Failure of Copenhagen & Obama-ism

Thanks to CNN-IBN for posting the 7 page pdf, actually it has a single cover page, 2.5 pages of text and 3 pages for empty wishlist.

The (by now) infamous paragraph of 2 degree temperature change, states that signatories "would enhance long-term cooperative action to combat climate change". What would you enhance upon my dear, you have not even met the kyoto accord?

No timeline mentioned in that para and no need for inspection regime.

Lets come down to the next paragraph, this talks about need to cut emissions to go to 50% percent. This is a reiteration but that point is used to side-step the peaking year issue.

Next paragraph talks about adapting to changed climate and developed nations would help without specifying any pledge.

I hate to say this document don't even qualify as a declaration.

We were one step up and this has taken two steps back.

Fossil fuel industry wins again, Obama is nothing but a show-boat.

Obama's actions have proved him to be as pro-oil as a Neo-con.

Who is affected by climate change in india

The elite is most environment insensitive in India. You need to explain to the commoner that what are the ill-effects of climate change. Frequent cyclones, irregular monsoon, crop failure, water scarcity, yield reduction these are common mans problem. The food price inflation is triggered in 2009 by climate change.

Media and commoners are thinking sea-rise will trigger a tsunami, but in reality it will get worse day by day and very slowly and without any drama.

Glaciers wont disappear overnight, some times won't even recede very dramatically, but a glacial lake burst can wipe out thousands in a day (very much like Bihar 2008 floods which was triggered by bursting of a dam).

The poor is being effected the most, while sick bureaucrats hassle over Intensity cut or per capita reduction.The people in Mumbai who are facing a tough time in getting tap water are direct victims of climate change. All fisherman who live by the vast coastline are being affected by climate change. And yes, all of you who find Pulses (Daal) costly are victims of climate change.

Indian Stand on Copenhapen summit

I have heard Mr. Jairam Ramesh at Loksabha on CNN-IBN. It's comforting to note that, he understands the upcoming problems. He has raised 4 important points in his speech (all of them are in my top 10 problem list) and he even sounded sincere.

But our agreed stand across political spectrum will not help India or the environment. Lets get our non-negotiable:

1. The treaty can not be "Legally binding". Why folks want a "legally binding" treaty because it has been a common experience that promises made earlier has rarely been kept. You might get 250 different excuses in every summit.

2. A carbon intensity cut of 20%-25% is not good enough, its emission / gdp as the good minister explained. Well if a country get higher Paper GDP (there are various instruments like ignoring inflation, boosting low-carbon-footprint & low-employment-intensive services etc etc), then you get a better carbon intensity score. Even if you fail the target, you can blame it on recession, downturn etc etc. As we know the present economic dream team is drooling over a foolish expectation of double digit growth in at least 7-8 times in next 11 years. In 2020 they will tell you, "Well, Ramesh you done exceeding well,but it is the economy that failed us".

My Dear Minister, Please understand ENVIRONMENT & NATURE does not give a damn about PER CAPITA OR GDP Figures. It works on simple laws of Physics (With out bothering whether you call it science or vigyan).

If we leave a healthy environment for next generation, they will be able to have a healthy economy anyway. Remember Economy & Society have a longer history than Economics. So don't let experts confuse you, do the right thing and revise your/our stand.