India Gets its Way at Rio, Can't Find its Way at Home

India has practically got its way at the Rio+20 Summit. As the leader of developing nations, it managed to get the rich nations to accept that developing nations' aspirations cannot be curbed by sharing the burden of historical environmental damage caused predominantly by industrialised countries.

India has also managed to get two crucial mechanisms, one on technology transfer and another on financing, accepted by world leaders. Once evolved it is expected to help developing countries access and finance new technologies that are under development in industrialised nations. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said there is little support to developing nations from rich countries to reduce energy intensity. Governments and private investors in the US and Europe have been pouring money into research and development, mainly into renewable and clean energy technologies.

In spite of India getting its way at the summit, it has done precious little at home to combat climate change and protecting its forests, water and land. A committee headed by Kirit Parikh was supposed to map the path to a low-carbon economy two years ago. After an interim report that did not have much more than a wish-list, the committee has disappeared from public memory. According to a member of the committee, however, many recommendations that it arrived at are being integrated into the 12th Plan document. The Plan is yet to be published.

India's Environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan Thursday said it was disappointed with the "weak" political will in developed countries to provide developing nations enhanced means of implementation of objectives of Green Economy, which will also be a "green-wash" if the process is not democratised, the Hindustan Times reported.

Yet, when it comes to affairs at home, Natarajan does not have much to show. In fact, the environment ministry tied itself up in knots recently when it secretly sought to bypass the National Board for Wild Life, an independent agency with external members, in determining forest land use. Forests are considered the most effective carbon sinks. The ministry's idea was to open up land in tiger reserves for mining. It stepped back after Tehelka exposed the move.

Similarly, The Economic Times newspaper says that green buildings could account for 20 per cent of all construction by 2030. That is an abysmal proportion and shows a rapidly urbanising India's shallow national ambition disproportionate to its lofty postures at international forums such as the Earth Summit. In comparison, the city-state of Singapore is targeting 80 per cent by 2030. The US, which was castigated for not signing the Kyoto protocol, is way ahead in investing in clean technologies and environmental friendly measures. It recently introduced new guidelines to encourage green buildings.

The benefits of incorporating features that save water and energy and reduce waste are well known. There are also enough commercially available technologies that help even existing buildings to become more eco-friendly. A UNEP report says that energy use in new and old buildings can be reduced by 30-50 per cent without significantly increasing costs.

India does have green building laws but they mostly remain on paper. Many of the country's cities such as Mumbai and Gurgaon are crumbling under the weight of increasing population and the demands that makes on the environment. Most of our cities are a mess because of lack of planning and official callousness. Gurgaon which is called the Millennium City is suffering from up to 10-hour blackouts and severe water shortages, mainly because of overdrawing of groundwater. The recently released United Nations World Water Development Report says India is the highest drawer of groundwater in the world.

India will need radical policies and strict implementation to combat climate change while maintaining growth to lift its millions out of poverty.

The Guardian newspaper of UK has a blow-by-blow commentary of what is happening at the Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro here. It has also put up copy of the final draft text here.

(Do listen to our podcast with Richenda Van Leeuwen, Executive Director, Energy Access at the Energy and Climate team for the UN Foundation)

The thoughts and opinions shared here are of the author.