Posts
CSE's Fortnightly News Bulletin (November 18, 2014)
==============================
Things are hotting up, as they usually do this time of the year.
Figuratively, of course. Last week, two of the world's biggest polluters
-- the US and China -- shook hands on a bilateral deal to cut greenhouse
gas emissions which was touted as 'historic' and 'ambitious'. On closer
scrutiny, it proves to have been neither -- rather, a CSE analysis finds
it to be a flagrantly self-serving deal which actually might take us on
a catastrophic temperature increase pathway. This week, parties to
Montreal Protocol are meeting in Paris to debate on the future of HFCs,
and CSE is organising a side event at the conference to push for use of
climate-friendly gases. And in the first week of December comes the
annual Conference of Parties -- the 20th CoP on climate change,
scheduled to be held in Lima, Peru. The importance of this relatively
'low key' CoP lies in the fact that it is the stepping stone to the far
more significant conference next year in Paris. As Sunita Narain rightly
points out in her editorial, Lima probably offers us our last chance to
move towards getting an effective climate deal based on equity.
- To unsubscribe from this newsletter:
http://www.cseindia.org/
- Please add csewhatsnew5@lists.csenews.org in your Address Book or Safe
Sender's List. Gmail users, kindly drag our email to the primary folder
- To subscribe to this newsletter, or any of our other newsletters:
http://cseindia.my2.in/
- For queries and suggestions related to the newsletter, please contact:
Vikas Khanna, vikas@cseindia.org
===========================
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS FORTNIGHT
===========================
- Editorial by Sunita Narain: Last call to get the climate deal right --
countdown to the next Conference of Parties (CoP) in Lima, Peru
- Cover story: Tribunal on trial -- a review of the National Green Tribunal
- Special report: Missing evidence -- Whiff of a scam in Bhopal, as the city gears up for the 30th anniversary of its worst tragedy
- DTE on the Web: Montreal Protocol meeting opens in Paris, CSE to host
a side event
- DTE on the Web: World’s two biggest polluters strike a deal to cut carbon emissions
- Event in the pipeline: CSE side event at Asian air quality meet in Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Event in the pipeline: CSE to mark Bhopal gas tragedy anniversary with the release of its book on Bhopal on December 1
=========
EDITORIAL
=========
Last call to get climate deal right
By Sunita Narain
The Indian government must not use “equity” to block climate change
negotiations. It must be proactive on equity and put forward a position
on how to operationalise the sharing of the carbon budget—accounting for
countries’ contribution to past emissions and allocating future space—in
climate talks.
I wrote this last year when the UPA government was in power. I am
repeating this as the NDA government prepares for the next conference of
parties (CoP) to be held in December in Peru.
Equity is a pre-requisite for an effective agreement on climate change.
In the early 1990s, as the negotiations began, Anil Agarwal,
environmentalist and director of the Centre for Science and Environment,
and I put forward the argument that since the atmosphere is a global
common, we need equal entitlements to the space. We argued the only way countries would commit to reducing emissions—connected to economic growth—would be if there were limits for all, based on contribution to the creation of the problem.
The 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is built on this
premise—the group of countries (Annex 1) responsible for creating the
problem must create space for the rest to grow. But since the objective
is to have a different growth pattern to avoid emissions of long-life
carbon dioxide, developing countries would get money and technology.
The current situation is very different. Countries which were required
to cut emissions did not do so at the scale or pace needed. The US
“peaked” its emissions in 2012. The situation is worse if the accounting
for emissions is done on the basis of consumption and not production. In
that case developed countries increased their emissions in this period
because all they did was to export manufacturing to other parts of the
world.
So the rich did not reduce emissions, while the rest of the world
increased. While in 1992, Annex 1 countries contributed some 70 per cent
of the emissions, by 2014, they are down to 40 per cent. The space is
filled and now there is little left for future growth of all. This is
where climate change negotiations are stuck.
The old rich want the differentiation between the past polluters and the
current and future ones to go. They say we should forget the historical
contribution and divide the carbon cake afresh. They remind developing
countries that the present is different—China, for instance, has
overtaken the US as the world’s largest contributor on an annual basis.
But they forget conveniently that on a per capita basis there is still a
vast difference between the US and China.
The “firewall” between Annex 1 and the rest, as called by US
negotiators, was first breached at the 2009 Copenhagen conference when
countries like India agreed not to discuss the historical contribution
of the already rich and put their own emission reduction targets on the
table. In 2011, this arrangement was cemented. The Durban CoP agreed
that the world would work to finalise a new agreement by 2015. This deal
would require the “highest possible mitigation efforts by all Parties”.
The only sweetener was the hard fought phrase that the agreement would
be under the “Convention”, which, in turn, is based on the principle of
equity.
But in the 2013 CoP at Warsaw it was agreed that “all” countries would
submit their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) by
early 2015. In other words, now there is no agreement which specifies
the target for each country based on its past contribution. Countries do
not put forward their emissions reduction targets based on common but
differentiated responsibility.
It is, however, argued (by top US negotiators) that the deal is based on
equity. This is because each country is free to decide domestic targets,
keeping in mind its contribution to the problem and its capacity to act.
Ingenious indeed. The game is, however, not over. The next step is to
put INDC together and to see how the aggregate of “all” adds to the
magic number needed to keep the temperature rise below 2°C, the
guardrail of devastating change. It is taken for granted that the sum of
all will be way below what is needed. Now the real question kicks in:
how to estimate the past, present and future emissions contribution of
each country to decide who will reduce how much emissions?
In Warsaw 2013, the African Group proposed an equity reference
framework, which has different indicators of development and capability
to assess what each country should do. India stridently opposed this. No
doubt, the African proposal has flaws, but our government has to put
forward a counter-proposal on how to operationalise equity. Otherwise,
equity is only for blocking consensus; empty word being banged in noisy
pans.
