This essay will compare and contrast India and Pakistan’s climate change laws and policies of approximately the last decade regarding three kinds of targets that are attributed high weight in their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions: Greenhouse gas emission reduction, emission intensity and efficiency as well as renewable energy (RE).
This focus on mitigation efforts rather than adaptation efforts has been chosen since emerging economies are predicted to be “by far the most important source of future emission growth”. Linked to this, the two states’ main sources of emissions – their electricity and energy sectors – will be discussed throughout the essay. Overall, it is argued that despite similar starting points, India’s emission-related policies have grown more ambitious in recent years, compared to those of Pakistan – but both countries’ efforts still fall short of combatting climate change sufficiently.
Table of Contents
1. India and Pakistan within the global climate governance regime
2. Emission reduction targets
3. Emission intensity and efficiency targets
4. Renewable energy targets
5. Conclusion and outlook
Objectives and Topics
This paper aims to critically compare and contrast the climate change laws and policies of India and Pakistan, specifically focusing on mitigation strategies and national commitments defined in their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) over the last decade.
- Analysis of Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets
- Comparison of emission intensity and efficiency policies
- Evaluation of renewable energy transition strategies
- Assessment of the roles of electricity and energy sectors in national climate policies
Excerpt from the Book
Emission reduction targets
Firstly, it is revealing that India has not yet specified any direct emission reduction targets (GoI 2015). This can be considered comparatively unambitious, given that they are the only safe measure to prevent a more devastating CC. Certainly, India faces manifold other developmental challenges, as stressed in the INDC – but so does its neighbouring country, though to varying degrees. What is more, both countries share negligibly low historical emissions and equally low per capita emissions compared to major industrialised countries and China (e.g. Ritchie & Roser 2019).
This circumstance, however, distracts from India’s currently much higher share in global emissions compared to Pakistan (6.81% vs. 0.85%; Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment 2020a, 2020b). Arithmetically speaking, reduction targets by the biggest emitters such as India are the more important since they would translate into higher absolute emission reductions in the future. Such self-set obligations might seem more challenging for India than for Pakistan, considering that its population is six to seven times larger (CIA 2020a, 2020b), and that its steadily increasing energy demand is mostly driven by even higher population growth (World Economic Forum 2020). Nevertheless, one can argue that India “may not have a responsibility for climate, but as the third largest annual emitter it may have a responsibility to vulnerable populations to engage climate change.” (Dubash 2019, p. 3; italics in original)
Summary of Chapters
India and Pakistan within the global climate governance regime: This chapter contextualizes both nations within the UNFCCC framework, highlighting their status as Non-Annex I countries and their approach to the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR).
Emission reduction targets: This section examines the specific mitigation goals of India and Pakistan, noting India's lack of direct reduction targets and the questionable nature of Pakistan's conditional 20% emission reduction commitment.
Emission intensity and efficiency targets: This chapter analyzes the efficiency goals of both countries, noting that while India focuses on emission intensity per unit of GDP, Pakistan lacks such targets, and both face challenges regarding coal-dependency.
Renewable energy targets: This section details the renewable energy strategies of both states, observing that India has set quantitative targets while Pakistan lacks specific goals despite its significant renewable potential.
Conclusion and outlook: This final chapter synthesizes the comparison, concluding that while India has shown more ambition than Pakistan, both countries’ policies are currently insufficient to meet global climate goals.
Keywords
Climate Change, Mitigation, India, Pakistan, INDC, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Emission Intensity, Renewable Energy, Coal, Energy Policy, Paris Agreement, CBDR, Energy Poverty, Sustainability, Governance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research paper?
The paper provides a critical comparative analysis of climate change laws and policies in India and Pakistan, specifically examining their mitigation efforts over the last ten years.
What are the primary thematic areas covered in the work?
The research focuses on three central themes: greenhouse gas emission reduction, emission intensity and efficiency, and renewable energy targets within the electricity and energy sectors.
What is the primary objective of this comparative study?
The goal is to determine how both developing nations have framed their climate ambitions in their INDCs and to assess the effectiveness of their policies in addressing climate change.
Which scientific methodology is employed to conduct this comparison?
The paper utilizes a qualitative comparative policy analysis, evaluating national climate documents and commitments against international standards and socio-economic data.
What specific topics are addressed in the main body of the paper?
The main body discusses the global governance context, specific emission reduction commitments, the role of energy intensity, the expansion of renewable energy versus the reliance on coal, and the impact of national development plans.
Which key terms characterize the focus of the study?
The study is characterized by terms such as mitigation, INDC, climate governance, emission intensity, and energy transition.
How does the paper evaluate Pakistan's 20% emission reduction target?
The author characterizes the target as "lip service," noting that it is conditional on significant international financial support and lacks a clear past reference year, allowing for projected emission growth.
What is the role of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Pakistan's climate strategy?
The paper argues that despite some investments in solar energy, CPEC largely pushes Pakistan away from "climate compatible development" by heavily investing in new coal-fired power plants.
- Quote paper
- Max Schmidt (Author), 2020, India and Pakistan's mitigation laws and policies within the energy sector, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/978878
