Daily Current Affairs : 17-October-2023
The issue of climate change has never been more pressing. As the world grapples with extreme weather events, India has emerged as a key player in the global climate discourse. In a significant move, India is advocating for developed nations to go beyond carbon neutrality and achieve carbon negativity before 2050. This proposal challenges the traditional approach and aims to balance environmental concerns with the developmental needs of emerging economies.
Understanding Net Zero and Carbon Negative:
- Net Zero: This concept implies balancing the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere with activities that remove an equivalent amount, ensuring no additional carbon is added.
- Carbon Negative: A step further, this term requires a nation to remove more CO2 from the atmosphere than it emits, indicating a proactive approach toward combating climate change.
India’s Stance at COP28:
India, while resisting pressure to set a strict deadline for phasing out coal and fossil fuels, plans to present its innovative idea at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai. The proposal emphasizes that developed nations should become net negative emitters by 2050. This approach would enable the world to achieve the global net zero target while granting developing countries the necessary time to utilize natural resources for growth.
Significance of India’s Proposal:
- Environmental Urgency: The backdrop of COP28 discussions is alarming, with extreme weather events causing heatwaves and erratic monsoons. Urgent action is imperative.
- India’s Strategy: India’s strategy focuses on employing “abatement and mitigation technologies” instead of enforcing a rapid phase-out of fossil fuels. This approach aligns with India’s commitment to operating 50% of its installed power capacity using non-fossil sources and reducing greenhouse emissions to 45% of the 2005 level by 2030.
- Global Acceptance: The recent G20 summit in New Delhi marked a positive step. While the need to phase down unabated coal power was acknowledged, setting specific timelines and emission reduction goals remains a challenge. Nevertheless, this agreement represents progress in global climate negotiations.
Important Points:
- India advocates for developed nations to achieve carbon negativity by 2050, going beyond carbon neutrality, allowing emerging economies time for growth.
- Net zero aims to balance CO2 emissions with activities that remove an equivalent amount, whereas carbon negativity requires removing more CO2 than emitted.
- India’s proposal emphasizes using “abatement and mitigation technologies” over rapid fossil fuel phase-out, aligning with its commitment to 50% non-fossil power by 2030.
- COP28 discussions occur amidst urgent climate concerns, including extreme weather events like heatwaves and erratic monsoons.
- The recent G20 summit acknowledged the need to phase down unabated coal power, but specific timelines and emission reduction goals remain undefined.
- India’s strategy seeks a balance between environmental conservation and developmental needs, offering a practical approach to the global climate crisis.
Why In News
India is advocating for developed nations to aim for carbon negativity, instead of carbon neutrality, by 2050. This approach, according to two Indian government sources, would provide emerging market economies with additional time to utilize fossil fuels for their developmental requirements.
MCQs about Carbon Negativity at COP28
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What is India advocating for at COP28?
A. A strict deadline for phasing out fossil fuels
B. Developed nations to achieve carbon negativity by 2050
C. Immediate cessation of coal usage
D. Reduced carbon emissions without specific targets
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What does “net zero” mean in the context of carbon emissions?
A. Balancing CO2 emissions with equivalent removal activities
B. Completely stopping all carbon emissions
C. Reducing carbon emissions by 50%
D. Increasing carbon emissions to boost industrial growth
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What strategy does India favor in dealing with fossil fuel phase-out?
A. Rapid elimination of all fossil fuels
B. Carbon neutrality for all nations
C. Using “abatement and mitigation technologies”
D. Imposing strict carbon taxes
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What was the outcome of the G20 summit regarding coal power?
A. Agreement on specific timelines for coal phase-out
B. Rejection of the need to phase down coal power
C. Acknowledgment of the need to phase down unabated coal power without setting specific timelines
D. Complete ban on coal usage
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