With COP26, the United Nations Climate Change
Conference, scheduled next week, leaders across the world are discussing ways
to cut down on emissions in order to thwart the worst outcomes of climate
change and move towards a sustainable future. One of the aspects of emission
reduction popular among nations of late is a promise of ‘net zero’. Different governments
have decided on different deadlines to achieve net zero emissions.

India, the world’s second-most populous country and
the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, however, seems to
have taken a different position. For the Indian government, rich countries need
to acknowledge their “historic responsibility” for emissions and protect the
developing nations and those vulnerable to climate change, says Bhupender
Yadav, Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

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India is among the very few nations who are on track
to achieving their targets for curbing planet-warming gases. However, a
UN-supported environmental assessment report indicates that India’s efforts
leave much to be desired and the country has “significant room” for more
ambitious goals, which it has yet to provide to the UN climate agency,
according to an Associated Press report.   

According to India’s environment minister, the country
has managed to reach its own climate targets without the promised financing
from developed countries. A finance ministry document released in 2019 shows
that the cost of meeting the requirements is estimated to be $2.5 trillion.
Even though India is currently among the top emitters of greenhouse gases, it
has historically contributed only 4% of the total emissions since 1850.

Rameshwar Prasad Gupta, India’s top environment
official, says “net zero in itself isn’t a solution”, since cumulative emissions
were the cause of the climate problem and countries need to focus on how much carbon
they put into the atmosphere while reaching that goal.

Developing nations need space to grow and assistance —
and without it, they are faced with a choice of compromising on development or
relying on dirty fuels, he said.

Talking about newer targets, Rameshwar Prasad Gupta, India’s
top environmental official, says that “all options are still on the table”.

This weekend, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will
be in Rome, Italy to partake in the G20 (Group of 20) Summit. Subsequently, he
will be attending the COP26 in Glasgow.

(With inputs from Associated Press)