If we take climate change seriously, we will argue for an ambitious
agreement based on equity because that’s the only way it can be
effective. This is the last chance to get it right. The chips are
already down and the die will be cast by the time of the Paris meet in 2015.
- Follow Sunita Narain on Twitter at: @sunitanar
- To post your comments on this editorial online, please visit:
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- To share this editorial, please click on the following:
facebook: http://bit.ly/1yHhwsq
twitter: http://bit.ly/1y1C4vF
google+: http://bit.ly/1x5lmgu
==============================
MORE FROM DOWN TO EARTH PRINT
==============================
- Tribunal on trial
A review of the National Green Tribunal after three-and-half years of
its existence
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Model in a fix
Chhattisgarh's much appreciated public distribution scheme is falling
apart due to corruption and mismanagement
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Missing evidence
Questions are being raised about the authenticity of forensic samples of
Bhopal gas victims, crucial for establishing the cause of deaths. Have
they been lost?
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Shit, it's profitable
Bengaluru farmers have revived the practice of using human excreta as
manure. This has created an informal economy that is benefiting many
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Out of favour
Focus on Alphonso has resulted in neglect of native mango varieties
grown in the Western Ghats, some of which are on the brink of extinction
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Keep the sunny side up
A list of solar-powered consumer products that one could opt for
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Search for a good hearth
Cook stoves are becoming fuel efficient, but not improving the air quality
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Invasion triggers evolution
New study on lizards points to how evolutionary changes happen
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
========================
DTE EXCLUSIVE ON THE WEB
========================
- 26th meeting of parties to Montreal Protocol gets underway in Paris
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
Watch out on www.downtoearth.org.in for updates from the CSE team in Paris
- WHO sets emissions standards for reducing indoor air pollution
4.3 million global premature deaths around each year attributed to
illnesses caused by household air pollution
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- World’s two biggest polluters -- China and the US -- strike deal to
cut carbon emissions
CSE warns the deal will push the world to catastrophic increase in
average global temperature
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- DTE survey: Which is the cleanest city in India?
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Blog: The curious case of Delhi’s proposed tunnels
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Blog: What happens to the irrigation scam now, Mr Fadnavis?
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
Follow Down to Earth:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/@
To subscribe to the Down To Earth newsletter, visit
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
==============================
ON THE INDIA ENVIRONMENT PORTAL
==============================
- Interactives/Infographics
Top green start-ups of 2014
http://www.
India Environment Portal Weekly Newsletter brings you the top
environment developments, studies, reports, conflicts
http://www.
Sign-up and get connected with the India Environment Portal. Subscribe
for alerts and services.
Follow the India Environment Portal
- On Facebook http://on.fb.me/1jxAdYQ
- On Twitter http://bit.ly/1hNlYi6
- On Youtube http://bit.ly/18NF2Xg
For more details or any assistance, contact Kiran Pandey at
kiran@cseindia.org, kirandwi@gmail.com
==============================
UPDATES FROM OUR PROGRAMME UNITS
==============================
- 'Diesel at crossroads: Charting the roadmap for co-benefits of health
and climate mitigation' CSE side event at Integrated Conference of BAQ
2014 and 8th Intergovernmental EST Forum in Asia Colombo, Sri Lanka
November 20, 2014
Contacts: Ruchita Bansal, CSE (ruchita@cseindia.org); Chee Anne Roño,
ritchie.rono@cleanairasia.org, 72-3084918
- Media Briefing: Controlling air pollution through fiscal measures
(taxes and pricing)
Date: November 28, 2014; Place: New Delhi
Contact person: Souparno Banerjee, 9910864339, souparno@cseindia.org
For details, please visit:
http://www.cseindia.org/
- Commemorating the 30th anniversary of Bhopal
Panel discussion and book release
Date: December 1, 2014; Place: New Delhi
Contact person: Amit Khurana, k_amit@cseindia.org
- Fifth National Research Conference on Climate Change
Jointly organised by CSE, IIT-Delhi, IIT-Madras, and Indian Institute of
Science, Bangalore
Dates: December 19-20, 2014; Place: New Delhi
Contact person: Arjuna Srinidhi, arjuna@cseindia.org
For details, please visit:
http://www.cseindia.org/
=================
LEARNING WITH CSE
=================
Courses offered by Anil Agarwal Green College
- One Week Advanced Training Program on Pollution Monitoring Techniques
and Instrumentation
Date: November 17 – 21, 2014
Contact person: Ramakant Sahu, ramakant@cseindia.org
For details, please visit:
http://www.cseindia.org/
- Capacity building on E-waste and E-waste Rules
Date: November 18-20, 2014 and December 17-19, 2014
Contact person: Rahul Kumar, s_rahul@cseindia.org
For details, please visit:
http://www.cseindia.org/
- E-Outreach : New media technologies for advocacy and strategic
communication
Date: November 20-21, 2014
Contact person: Kiran Pandey, kirandwi@gmail.com, kiran@cseindia.org
For details, please visit:
http://www.cseindia.org/
- Septage Management: Towards City Wide Sanitation
Date: November 24-26, 2014
Contact person: Uday Bhonde, uday@cseindia.org
For details please visit:
http://www.cseindia.org/
- Training Programme on Urban and Industrial Wastewater Treatment
Date: November 24-28, 2014
Contact person: Swati Singh Sambyal, swati@cseindia.org
For details, please visit
http://www.cseindia.org/
For a complete listing, please visit our website: http://www.cseindia.org/
=============
THE CSE STORE
=============
New books on the anvil
- On Bhopal
- On adapting to climate change
(Titles to be announced soon)
Pre-publication booking for State of Environment 2015 report
The report, backed by our over two decades of researching environment
and development, is emerging as India's most credible annual statement
on key issues like water, land, climate change, agriculture and
urbanisation. It will be out in January 2015.
For fabulous early bird special prices and package deals, contact
Ramachandran at rchandran@cseindia.org, Mobile: 91-9810641996
==================
About this e-mail
==================
You are receiving this newsletter because you have asked to be included
in our list, attended a CSE event or requested information.
