Climate Equity Monitor

Climate Equity Monitor

Part of: Prelims and GS III – Climate change 

Context India has officially endorsed a website, Climate Equity Monitor, made by Indian climate experts.

• The website lists the historical carbon dioxide emissions of developed countries.
• The website was conceptualised and developed by the Climate Change Group at the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Department at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, with other independent researchers.

Key takeaways 

• It is aimed at monitoring the performance of Annex-I Parties under the UNFCCC (developed countries) based on the “foundational principles” of the Climate Convention.
• It aims to highlight the disparity between the emissions of developed and developing countries.
• Countries such as the USA, Canada and Australia and those in Western Europe are shown as having a net carbon debt while developing countries such as India and China have net credit.
• It highlights that it is only fair that developed countries must commit to steeper targets towards curbing emissions than developing countries.
• Implications: 
  • Its focus on equity & climate action from a data and evidence-based perspective will encourage vigorous discussion on the crucial issue and engage experts from all nations.
  • The website shall debunk the narrative provided by many developed countries, and global NGOs that focus attention continually on what developing countries must do, constantly demanding greater commitment and action from them.

Status of India as Carbon emitter

• India is the third largest emitter of carbon emissions annually but the sixth largest when historical emissions are considered.
• When accounting for the size of its population it is among the lowest per capita emitters. 
  • This underlines India’s demands for climate justice being at the heart of negotiations at COP26 and its reluctance to agree to a fixed time frame.