India Promotes Solar But Refuses to Commit to Cutting CO2 Emissions

India’s new National Action Plan to address climate change focuses on shifting the coal-based economy to renewable energy but avoids any commitment to cut CO2 emissions. The plan emphasizes energy efficiency, solar development, water conservation, sustainable agriculture, and sustaining the Himalayan ecosystem. But Indian officials argue that since the nation’s per capita emissions are a fraction of those in developed countries — in 2004, 1.2 tons per person to the U.S.’s 20.6 — it should not have to limit its growth in order to control the production of greenhouse gases. As a developing country, India is not required to cut emissions under the Kyoto Protocol and continues to boost its CO2 production by 2 to 3 percent annually. “Our people have a right to economic and social development and to discard the ignominy of widespread poverty,” said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.