India and Climate Change: Are We Fighting a Lost Battle?

Abstract

India is among the fastest growing economies and the third largest emitting country in the world but has always held the onus of climate change on developed countries for their historical emissions. It has been a global scenario of increasing intensities of flood and droughts, and increasing sea level, so it is high time that adaption measures to fight climate change is sought out. Since the Paris climate negotiations in 2015, India’s tone of dialogue has changed considerably. There are several policies being implemented in by the Government of India related to the climate change such as Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), Unnat Jyoti by Affordable Lighting for All (UJALA) etc whose implementation is tackling climate change in its own way. Climate change which was seen as threat in India is now being viewed as a business opportunity in the form of investment in renewable energy. Currently, the push towards renewable energy, with a focus on solar parks is being looked at, policy wise, as a measure to mitigate emissions.