India Asks – Development or Climate Change?

By Narsi Santhanam • May 7th, 2009 • Category: Uncategorized

India rejected any cap on its development in the name of ‘climate change’, as it asserted that climate-change negotiations should consider overriding developmental objectives of Third World nations.

“We cannot accept a cap on our development,” Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Climate Change Issues Shyam Saran said in Washington, while proposing a collaborative approach to global-warming to achieve sustainable development with a long-range shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

Now, the strain has been fairly consistent and expected. Allow us to grow and develop, say countries such as India, and don’t bother too much about climate change, because it was created in the first place by you guys (rich countries).

Agreed. But it is also the time to think of sustainable development and not just development. I’m not saying that India can suddenly start producing 100% power from renewables. But let there be a statement of intent at least. Rather than saying climate change is as important to us as is development, it appears that India is saying, Look, we are glad to do something about climate change, but our development comes first.

This is a laughable position. What development are we talking about if our whole world is going to go to smithereens in a few decades from now?

Climate change might or might not be as dangerous as its proponents claim, but if we agree for a moment that it is, it has to of course come first before any development. Don’t you think so too?

Here’s another article dwelling on the same point

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Narasimhan (Narsi) has extensive experience in understanding renewable energy markets and strategic levers for success in these markets. His special focus has been his work on the Indian renewable energy industry. His work in the previous 15 years have spanned market and industry research, product management and international sales, and strategic consulting. see more http://www.eai.in/ref/team/ns.html

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