Focus on local means to reduce carbon emission

According to statistics, India’s carbon emission in 2011 was 1.97 giga tonnes, while that of China’s was 9.86 giga tonnes

While India is on the right path in reducing green house emissions, it should delink its international negotiations on the issue to suit the local scenario, said the managing director of U.S.-based think tank Brookings Institution, William Antholis, at a seminar here.

Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to use renewable energy in Gujarat during his tenure as Chief Minister, Mr. Antholis said India should increase ways to trap renewable energy sources.

Emission data

According to statistics, India’s carbon emission in 2011 was 1.97 giga tonnes, while that of China’s was 9.86 giga tonnes. Carbon emission of the European Union (EU) was 3.74 giga tonnes and that of the U.S.A. was 5.19 giga tonnes. Despite India’s low contribution in the global category, India’s population is a decisive factor in increasing carbon emissions in the future, Mr. Antholis said.

“While the population of the EU and the US is set to decrease, hence helping in reducing carbon emission, that of India is going to increase which is why the country has to take important decisions on how to reduce emissions,” he said.

Advantage India

Indian think tank and environmental activists, however, differ on this opinion. At a recent seminar in the city, former Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said India is at an advantage since the figures were drawn up based on per capita contribution.

“We have 16 per cent of the world’s population and contribute six per cent of the green house gas emissions. The US has about five per cent of the world’s population and contributes 16 per cent of emissions and China, with a population of 17 per cent, contributes 29 per cent of emission. On a per capita basis, India is at an advantage as whatever the country emits is distributed among millions of people,” Mr. Ramesh had said.

Quoting Tamil Nadu’s efforts on using wind and nuclear energy in the State, Mr. Antholis said many States were taking the right decision by tapping on renewable energy. “India is already on the playing field, it now depends on how India plays the game,” he added.