CSE is an independent public interest organisation established in 1982
by Anil Agarwal, a pioneer of India's environmental movement. CSE's
mandate is to research, communicate and promote sustainable development with equity, participation and democracy.CSE's Fortnightly News Bulletin (November 18, 2014)
==============================
Things are hotting up, as they usually do this time of the year.
Figuratively, of course. Last week, two of the world's biggest polluters
-- the US and China -- shook hands on a bilateral deal to cut greenhouse
gas emissions which was touted as 'historic' and 'ambitious'. On closer
scrutiny, it proves to have been neither -- rather, a CSE analysis finds
it to be a flagrantly self-serving deal which actually might take us on
a catastrophic temperature increase pathway. This week, parties to
Montreal Protocol are meeting in Paris to debate on the future of HFCs,
and CSE is organising a side event at the conference to push for use of
climate-friendly gases. And in the first week of December comes the
annual Conference of Parties -- the 20th CoP on climate change,
scheduled to be held in Lima, Peru. The importance of this relatively
'low key' CoP lies in the fact that it is the stepping stone to the far
more significant conference next year in Paris. As Sunita Narain rightly
points out in her editorial, Lima probably offers us our last chance to
move towards getting an effective climate deal based on equity.
- To unsubscribe from this newsletter:
http://www.cseindia.org/
- Please add csewhatsnew5@lists.csenews.org in your Address Book or Safe
Sender's List. Gmail users, kindly drag our email to the primary folder
- To subscribe to this newsletter, or any of our other newsletters:
http://cseindia.my2.in/
- For queries and suggestions related to the newsletter, please contact:
Vikas Khanna, vikas@cseindia.org
===========================
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS FORTNIGHT
===========================
- Editorial by Sunita Narain: Last call to get the climate deal right --
countdown to the next Conference of Parties (CoP) in Lima, Peru
- Cover story: Tribunal on trial -- a review of the National Green Tribunal
- Special report: Missing evidence -- Whiff of a scam in Bhopal, as the city gears up for the 30th anniversary of its worst tragedy
- DTE on the Web: Montreal Protocol meeting opens in Paris, CSE to host
a side event
- DTE on the Web: World’s two biggest polluters strike a deal to cut carbon emissions
- Event in the pipeline: CSE side event at Asian air quality meet in Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Event in the pipeline: CSE to mark Bhopal gas tragedy anniversary with the release of its book on Bhopal on December 1
=========
EDITORIAL
=========
Last call to get climate deal right
By Sunita Narain
The Indian government must not use “equity” to block climate change
negotiations. It must be proactive on equity and put forward a position
on how to operationalise the sharing of the carbon budget—accounting for
countries’ contribution to past emissions and allocating future space—in
climate talks.
I wrote this last year when the UPA government was in power. I am
repeating this as the NDA government prepares for the next conference of
parties (CoP) to be held in December in Peru.
Equity is a pre-requisite for an effective agreement on climate change.
In the early 1990s, as the negotiations began, Anil Agarwal,
environmentalist and director of the Centre for Science and Environment,
and I put forward the argument that since the atmosphere is a global
common, we need equal entitlements to the space. We argued the only way countries would commit to reducing emissions—connected to economic growth—would be if there were limits for all, based on contribution to the creation of the problem.
The 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is built on this
premise—the group of countries (Annex 1) responsible for creating the
problem must create space for the rest to grow. But since the objective
is to have a different growth pattern to avoid emissions of long-life
carbon dioxide, developing countries would get money and technology.
The current situation is very different. Countries which were required
to cut emissions did not do so at the scale or pace needed. The US
“peaked” its emissions in 2012. The situation is worse if the accounting
for emissions is done on the basis of consumption and not production. In
that case developed countries increased their emissions in this period
because all they did was to export manufacturing to other parts of the
world.
So the rich did not reduce emissions, while the rest of the world
increased. While in 1992, Annex 1 countries contributed some 70 per cent
of the emissions, by 2014, they are down to 40 per cent. The space is
filled and now there is little left for future growth of all. This is
where climate change negotiations are stuck.
The old rich want the differentiation between the past polluters and the
current and future ones to go. They say we should forget the historical
contribution and divide the carbon cake afresh. They remind developing
countries that the present is different—China, for instance, has
overtaken the US as the world’s largest contributor on an annual basis.
But they forget conveniently that on a per capita basis there is still a
vast difference between the US and China.
The “firewall” between Annex 1 and the rest, as called by US
negotiators, was first breached at the 2009 Copenhagen conference when
countries like India agreed not to discuss the historical contribution
of the already rich and put their own emission reduction targets on the
table. In 2011, this arrangement was cemented. The Durban CoP agreed
that the world would work to finalise a new agreement by 2015. This deal
would require the “highest possible mitigation efforts by all Parties”.
The only sweetener was the hard fought phrase that the agreement would
be under the “Convention”, which, in turn, is based on the principle of
equity.
But in the 2013 CoP at Warsaw it was agreed that “all” countries would
submit their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) by
early 2015. In other words, now there is no agreement which specifies
the target for each country based on its past contribution. Countries do
not put forward their emissions reduction targets based on common but
differentiated responsibility.
It is, however, argued (by top US negotiators) that the deal is based on
equity. This is because each country is free to decide domestic targets,
keeping in mind its contribution to the problem and its capacity to act.
Ingenious indeed. The game is, however, not over. The next step is to
put INDC together and to see how the aggregate of “all” adds to the
magic number needed to keep the temperature rise below 2°C, the
guardrail of devastating change. It is taken for granted that the sum of
all will be way below what is needed. Now the real question kicks in:
how to estimate the past, present and future emissions contribution of
each country to decide who will reduce how much emissions?
