[Reader-list] Climate policy dictated by the West, says Bidwai

[T Peter]

Climate policy dictated by the West, says Bidwai

http://www.thehindu.com/2010/05/23/stories/2010052361800300.htm

Special Correspondent

‘Western development model worsening climate change'

Thiruvananthapuram: The Union government's climate policy is based on
pressure exerted by the western countries and not in response to the
threat faced from climate change by vulnerable sections in the
country, Praful Bidwai, columnist, said here on Saturday.

Addressing a seminar on “Climate responsible development,” organised
by the Kerala Swathantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation (independent
fishing workers' federation), he said the climate summit at Copenhagen
was a betrayal of an earlier understanding between nations on
regulation of emissions. The Copenhagen agreement signed by the U.S.,
Brazil, South Africa, India and China was a disaster; it was the
worst-possible outcome.

“The summit came up with an annual commitment of 10 billion dollars to
combat climate change all over the world, against an estimated need of
1,000 billion dollars,” Mr. Bidwai said.

Owning up

He said fast-developing economies such as India, China and Brazil were
also contributing substantially to greenhouse gas emissions. These
countries had to accept responsibility and make commitments to undo
the environmental damage. But unfortunately, they were trying to ape
the western development model based on high consumption.

He said climate change was the greatest crisis facing mankind. “Rising
sea level, glacier melting, depletion of forests, extinction of
species, desertification, erratic monsoons, flooding, drought and
epidemics are leading to mass displacement of people. Climate-change
refugees are on the rise all over the world,” he said.

“While developed countries are responsible for 75 per cent of the
mess, 80 per cent of the affected people are in the developing world.”

Mr. Bidwai said the elitist-oriented development strategy adopted by
the Union government was posing obstacles to emission control and
making it difficult to combat climate change.

Half-hearted attempt

“India's climate policy is a half-hearted one framed by a cabal. The
Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change is dominated by Ministers,
bureaucrats and industrialists, most of them from Delhi and its
suburbs. There are no social scientists, independent scientists or
climatologists on the panel and only one NGO. The council is a joke,
it is an insult to the country,” he said.

Mr. Bidwai said a rational, equitable and reasonable climate policy
would emerge only if vulnerable sections and traditional communities
known for sustainable methods of livelihood were given proper
representation. He stressed the need for a people's movement to
pressure the government for such a policy.

T. Peter, president of the federation, presided over the function.