The shape of climate justice in a warming India

Syllabus
Inclusive Growth,Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation  (GS 3)

Source
The Hindu,20/10/2023

Application:where to place?
When asked about:
– Climate justice – Challenges of climate justice – Disparities due to green energy transition.

Context
The G-20 summit in Delhi(2023) agreed to enhance renewable energy and energy efficiency, but failed to reach consensus on fossil fuel phase-out.


Content

  • The Delhi G-20 summit agreed on tripling renewable energy capacity and a voluntary doubling of the rate of energy efficiency improvement by 2030.
  • Any energy transition initiative must embrace two normative ideals: First, Internalizing cost requires those who emit greenhouse gases to pay the social and environmental costs.
  • Second, Climate justice requires compensation for those who are harmed. Often, those who contribute to climate change are not the ones who are affected by it.

Climate Justice

  • Climate Justice is a concept that links climate change and social justice.
  • It acknowledges that climate change affects some groups of people more than others, especially those who are poor or marginalized.
  • It demands solutions that address both the causes and the consequences of climate change, as well as the underlying issues of inequality and injustice.
  • A ‘just energy transition’ is a shift from fossil fuel-based economies to renewable energy-based systems that are fair and sustainable.
  • It  is not only about changing technology, but also the political and economic structures that shape our society.
  • A fair and just Energy transition aims to create employment opportunities in green sectors, protect the environment, and promote social justice.

Inequality matrix

  • The relationship between inequality and carbon emissions is very complex.Climate change and energy transition disproportionately affect the poor.
  • The climate-induced problems and droughts have compounded the agrarian crisis and allied economic activities.
  • Variations in rainfall, temperature and extreme climate events directly impact agricultural productivity, compounding farmers’ income loss.
  • Rising temperature in the ocean ecosystem has been squeezing fish stocks in parts of the country, hurting fishing communities.
  • Addressing both environmental and socio-economic inequalities simultaneously is essential for sustainable and equitable development.
    • Less equitable societies tend to have higher emission outputs per unit of economic activity.
  • Effective climate action requires recognising and mitigating the barriers posed by inequality matrices.

Greening development

  • India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) aim to ensure that 40% of the total installed power generation capacity is clean energy.

Also,the country has pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.

  • Coal is the major contributor to the total energy supply in India.
  • The industrial sector was the largest consumer of energy, using more than half, i.e., 51% of the total final energy consumption, followed by transport (11%), residential (10%), and agriculture (3.6%) sectors.
  • Manufacturing is far more energy- and carbon-intensive than agriculture and services.

How does transition to renewable energy exacerbate existing disparities in India?

Regional Disparities

  • Coal, the cheapest source of energy, is located in the poorer regions in eastern and central India. Eg:Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh
  • On the other hand , Renewable energy hubs, powered by wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies, are located in the relatively wealthy southern and western India.
  • These eastern and central regions that are heavily reliant on coal production may lose revenues and livelihoods due to sudden transition to renewable energy.
  • Moreover,The coal sector,owned by the public sector miners (85%), is the main source of revenue via taxes, royalties, and mining fees and employment for the State governments in Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh.An unprecedented transition to renewable energy can negatively affect the State Gross Domestic Product (SGDP) of these states.

Economic Disparities

  • Many fossil fuel firms are in the public sector and act as a critical avenue for creating job opportunities for the marginalized communities in India.A shift to renewable energy can potentially halt this generational mobility achieved by these disadvantaged groups.
  • Also ,the jobs created in the renewable energy sector are often highly skilled and require specialized training, which can lead to unequal access to employment opportunities.
  • The high cost of renewable energy technology can make it difficult for low-income households to access these resources.

Social Disparities

  • The transition to renewable energy requires substantial investments. This could make energy less affordable for marginalized women, who often have lower incomes.
  • The rich, who are better able to afford the initial costs of transitioning to renewable energy (such as installing solar panels), may benefit more from the transition. This could lead to an increase in wealth inequality and further accelerates social division.
  • The installation of large-scale renewable energy projects requires vast amounts of land. This can lead to land acquisition issues, which disproportionately affect marginalized communities.

Solutions

  • Transfer funds to States dependent on coal: Coal-dependent states in India, some of which are among the poorest, need financial support to remodel their economies and develop new industries. The funds from the centre could be used to invest in renewable energy projects, create jobs in the green sector, and provide social security for workers transitioning out of the coal industry.
  • State-specific programmes for reskilling and local rehabilitation:  These state specific  programmes could focus on training workers in the coal industry for jobs in the renewable energy sector, providing support for communities affected by the closure of coal mines and power plants, and investing in local infrastructure and services.
  • Green Investment: Green investment is crucial for ensuring an equitable and sustainable transition. It can create millions of jobs, enhance energy security, and tangibly reduce nationwide greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Green Federalism: Green federalism involves sharing responsibilities for environmental governance between different levels of government. In India, this could mean giving states more power and resources to implement their own renewable energy policies while ensuring that these policies align with national goals.This approach can help ensure that environmental policies are tailored to local conditions and needs

Govt initiatives

  • Tripling Renewable Energy Capacity: The G-20 summit held in Delhi agreed on tripling renewable energy capacity and a voluntary doubling of the rate of energy efficiency improvement by 2030.
  • National Green Hydrogen Mission: This initiative aims to use green hydrogen for energy storage, reducing dependency on fossil fuels.
  • Solar Cities and Parks: The government is actively pursuing the development of solar cities and parks.
  • Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: This scheme provides incentives for entities that set up manufacturing facilities for clean technology.
  • Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (SAUBHAGYA): This scheme aims to provide electricity to all households.
  • Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME): This initiative promotes the use of electric and hybrid vehicles.

Climate Injustice to developing countries

  • Unequal Burden: Developing countries, despite contributing the least to carbon emissions, are most affected by climate change. They bear the brunt of extreme weather events and changing climate patterns, impacting their economies and livelihoods.
  • NDC: Each country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement outlines its climate pledge. However, developing countries often struggle to meet these commitments due to lack of resources and technology.
  • Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR): The CBDR principle acknowledges that all states have a common duty to address climate change, but their responsibilities vary based on their national circumstances. However, this principle has not been effectively implemented by developed countries, leading to unequal burdens on developing countries.
  • Climate Finance: Climate finance is crucial for mitigation and adaptation actions. Yet, developing countries often face challenges in accessing these funds, making renewable energy investments unaffordable.
  • Clean Energy Transition: While transitioning to clean energy can mitigate climate change, it can also pose challenges for the poor in developing countries. Without affordable access to renewable energy projects, these countries often face high electricity costs and are locked into fossil fuel projects.

Conclusion

  • To achieve climate justice, we need to transform our systems of production and consumption, as well as our values and behaviors, to create a more sustainable and inclusive society.
  • We also need to support and empower the voices and actions of those who are most affected by climate change.
  • Implementing climate justice strategies will require strong political will, substantial investment, and close cooperation between different levels of government, as well as between the public and private sectors.
  • Climate justice is not only a vision, but also a responsibility.

Reference


Practice Question

Climate justice is a concept that recognises the unequal impacts of climate change on different sections of society and the need for addressing them in a fair and equitable manner. Discuss the challenges and opportunities for achieving climate justice in India with suitable examples

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