In Warsaw 2013, the African Group proposed an equity reference
framework, which has different indicators of development and capability
to assess what each country should do. India stridently opposed this. No
doubt, the African proposal has flaws, but our government has to put
forward a counter-proposal on how to operationalise equity. Otherwise,
equity is only for blocking consensus; empty word being banged in noisy
pans.
If we take climate change seriously, we will argue for an ambitious
agreement based on equity because that’s the only way it can be
effective. This is the last chance to get it right. The chips are
already down and the die will be cast by the time of the Paris meet in 2015.
- Follow Sunita Narain on Twitter at: @sunitanar
- To post your comments on this editorial online, please visit:
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- To share this editorial, please click on the following:
facebook: http://bit.ly/1yHhwsq
twitter: http://bit.ly/1y1C4vF
google+: http://bit.ly/1x5lmgu
==============================
MORE FROM DOWN TO EARTH PRINT
==============================
- Tribunal on trial
A review of the National Green Tribunal after three-and-half years of
its existence
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Model in a fix
Chhattisgarh's much appreciated public distribution scheme is falling
apart due to corruption and mismanagement
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Missing evidence
Questions are being raised about the authenticity of forensic samples of
Bhopal gas victims, crucial for establishing the cause of deaths. Have
they been lost?
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Shit, it's profitable
Bengaluru farmers have revived the practice of using human excreta as
manure. This has created an informal economy that is benefiting many
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Out of favour
Focus on Alphonso has resulted in neglect of native mango varieties
grown in the Western Ghats, some of which are on the brink of extinction
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Keep the sunny side up
A list of solar-powered consumer products that one could opt for
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Search for a good hearth
Cook stoves are becoming fuel efficient, but not improving the air quality
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Invasion triggers evolution
New study on lizards points to how evolutionary changes happen
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
========================
DTE EXCLUSIVE ON THE WEB
========================
- 26th meeting of parties to Montreal Protocol gets underway in Paris
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
Watch out on www.downtoearth.org.in for updates from the CSE team in Paris
- WHO sets emissions standards for reducing indoor air pollution
4.3 million global premature deaths around each year attributed to
illnesses caused by household air pollution
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- World’s two biggest polluters -- China and the US -- strike deal to
cut carbon emissions
CSE warns the deal will push the world to catastrophic increase in
average global temperature
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- DTE survey: Which is the cleanest city in India?
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Blog: The curious case of Delhi’s proposed tunnels
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Blog: What happens to the irrigation scam now, Mr Fadnavis?
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
Follow Down to Earth:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/@
To subscribe to the Down To Earth newsletter, visit
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
==============================
ON THE INDIA ENVIRONMENT PORTAL
==============================
- Interactives/Infographics
Top green start-ups of 2014
http://www.
India Environment Portal Weekly Newsletter brings you the top
environment developments, studies, reports, conflicts
http://www.
Sign-up and get connected with the India Environment Portal. Subscribe
for alerts and services.
Follow the India Environment Portal
- On Facebook http://on.fb.me/1jxAdYQ
- On Twitter http://bit.ly/1hNlYi6
- On Youtube http://bit.ly/18NF2Xg
For more details or any assistance, contact Kiran Pandey at
kiran@cseindia.org, kirandwi@gmail.com
==============================
UPDATES FROM OUR PROGRAMME UNITS
==============================
- 'Diesel at crossroads: Charting the roadmap for co-benefits of health
and climate mitigation' CSE side event at Integrated Conference of BAQ
2014 and 8th Intergovernmental EST Forum in Asia Colombo, Sri Lanka
November 20, 2014
Contacts: Ruchita Bansal, CSE (ruchita@cseindia.org); Chee Anne Roño,
ritchie.rono@cleanairasia.org, 72-3084918
- Media Briefing: Controlling air pollution through fiscal measures
(taxes and pricing)
Date: November 28, 2014; Place: New Delhi
Contact person: Souparno Banerjee, 9910864339, souparno@cseindia.org
For details, please visit:
http://www.cseindia.org/
- Commemorating the 30th anniversary of Bhopal
Panel discussion and book release
Date: December 1, 2014; Place: New Delhi
Contact person: Amit Khurana, k_amit@cseindia.org
- Fifth National Research Conference on Climate Change
Jointly organised by CSE, IIT-Delhi, IIT-Madras, and Indian Institute of
Science, Bangalore
Dates: December 19-20, 2014; Place: New Delhi
Contact person: Arjuna Srinidhi, arjuna@cseindia.org
For details, please visit:
http://www.cseindia.org/
=================
LEARNING WITH CSE
=================
Courses offered by Anil Agarwal Green College
- One Week Advanced Training Program on Pollution Monitoring Techniques
and Instrumentation
Date: November 17 – 21, 2014
Contact person: Ramakant Sahu, ramakant@cseindia.org
For details, please visit:
http://www.cseindia.org/
- Capacity building on E-waste and E-waste Rules
Date: November 18-20, 2014 and December 17-19, 2014
Contact person: Rahul Kumar, s_rahul@cseindia.org
For details, please visit:
http://www.cseindia.org/
- E-Outreach : New media technologies for advocacy and strategic
communication
Date: November 20-21, 2014
Contact person: Kiran Pandey, kirandwi@gmail.com, kiran@cseindia.org
For details, please visit:
http://www.cseindia.org/
- Septage Management: Towards City Wide Sanitation
Date: November 24-26, 2014
Contact person: Uday Bhonde, uday@cseindia.org
For details please visit:
http://www.cseindia.org/
- Training Programme on Urban and Industrial Wastewater Treatment
Date: November 24-28, 2014
Contact person: Swati Singh Sambyal, swati@cseindia.org
For details, please visit
http://www.cseindia.org/
For a complete listing, please visit our website: http://www.cseindia.org/
=============
THE CSE STORE
=============
New books on the anvil
- On Bhopal
- On adapting to climate change
(Titles to be announced soon)
Pre-publication booking for State of Environment 2015 report
The report, backed by our over two decades of researching environment
and development, is emerging as India's most credible annual statement
on key issues like water, land, climate change, agriculture and
urbanisation. It will be out in January 2015.
