India is Mixed on Climate Change Forecast

Climate Change, Anthropocene, & Associated Issues

At the start of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi trip to the United States, the signals were not good that the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases would change its tone on climate change. In the end, there was a little more room for encouragement. Mr. Modi, who won a crushing electoral victory in May, declined to attend last month of United Nations climate summit in New York. When he did address a separate U.N. gathering, he earned the criticism of some observers when he seemed to suggest that practicing yoga is a viable strategy to combat global warming.

Meanwhile, Mr. Modi environment minister dismissed the notion that India would propose emissions cuts any time soon. All of these moves reflected the stand that India has taken at international climate conferences for years: The country is still developing, so others must put in the hard work to save the atmosphere. The predominant players on climate change are China and the United States, No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the amount of heat-trapping greenhouse gases they release into the air. But India, the second-most-populous country, is ramping up its carbon dioxide output as its government strives to offer 1.2 billion people more reliable electric power.

Despite some moves toward renewable energy, about 60 percent of the electrical generating capacity relies on coal burning, and the government appears determined to further develop their coal industry. Some forward-looking climate assessments expect relatively little soon from India and conclude that initiatives among other big emitters can still make a huge difference. But more cooperation and a commitment to smarter, more efficient growth on the part of India would make minimizing the risk of climate change much easier and success much more likely.

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