What’s PM Modi’s agenda at COP28? What has been India’s role at past climate summits?

Leaders from across the world will convene in UAE’s Dubai starting today for the 28th edition of the Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), running until 12 December. While Pope Francis has cancelled his visit owing to poor health, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Dubai for two days – 30 November and 1 December to attend the crucial climate summit, called COP28. Ahead of the PM’s scheduled visit, Indian Ambassador to UAE, Sanjay Sudhir was quoted as saying that New Delhi has always walked the talk on the issue of climate change. Speaking to ANI, Sudhir said, “ COP28 Summit is a very important and big international conference. PM Modi coming here, itself shows how big the event is. We are eagerly waiting for PM Modi’s visit… the world leaders are waiting. Everyone is eager for him to share his vision with the world.” We take a closer look at India’s role at the climate summit – in the past as well as at this edition. India’s agenda at COP28 For the second time in three years, Prime Minister Modi will attend the annual climate conference. According to government officials, the upcoming COP28 is being seen as a platform for India to build upon its G20 achievements. “Climate change has been an important priority area of India’s G20 Presidency… COP-28 will provide an opportunity to take forward these successes.” Gautam Mohanka, chief executive at Gautam Solar in New Delhi confirmed the same. Speaking to The National, he said, “India’s priorities for COP28 will revolve around building on the positive momentum gained at the recently held G20 [summit in New Delhi], including focusing on tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, developments in green hydrogen and the need of low-cost finance for energy transition.” As per reports, PM Modi will pitch its Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) to a large group of developing nations. For the unaware, the GBA was first launched during the G20 Summit in New Delhi. Driven by India, the United States and Brazil – which cumulatively contribute nearly 85 per cent of the world’s ethanol production – the GBA aims to accelerate the worldwide adoption of biofuels by promoting technological advancements, increasing the use of sustainable biofuels, and establishing robust standards and certification processes through the active involvement of a wide range of stakeholders. Experts note that the GBA would help nations in reducing their reliance on fossil fuels – a major cause of climate change. [caption id=“attachment_13445612” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] The COP28 UAE’ logo is displayed on a screen ahead of the opening of the climate summit. The conference, being held in Dubai, will run until 12 December. Reuters[/caption] And with COP28 discussions set to focus primarily on phasing out of fossil fuels, it will also be interesting to see how the country deals with the international pressure on the matter. India has emphasised on bringing down of all fossil fuel consumption, and not just coal. Coal is the main energy source for India, supplying about 45 per cent of the energy in the country. Power Minister RK Singh said during an event in New Delhi, “There is going to be pressure on nations at COP to reduce usage of coal. We are not going to do this, since our point of view is clear, that we are not going to compromise on availability of power for our growth, even if it requires that we add coal-based capacity.” **Also read: Who is Sultan al-Jaber, UAE oil boss leading COP28?** India’s role at COP summits in the past India has become a crucial player in the global fight against climate change in recent years and notably, even hosted this conference, way back in 2008. From 1992, India has been trying to ensure that the burden of climate action does not disproportionately fall on the developing countries. Years later, in 1997, India also played a lead role in the Kyoto Protocol at COP3. The essential tenet of the Kyoto Protocol was that industrialised nations needed to lessen the amount of their CO2 emissions. Interestingly, India’s role at the COP summits has changed over the years; from being in the background, it has in recent years become more assertive and more forthcoming. At the COP21 Summit in Paris, New Delhi had made four commitments, including reducing greenhouse gas emission intensity of its GDP by 33-35 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). It also pledged that 40 per cent of the total power capacity would be based on non-fossil fuel sources and that the country will create an additional ‘carbon sink’ of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030. [caption id=“attachment_13445642” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. At this meet, he gave the world Panchamrita, a five-fold strategy, to reach its climate goals. File image/AP[/caption] And in 2021 at COP26, held in Glasgow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed a five-fold strategy – termed Panchamrita – for India to play its part in helping the world get closer to 1.5 degrees Celsius. **Also read: Climate justice for climate change: How Narendra Modi stole the march over his peers at COP26** He outlined his five big goals for the nation as – 1) achieving net-zero by 2070; 2) reducing total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes starting now till 2030; 3) increasing renewable energy component to 50 per cent of our total energy requirements by 2030; 4) reducing carbon intensity by 45 per cent by 2030; and 5) increasing non-fossil energy capacity to reach 500 GW by 2030. Climate change and India India has recognised the importance and significance of the impact of climate change and therefore, is more assertive in its fight against this phenomenon. Experts note that climate change’s major impact in India will be on water resources, intensifying the risk of destructive floods and droughts as the changing climate exacerbates these challenges. **Also read: How climate change puts 2.2 billion people at risk in India, Pakistan** A recently released study also showed that billions of people are expected to be displaced within the next 25 years because of severe impacts of climate change. The study also said that India has suffered a 61 per cent impact of climate change and it is anticipated to escalate if corrective actions aren’t taken. The Reserve Bank of India in its latest report has also suggested that up to 4.5 per cent of India’s GDP could be at risk by 2030, owing to lost labour hours from extreme heat and humidity. It’s to be seen what India achieves at the COP28, but the clock is ticking away. With inputs from agencies