==============================
Things are hotting up, as they usually do this time of the year.
Figuratively, of course. Last week, two of the world's biggest polluters
-- the US and China -- shook hands on a bilateral deal to cut greenhouse
gas emissions which was touted as 'historic' and 'ambitious'. On closer
scrutiny, it proves to have been neither -- rather, a CSE analysis finds
it to be a flagrantly self-serving deal which actually might take us on
a catastrophic temperature increase pathway. This week, parties to
Montreal Protocol are meeting in Paris to debate on the future of HFCs,
and CSE is organising a side event at the conference to push for use of
climate-friendly gases. And in the first week of December comes the
annual Conference of Parties -- the 20th CoP on climate change,
scheduled to be held in Lima, Peru. The importance of this relatively
'low key' CoP lies in the fact that it is the stepping stone to the far
more significant conference next year in Paris. As Sunita Narain rightly
points out in her editorial, Lima probably offers us our last chance to
move towards getting an effective climate deal based on equity.
- To unsubscribe from this newsletter:
http://www.cseindia.org/
- Please add csewhatsnew5@lists.csenews.org in your Address Book or Safe
Sender's List. Gmail users, kindly drag our email to the primary folder
- To subscribe to this newsletter, or any of our other newsletters:
http://cseindia.my2.in/
- For queries and suggestions related to the newsletter, please contact:
Vikas Khanna, vikas@cseindia.org
===========================
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS FORTNIGHT
===========================
- Editorial by Sunita Narain: Last call to get the climate deal right --
countdown to the next Conference of Parties (CoP) in Lima, Peru
- Cover story: Tribunal on trial -- a review of the National Green Tribunal
- Special report: Missing evidence -- Whiff of a scam in Bhopal, as the city gears up for the 30th anniversary of its worst tragedy
- DTE on the Web: Montreal Protocol meeting opens in Paris, CSE to host
a side event
- DTE on the Web: World’s two biggest polluters strike a deal to cut carbon emissions
- Event in the pipeline: CSE side event at Asian air quality meet in Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Event in the pipeline: CSE to mark Bhopal gas tragedy anniversary with the release of its book on Bhopal on December 1
=========
EDITORIAL
=========
Last call to get climate deal right
By Sunita Narain
The Indian government must not use “equity” to block climate change
negotiations. It must be proactive on equity and put forward a position
on how to operationalise the sharing of the carbon budget—accounting for
countries’ contribution to past emissions and allocating future space—in
climate talks.
I wrote this last year when the UPA government was in power. I am
repeating this as the NDA government prepares for the next conference of
parties (CoP) to be held in December in Peru.
Equity is a pre-requisite for an effective agreement on climate change.
In the early 1990s, as the negotiations began, Anil Agarwal,
environmentalist and director of the Centre for Science and Environment,
and I put forward the argument that since the atmosphere is a global
common, we need equal entitlements to the space. We argued the only way countries would commit to reducing emissions—connected to economic growth—would be if there were limits for all, based on contribution to the creation of the problem.
The 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is built on this
premise—the group of countries (Annex 1) responsible for creating the
problem must create space for the rest to grow. But since the objective
is to have a different growth pattern to avoid emissions of long-life
carbon dioxide, developing countries would get money and technology.
The current situation is very different. Countries which were required
to cut emissions did not do so at the scale or pace needed. The US
“peaked” its emissions in 2012. The situation is worse if the accounting
for emissions is done on the basis of consumption and not production. In
that case developed countries increased their emissions in this period
because all they did was to export manufacturing to other parts of the
world.
So the rich did not reduce emissions, while the rest of the world
increased. While in 1992, Annex 1 countries contributed some 70 per cent
of the emissions, by 2014, they are down to 40 per cent. The space is
filled and now there is little left for future growth of all. This is
where climate change negotiations are stuck.
The old rich want the differentiation between the past polluters and the
current and future ones to go. They say we should forget the historical
contribution and divide the carbon cake afresh. They remind developing
countries that the present is different—China, for instance, has
overtaken the US as the world’s largest contributor on an annual basis.
But they forget conveniently that on a per capita basis there is still a
vast difference between the US and China.
The “firewall” between Annex 1 and the rest, as called by US
negotiators, was first breached at the 2009 Copenhagen conference when
countries like India agreed not to discuss the historical contribution
of the already rich and put their own emission reduction targets on the
table. In 2011, this arrangement was cemented. The Durban CoP agreed
that the world would work to finalise a new agreement by 2015. This deal
would require the “highest possible mitigation efforts by all Parties”.
The only sweetener was the hard fought phrase that the agreement would
be under the “Convention”, which, in turn, is based on the principle of
equity.
But in the 2013 CoP at Warsaw it was agreed that “all” countries would
submit their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) by
early 2015. In other words, now there is no agreement which specifies
the target for each country based on its past contribution. Countries do
not put forward their emissions reduction targets based on common but
differentiated responsibility.
It is, however, argued (by top US negotiators) that the deal is based on
equity. This is because each country is free to decide domestic targets,
keeping in mind its contribution to the problem and its capacity to act.
Ingenious indeed. The game is, however, not over. The next step is to
put INDC together and to see how the aggregate of “all” adds to the
magic number needed to keep the temperature rise below 2°C, the
guardrail of devastating change. It is taken for granted that the sum of
all will be way below what is needed. Now the real question kicks in:
how to estimate the past, present and future emissions contribution of
each country to decide who will reduce how much emissions?
In Warsaw 2013, the African Group proposed an equity reference
framework, which has different indicators of development and capability
to assess what each country should do. India stridently opposed this. No
doubt, the African proposal has flaws, but our government has to put
forward a counter-proposal on how to operationalise equity. Otherwise,
equity is only for blocking consensus; empty word being banged in noisy
pans.
