Warning on warming: On the UNEP report, Limiting Overshoot
India must shed its victim mindset while acting on climate change
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Context
A recent report, 'Limiting Overshoot', warns that current global climate pledges are insufficient, putting the world on track for a 1.8°C to 2.6°C temperature rise, breaching the crucial 1.5°C limit. The report introduces an 'overshoot, peak and decline' pathway and emphasizes tackling non-CO2 greenhouse gases like methane. The editorial highlights the tension between developed nations pushing for mitigation and developing nations like India, which emphasize historical responsibility and adaptation finance.
UPSC Perspectives
Environmental
The report highlights the stark reality of climate overshoot, where global average temperatures temporarily exceed the 1.5°C target set in the before eventually declining. This pathway is fraught with risks, as 'overshooting' can trigger irreversible tipping points, such as the collapse of ice sheets or large-scale die-offs of coral reefs, leading to permanent losses that adaptation cannot reverse. A key shift in focus is the emphasis on short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), particularly methane. Methane has a much higher Global Warming Potential (GWP) than CO2 over a 20-year period, meaning it traps significantly more heat in the short term. The aims to reduce these emissions, but India's absence underscores the complexities of balancing rapid mitigation with agricultural realities, as a significant portion of India's methane emissions comes from the agricultural sector (livestock and paddy cultivation). UPSC often focuses on the distinction between mitigation (reducing emissions) and adaptation (adjusting to impacts), and the role of different greenhouse gases in warming.
International Relations
The editorial exposes the fault lines in global climate governance, specifically the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) enshrined in the . Developing nations like India argue that developed countries, responsible for the vast majority of historical emissions, must take the lead in rapid mitigation and provide adequate climate finance and technology transfer. The tension arises when reports like 'Limiting Overshoot' focus heavily on immediate global mitigation (like the ) without equally emphasizing the need for robust adaptation finance from the Global North. This dynamic is a central theme in global negotiations leading up to events like . India's position is becoming increasingly complex; while it champions the cause of the Global South and emphasizes its low per-capita emissions, it is also facing pressure from smaller, highly vulnerable nations (like Nepal) who view large emerging economies as significant current emitters. This requires India to carefully balance its domestic developmental needs with its role as a responsible global actor in climate negotiations.
Governance
India's domestic climate policy architecture must evolve to address the 'overshoot' reality. While India has made significant strides in renewable energy capacity addition as part of its , the pressure is mounting to adopt more ambitious, cross-sectoral mitigation strategies. The hesitation to join the highlights the governance challenge of implementing emission reductions in sectors critical to food security and rural livelihoods, such as agriculture. India's strategy has traditionally focused on carbon intensity reduction rather than absolute emission caps, allowing for economic growth while transitioning to cleaner energy sources. However, the perception of India as a major emitter necessitates a more nuanced communication strategy and potentially a stronger domestic framework for monitoring and managing non-CO2 emissions, perhaps through enhanced implementation of policies like the . The UPSC examines how domestic policies align with international commitments and the socio-economic implications of these policies.