PM Modi inaugurates NGT’s climate conference, highlights climate inequality

The Prime Minister's remarks on emissions highlight the core principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) under the UNFCCC. This principle acknowledges that while all nations must address climate change, developed countries hold a greater historical responsibility due to their industrialization, and therefore must take the lead in mitigation and climate finance. India's per capita carbon footprint (around 1.9 tonnes CO2 equivalent) remains significantly lower than the global average and that of developed nations (e.g., the US is over 14 tonnes). India's progress on its Paris Agreement (COP 21) targets—specifically its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)—is a key area for UPSC. India achieved its initial target of 40% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources well before the 2030 deadline and has since updated its NDCs to 50% by 2030, alongside targeting a reduction in emission intensity of its GDP by 45%. The focus on non-fossil fuels and solar energy capacity (driven by initiatives like the International Solar Alliance and National Solar Mission) demonstrates a shift towards energy transition. The criticism of environmental litigation delaying nuclear projects touches upon the complex trade-offs between clean energy generation and localized environmental impact assessments.

The conference highlights the crucial role of Environmental Jurisprudence and institutional mechanisms in India. The National Green Tribunal, established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, is a specialized body equipped with the necessary expertise to handle environmental disputes involving multi-disciplinary issues. It replaced the National Environment Appellate Authority and draws inspiration from Article 21 (Right to Life, interpreted by the Supreme Court to include the right to a clean environment). The participation of diverse bodies like State Environment Impact Assessment Authorities and State Wetland Authorities underscores the decentralized framework of environmental governance in India. These bodies are crucial for enforcing laws like the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. The intersection of the judiciary (Supreme Court, High Courts, NGT) and executive agencies in environmental decision-making is a persistent theme in Governance (GS Paper 2). The PM's comment on litigation stalling nuclear projects points to the ongoing debate between judicial activism in environmental matters and the perceived need for rapid infrastructural and energy development. This necessitates a balanced approach where development and environmental protection are not viewed as mutually exclusive, but rather complementary under the framework of Sustainable Development.

India's assertion of climate inequality on global platforms is a strategic diplomatic stance. It reinforces its position as a leader of the Global South, advocating for equitable access to the remaining global carbon budget. By emphasizing historical emissions and the disparities in per capita emissions, India is pushing back against the narrative that developing countries are the primary drivers of current climate crises. This argument is critical in international climate negotiations (like the annual COP meetings) where issues of Climate Finance (the promised but largely unfulfilled $100 billion per year from developed nations) and technology transfer are highly contentious. India's proactive stance in fulfilling its Paris Agreement commitments enhances its soft power and credibility in these negotiations, allowing it to demand more robust action and financial commitment from the developed world. The PM's call for every Indian to "forcefully" present this fact indicates an effort to build domestic consensus and project a unified national narrative on climate justice.