If we take climate change seriously, we will argue for an ambitious
agreement based on equity because that’s the only way it can be
effective. This is the last chance to get it right. The chips are
already down and the die will be cast by the time of the Paris meet in 2015.
- Follow Sunita Narain on Twitter at: @sunitanar
- To post your comments on this editorial online, please visit:
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- To share this editorial, please click on the following:
facebook: http://bit.ly/1yHhwsq
twitter: http://bit.ly/1y1C4vF
google+: http://bit.ly/1x5lmgu
==============================
MORE FROM DOWN TO EARTH PRINT
==============================
- Tribunal on trial
A review of the National Green Tribunal after three-and-half years of
its existence
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Model in a fix
Chhattisgarh's much appreciated public distribution scheme is falling
apart due to corruption and mismanagement
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Missing evidence
Questions are being raised about the authenticity of forensic samples of
Bhopal gas victims, crucial for establishing the cause of deaths. Have
they been lost?
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Shit, it's profitable
Bengaluru farmers have revived the practice of using human excreta as
manure. This has created an informal economy that is benefiting many
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Out of favour
Focus on Alphonso has resulted in neglect of native mango varieties
grown in the Western Ghats, some of which are on the brink of extinction
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Keep the sunny side up
A list of solar-powered consumer products that one could opt for
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Search for a good hearth
Cook stoves are becoming fuel efficient, but not improving the air quality
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Invasion triggers evolution
New study on lizards points to how evolutionary changes happen
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
========================
DTE EXCLUSIVE ON THE WEB
========================
- 26th meeting of parties to Montreal Protocol gets underway in Paris
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
Watch out on www.downtoearth.org.in for updates from the CSE team in Paris
- WHO sets emissions standards for reducing indoor air pollution
4.3 million global premature deaths around each year attributed to
illnesses caused by household air pollution
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- World’s two biggest polluters -- China and the US -- strike deal to
cut carbon emissions
CSE warns the deal will push the world to catastrophic increase in
average global temperature
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- DTE survey: Which is the cleanest city in India?
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Blog: The curious case of Delhi’s proposed tunnels
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Blog: What happens to the irrigation scam now, Mr Fadnavis?
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
Follow Down to Earth:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/@
To subscribe to the Down To Earth newsletter, visit
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
==============================
ON THE INDIA ENVIRONMENT PORTAL
==============================
- Interactives/Infographics
Top green start-ups of 2014
http://www.
India Environment Portal Weekly Newsletter brings you the top
environment developments, studies, reports, conflicts
http://www.
Sign-up and get connected with the India Environment Portal. Subscribe
for alerts and services.
Follow the India Environment Portal
- On Facebook http://on.fb.me/1jxAdYQ
- On Twitter http://bit.ly/1hNlYi6
- On Youtube http://bit.ly/18NF2Xg
For more details or any assistance, contact Kiran Pandey at
kiran@cseindia.org, kirandwi@gmail.com
==============================
UPDATES FROM OUR PROGRAMME UNITS
==============================
- 'Diesel at crossroads: Charting the roadmap for co-benefits of health
and climate mitigation' CSE side event at Integrated Conference of BAQ
2014 and 8th Intergovernmental EST Forum in Asia Colombo, Sri Lanka
November 20, 2014
Contacts: Ruchita Bansal, CSE (ruchita@cseindia.org); Chee Anne Roño,
ritchie.rono@cleanairasia.org, 72-3084918
- Media Briefing: Controlling air pollution through fiscal measures
(taxes and pricing)
Date: November 28, 2014; Place: New Delhi
Contact person: Souparno Banerjee, 9910864339, souparno@cseindia.org
For details, please visit:
http://www.cseindia.org/
- Commemorating the 30th anniversary of Bhopal
Panel discussion and book release
Date: December 1, 2014; Place: New Delhi
Contact person: Amit Khurana, k_amit@cseindia.org
- Fifth National Research Conference on Climate Change
Jointly organised by CSE, IIT-Delhi, IIT-Madras, and Indian Institute of
Science, Bangalore
Dates: December 19-20, 2014; Place: New Delhi
Contact person: Arjuna Srinidhi, arjuna@cseindia.org
For details, please visit:
http://www.cseindia.org/
=================
LEARNING WITH CSE
=================
Courses offered by Anil Agarwal Green College
- One Week Advanced Training Program on Pollution Monitoring Techniques
and Instrumentation
Date: November 17 – 21, 2014
Contact person: Ramakant Sahu, ramakant@cseindia.org
For details, please visit:
http://www.cseindia.org/
- Capacity building on E-waste and E-waste Rules
Date: November 18-20, 2014 and December 17-19, 2014
Contact person: Rahul Kumar, s_rahul@cseindia.org
For details, please visit:
http://www.cseindia.org/
- E-Outreach : New media technologies for advocacy and strategic
communication
Date: November 20-21, 2014
Contact person: Kiran Pandey, kirandwi@gmail.com, kiran@cseindia.org
For details, please visit:
http://www.cseindia.org/
- Septage Management: Towards City Wide Sanitation
Date: November 24-26, 2014
Contact person: Uday Bhonde, uday@cseindia.org
For details please visit:
http://www.cseindia.org/
- Training Programme on Urban and Industrial Wastewater Treatment
Date: November 24-28, 2014
Contact person: Swati Singh Sambyal, swati@cseindia.org
For details, please visit
http://www.cseindia.org/
For a complete listing, please visit our website: http://www.cseindia.org/
=============
THE CSE STORE
=============
New books on the anvil
- On Bhopal
- On adapting to climate change
(Titles to be announced soon)
Pre-publication booking for State of Environment 2015 report
The report, backed by our over two decades of researching environment
and development, is emerging as India's most credible annual statement
on key issues like water, land, climate change, agriculture and
urbanisation. It will be out in January 2015.
For fabulous early bird special prices and package deals, contact
Ramachandran at rchandran@cseindia.org, Mobile: 91-9810641996
==================
About this e-mail
==================
You are receiving this newsletter because you have asked to be included
in our list, attended a CSE event or requested information.
