropriate green technology, the Indian environment minister was of the view that intellectual property rights (IPR) regime may not be difficult issue to tackle as it was in the case of pharmaceuticals.
The UNFPA representative Nesim Tumkaya said that he was happy to note that there was no evidence of willful destruction of forest cover in India by deliberate forest fires as was the case in many other countries.
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Thirteenth Finance Commission to submit report on Dec 31, 2009
India to move towards Green Budgeting soon, GDP to include environmental impact
Twelth Five-Year Plan to have provisions for environment protection
By: ASHOK B SHARMA on: Fri 20 of Nov, 2009 13:46 UTC
New Delhi, Nov 20: The country's Thirteenth Finance Commission which is scheduled to submit its report on federal transfer of resources to state governments on December 31, 2009 is likely to make special provision for green budgets for both the state and central governments.
"The 13th Finance Commission will be submitting its report to the President of India, Pratibha Devsingh Patil on December 31, 2009. It would have provisions for federal transfer of resources, including green budgeting as per its terms of reference," said the Chairman, Vijay Kelkar on Friday at the release of Green India-2047, a report by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).
TERI is headed by Dr Rajendra K Pachauri who is also the Cairman of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
In September, the Government had extended the term of the commission by three months up to January 2010. It was earlier required to submit its report by October 31, 2009.
India apart from launching of its National Action Plan on Climate Change is also integrating its climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies in other avenues of action.
The Indian environment and forests minister, Jairam Ramesh said that the 12th Five-Year Plan scheduled to be submitted 2012 will have provision for environment protection and climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.
According to sources, bulk of the amount for green budgeting may come from disinvestments of government equities in public sector enterprises. The market value of both listed and unlisted public sector companies is estimated in the range of $ 300 billion to $ 400 billion. About 50% of the corpus can be diverted for green budgeting for public good. Green budgeting can be undertaken for improving mass rapid transport in metropolitian cities, preservation of lakes and forests, fuel and energy efficiency and other mitigation and adaptation measures
Ramesh said that in 2015 country's GDP formula would be restructured to include the losses due to environment and ecological degradation and also the benefits due to environment conservation.
"Our laws for environment protection are of global standards, but its implementation is below the desired level. The environment governance in the country is largely due to judicial interventions. The executive has almost abdicated its responsibility," he said.
The Bill for setting up of the National Green Tribunal was introduced in the Parliament in the last session and is likely to be passed in the ongoing winter session, he said and added that on November 26 the draft of the National Environment Protection Authority (which was earlier released for public debate) will be finalised.
Ramesh said that he did not agree to the proposal of privatizing the forest sector as suggested by TERI's Green India-2047 report. He said that the private sector was more interested in monoculture and plantation crops. The country has 21% forest cover and 3% tree cover, thus making up a total of 24%. Among the forest cover, 2% are of high density area, 9% of medium density area, 10% are degraded forests and 40% are open degraded forests.
There was a need to increase the density of forest cover, he said and this could be done through local community participation and not through private sector. He said that India's forest cover was responsible of neutralization of 10% carbon dioxide.
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