UPSC Mains 2022 GS Paper 2 Q20: model answer

At Copenhagen in 2009 India stood firmly with China, Brazil and South Africa (BASIC) against binding emission cuts for developing countries. At Glasgow in 2021 India announced a target of net zero by 2070. In between, India moved from defending its right to grow to leading solutions while still defending equity.

Earlier stance

• Common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) under the UNFCCC (1992) and the Kyoto Protocol (1997): rich countries cut, developing countries develop.
• Per-capita emissions argument; India's are well below the world average.

Paris and the solar turn

• Paris Agreement (2015): India's first NDC: 33–35% cut in emission intensity by 2030 and 40% non-fossil power capacity.
• International Solar Alliance (2015) with France, headquartered in Gurugram.

Glasgow and after

• Panchamrit (2021): net zero by 2070, 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030.
• Updated NDC (2022): 45% intensity cut and 50% non-fossil capacity by 2030; the capacity target was reached in 2025, five years early.
• LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) movement.
• Pushed for the loss and damage fund (COP27) and a larger finance goal; criticised the $300 billion target agreed at COP29 (2024) as inadequate.

New platforms

• Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (2019).
• Global Biofuels Alliance (G20, 2023) and the Green Hydrogen Mission.
• Leadership Group for Industry Transition with Sweden.

Geopolitical context

• Energy security: renewables reduce oil imports and exposure to West Asian wars.
• Supply chains: dependence on Chinese solar modules and batteries; PLI to build domestic capacity.
• Carbon border taxes: India opposes the EU's CBAM as unilateral; the 2026 India–EU FTA includes provisions for dialogue on it.
• Global South leadership: India argues for finance and technology transfer for developing countries.

Conclusion

India's climate policy has changed from refusal to responsibility, but on its own terms: ambitious at home, insistent on equity abroad. Clean energy is now as much about power and security as about climate.