CSE is an independent public interest organisation established in 1982
by Anil Agarwal, a pioneer of India's environmental movement. CSE's
mandate is to research, communicate and promote sustainable development with equity, participation and democracy.CSE's Fortnightly News Bulletin (November 18, 2014)
==============================
Things are hotting up, as they usually do this time of the year.
Figuratively, of course. Last week, two of the world's biggest polluters
-- the US and China -- shook hands on a bilateral deal to cut greenhouse
gas emissions which was touted as 'historic' and 'ambitious'. On closer
scrutiny, it proves to have been neither -- rather, a CSE analysis finds
it to be a flagrantly self-serving deal which actually might take us on
a catastrophic temperature increase pathway. This week, parties to
Montreal Protocol are meeting in Paris to debate on the future of HFCs,
and CSE is organising a side event at the conference to push for use of
climate-friendly gases. And in the first week of December comes the
annual Conference of Parties -- the 20th CoP on climate change,
scheduled to be held in Lima, Peru. The importance of this relatively
'low key' CoP lies in the fact that it is the stepping stone to the far
more significant conference next year in Paris. As Sunita Narain rightly
points out in her editorial, Lima probably offers us our last chance to
move towards getting an effective climate deal based on equity.
- To unsubscribe from this newsletter:
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Sender's List. Gmail users, kindly drag our email to the primary folder
- To subscribe to this newsletter, or any of our other newsletters:
http://cseindia.my2.in/
- For queries and suggestions related to the newsletter, please contact:
Vikas Khanna, vikas@cseindia.org
===========================
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS FORTNIGHT
===========================
- Editorial by Sunita Narain: Last call to get the climate deal right --
countdown to the next Conference of Parties (CoP) in Lima, Peru
- Cover story: Tribunal on trial -- a review of the National Green Tribunal
- Special report: Missing evidence -- Whiff of a scam in Bhopal, as the city gears up for the 30th anniversary of its worst tragedy
- DTE on the Web: Montreal Protocol meeting opens in Paris, CSE to host
a side event
- DTE on the Web: World’s two biggest polluters strike a deal to cut carbon emissions
- Event in the pipeline: CSE side event at Asian air quality meet in Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Event in the pipeline: CSE to mark Bhopal gas tragedy anniversary with the release of its book on Bhopal on December 1
=========
EDITORIAL
=========
Last call to get climate deal right
By Sunita Narain
The Indian government must not use “equity” to block climate change
negotiations. It must be proactive on equity and put forward a position
on how to operationalise the sharing of the carbon budget—accounting for
countries’ contribution to past emissions and allocating future space—in
climate talks.
I wrote this last year when the UPA government was in power. I am
repeating this as the NDA government prepares for the next conference of
parties (CoP) to be held in December in Peru.
Equity is a pre-requisite for an effective agreement on climate change.
In the early 1990s, as the negotiations began, Anil Agarwal,
environmentalist and director of the Centre for Science and Environment,
and I put forward the argument that since the atmosphere is a global
common, we need equal entitlements to the space. We argued the only way countries would commit to reducing emissions—connected to economic growth—would be if there were limits for all, based on contribution to the creation of the problem.
The 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is built on this
premise—the group of countries (Annex 1) responsible for creating the
problem must create space for the rest to grow. But since the objective
is to have a different growth pattern to avoid emissions of long-life
carbon dioxide, developing countries would get money and technology.
The current situation is very different. Countries which were required
to cut emissions did not do so at the scale or pace needed. The US
“peaked” its emissions in 2012. The situation is worse if the accounting
for emissions is done on the basis of consumption and not production. In
that case developed countries increased their emissions in this period
because all they did was to export manufacturing to other parts of the
world.
So the rich did not reduce emissions, while the rest of the world
increased. While in 1992, Annex 1 countries contributed some 70 per cent
of the emissions, by 2014, they are down to 40 per cent. The space is
filled and now there is little left for future growth of all. This is
where climate change negotiations are stuck.
The old rich want the differentiation between the past polluters and the
current and future ones to go. They say we should forget the historical
contribution and divide the carbon cake afresh. They remind developing
countries that the present is different—China, for instance, has
overtaken the US as the world’s largest contributor on an annual basis.
But they forget conveniently that on a per capita basis there is still a
vast difference between the US and China.
The “firewall” between Annex 1 and the rest, as called by US
negotiators, was first breached at the 2009 Copenhagen conference when
countries like India agreed not to discuss the historical contribution
of the already rich and put their own emission reduction targets on the
table. In 2011, this arrangement was cemented. The Durban CoP agreed
that the world would work to finalise a new agreement by 2015. This deal
would require the “highest possible mitigation efforts by all Parties”.
The only sweetener was the hard fought phrase that the agreement would
be under the “Convention”, which, in turn, is based on the principle of
equity.
But in the 2013 CoP at Warsaw it was agreed that “all” countries would
submit their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) by
early 2015. In other words, now there is no agreement which specifies
the target for each country based on its past contribution. Countries do
not put forward their emissions reduction targets based on common but
differentiated responsibility.
It is, however, argued (by top US negotiators) that the deal is based on
equity. This is because each country is free to decide domestic targets,
keeping in mind its contribution to the problem and its capacity to act.
Ingenious indeed. The game is, however, not over. The next step is to
put INDC together and to see how the aggregate of “all” adds to the
magic number needed to keep the temperature rise below 2°C, the
guardrail of devastating change. It is taken for granted that the sum of
all will be way below what is needed. Now the real question kicks in:
how to estimate the past, present and future emissions contribution of
each country to decide who will reduce how much emissions?
In Warsaw 2013, the African Group proposed an equity reference
framework, which has different indicators of development and capability
to assess what each country should do. India stridently opposed this. No
doubt, the African proposal has flaws, but our government has to put
forward a counter-proposal on how to operationalise equity. Otherwise,
equity is only for blocking consensus; empty word being banged in noisy
pans.
