Despite slowdown, Indias CO2 emissions rose in 2012

M. RAMESH
Coal-based power production accounted for almost 70 per cent of all of Indias carbon dioxide emissions and grew by about
13 per cent in 2012.

CHENNAI, NOV. 18:

Despite recording its lowest GDP growth 4 per cent in a decade in 2012, India belched 2 billion tonnes of carbon di-oxide into the
atmosphere during the year, 6.8 per cent more than in 2011. That level of greenhouse-gas emissions made India the fourth largest emitter last
year, after China, the US and the European Union (EU).
But dont feel bad yet. India simply has more people than the US and the EU, so the emission per person is neither too high nor
unpardonable. In fact, Indias per capita emissions were lower than even Chinas, despite the latter having more people, notes a report on
Trends in Global CO2 Emissions, 2013. The report was brought out by PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency.
The report, produced with the EU and made public recently, notes that the increase in emissions was primarily caused by a 10 per cent rise in
coal consumption.
Coal-based power production accounted for almost 70 per cent of all of Indias coal-related CO2emissions and grew by about 13 per cent in
2012, the highest annual growth ever, says the report.
GOOD NEWS GLOBALLY

The report points to a heartening trend in the global emissions scenario. In 2012, the world let out 34.5 billion tonnes of CO2, a gas that turns
into a shield in the upper atmosphere, preventing heat reflected by the earths surface from dissipating in space a phenomenon better
known as global warming. But the emissions were just 1.1 per cent higher than in 2011.
Moreover, the report found a disconnect between emissions and global economic growth and concluded that such decoupling points to a
shift towards less fossil-fuel intensive activities, more use of renewable energy and increased energy saving.
China accounted for 29 per cent of global emissions, but on a per capita basis, they were comparable to those of the EU and almost half as
much as the US. The US accounted for 16 per cent of emissions while the EU was responsible for 11 per cent. The low per capita emissions
in India and China are yet another data point for the developing countries to assert their rights on emissions.
A point that goes in favour of the US and the EU is that emissions from both regions decreased by 4 per cent and 1 per cent, respectively.
Chinas emissions increased at a slower rate of 3 per cent compared with 10 per cent over the last decade. Indias and Japans rose by 6.8 per
cent and 6 per cent, respectively.
While the report opens on a positive note with the point that global emissions grew only 1.1 per cent, it stresses that unless total
CO2 emissions between 2000 and 2050 do not exceed 1,000 to 1,500 billion tonnes, it would not be possible for the world to meet the target
of a not-more-than 2 degrees Celsius increase in global temperature over pre-industrial levels.
Against this, human beings have already let out 466 billion tonnes of the offensive gas between 2000 and 2012.
ramesh.m@thehindu.co.in
(This article was published on November 18, 2013)