India to adopt low carbon growth path in 12th Five-Year Plan

India will adopt a low carbon growth path in the 12th five year plan to meet the national target of lowering the emission intensity of its gross domestic product (GDP) by 20-25 per cent by 2020, the 2011-12 Economic Survey has suggested.

While the Centre will put its best foot forward to achieve a sustainable growth, the survey also underlined the importance of adopting climate friendly policies at the state level to lower the overall carbon footprint so that a green cover can be put on the GDP growth.

The survey, for the first time, has a separate chapter on climate change suggesting the road map for sustainable growth in the next five years.

As India promises to undertake voluntary emission-cuts, it expects rich nations to do their bit in fulfilling Kyoto commitments, remembering their legacy so that India too has its share in the carbon space for economic growth and poverty alleviation.

If the emission data of 2009 is any indication, many countries missed their emission-cut target under the Kyoto Protocol for the first commitment period that will end in 2012. The emission level, on the contrary, has increased for many wealthy countries.

The emission reduction achieved by Brazil, China, India and Mexico in the last three decades is more than the reduction requirement of rich nations.

The survey made it clear that under no circumstances, would the government deviate from its objectives of social and economic developments and poverty alleviation.

At the Durban climate change summit, India agreed for new global climate regime post-2020 that may impose emission cut target for all major polluting nations including India though its per capita emission would continue to be lower than rich nations in the next 25 years.

The new climate regime’s legality and terms and conditions are yet to be decided.
New Delhi expects developed countries to reciprocate the flexibility shown in Durban and remove non-tariff barriers like the controversial aviation tax imposed by the European Union on all airlines, which hit the Indian carriers.

As India needs thousands of crores to deal with the disastrous consequences of climate change, New Delhi wants the developed world to loosen their purse strings for funds and technology from North to South for adaptation and mitigation. The resource requirement is very high as only a single state like Odisha needs Rs 17,000 crore in five years to implement its climate change action plans.

Depending solely on budgetary allocation would be too meager to sustain green development. As finance from rich nations, global agencies and private carbon market will be needed, the survey suggests India is open to international monitoring of implementation of climate change projects.