If we take climate change seriously, we will argue for an ambitious
agreement based on equity because that’s the only way it can be
effective. This is the last chance to get it right. The chips are
already down and the die will be cast by the time of the Paris meet in 2015.
- Follow Sunita Narain on Twitter at: @sunitanar
- To post your comments on this editorial online, please visit:
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- To share this editorial, please click on the following:
facebook: http://bit.ly/1yHhwsq
twitter: http://bit.ly/1y1C4vF
google+: http://bit.ly/1x5lmgu
==============================
MORE FROM DOWN TO EARTH PRINT
==============================
- Tribunal on trial
A review of the National Green Tribunal after three-and-half years of
its existence
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Model in a fix
Chhattisgarh's much appreciated public distribution scheme is falling
apart due to corruption and mismanagement
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Missing evidence
Questions are being raised about the authenticity of forensic samples of
Bhopal gas victims, crucial for establishing the cause of deaths. Have
they been lost?
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Shit, it's profitable
Bengaluru farmers have revived the practice of using human excreta as
manure. This has created an informal economy that is benefiting many
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Out of favour
Focus on Alphonso has resulted in neglect of native mango varieties
grown in the Western Ghats, some of which are on the brink of extinction
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Keep the sunny side up
A list of solar-powered consumer products that one could opt for
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Search for a good hearth
Cook stoves are becoming fuel efficient, but not improving the air quality
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Invasion triggers evolution
New study on lizards points to how evolutionary changes happen
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
========================
DTE EXCLUSIVE ON THE WEB
========================
- 26th meeting of parties to Montreal Protocol gets underway in Paris
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
Watch out on www.downtoearth.org.in for updates from the CSE team in Paris
- WHO sets emissions standards for reducing indoor air pollution
4.3 million global premature deaths around each year attributed to
illnesses caused by household air pollution
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- World’s two biggest polluters -- China and the US -- strike deal to
cut carbon emissions
CSE warns the deal will push the world to catastrophic increase in
average global temperature
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- DTE survey: Which is the cleanest city in India?
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Blog: The curious case of Delhi’s proposed tunnels
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
- Blog: What happens to the irrigation scam now, Mr Fadnavis?
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
Follow Down to Earth:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/@
To subscribe to the Down To Earth newsletter, visit
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/
==============================
ON THE INDIA ENVIRONMENT PORTAL
==============================
- Interactives/Infographics
Top green start-ups of 2014
http://www.
India Environment Portal Weekly Newsletter brings you the top
environment developments, studies, reports, conflicts
http://www.
Sign-up and get connected with the India Environment Portal. Subscribe
for alerts and services.
Follow the India Environment Portal
- On Facebook http://on.fb.me/1jxAdYQ
- On Twitter http://bit.ly/1hNlYi6
- On Youtube http://bit.ly/18NF2Xg
For more details or any assistance, contact Kiran Pandey at
kiran@cseindia.org, kirandwi@gmail.com
==============================
UPDATES FROM OUR PROGRAMME UNITS
==============================
- 'Diesel at crossroads: Charting the roadmap for co-benefits of health
and climate mitigation' CSE side event at Integrated Conference of BAQ
2014 and 8th Intergovernmental EST Forum in Asia Colombo, Sri Lanka
November 20, 2014
Contacts: Ruchita Bansal, CSE (ruchita@cseindia.org); Chee Anne Roño,
ritchie.rono@cleanairasia.org, 72-3084918
- Media Briefing: Controlling air pollution through fiscal measures
(taxes and pricing)
Date: November 28, 2014; Place: New Delhi
Contact person: Souparno Banerjee, 9910864339, souparno@cseindia.org
For details, please visit:
http://www.cseindia.org/
- Commemorating the 30th anniversary of Bhopal
Panel discussion and book release
Date: December 1, 2014; Place: New Delhi
Contact person: Amit Khurana, k_amit@cseindia.org
- Fifth National Research Conference on Climate Change
Jointly organised by CSE, IIT-Delhi, IIT-Madras, and Indian Institute of
Science, Bangalore
Dates: December 19-20, 2014; Place: New Delhi
Contact person: Arjuna Srinidhi, arjuna@cseindia.org
For details, please visit:
http://www.cseindia.org/
=================
LEARNING WITH CSE
=================
Courses offered by Anil Agarwal Green College
- One Week Advanced Training Program on Pollution Monitoring Techniques
and Instrumentation
Date: November 17 – 21, 2014
Contact person: Ramakant Sahu, ramakant@cseindia.org
For details, please visit:
http://www.cseindia.org/
- Capacity building on E-waste and E-waste Rules
Date: November 18-20, 2014 and December 17-19, 2014
Contact person: Rahul Kumar, s_rahul@cseindia.org
For details, please visit:
http://www.cseindia.org/
- E-Outreach : New media technologies for advocacy and strategic
communication
Date: November 20-21, 2014
Contact person: Kiran Pandey, kirandwi@gmail.com, kiran@cseindia.org
For details, please visit:
http://www.cseindia.org/
- Septage Management: Towards City Wide Sanitation
Date: November 24-26, 2014
Contact person: Uday Bhonde, uday@cseindia.org
For details please visit:
http://www.cseindia.org/
- Training Programme on Urban and Industrial Wastewater Treatment
Date: November 24-28, 2014
Contact person: Swati Singh Sambyal, swati@cseindia.org
For details, please visit
http://www.cseindia.org/
For a complete listing, please visit our website: http://www.cseindia.org/
=============
THE CSE STORE
=============
New books on the anvil
- On Bhopal
- On adapting to climate change
(Titles to be announced soon)
Pre-publication booking for State of Environment 2015 report
The report, backed by our over two decades of researching environment
and development, is emerging as India's most credible annual statement
on key issues like water, land, climate change, agriculture and
urbanisation. It will be out in January 2015.