Treatise 2010

The latest movie trade reports suggest the immense success of the movie ‘2012’which is placed in the backdrop of a possible holocaust leading to the end of the world. While the movie is appreciated by one and all globally, it is an irony that a similar impending doomsday is being created by our actions. And hitherto, we all have differing stances about the same. Are we not at the edge of the precipice, and if we are not, are we not sliding fast to be at the tipping point? And the baton of onus keeps changing hands; so does the role of the perpetrator and the defender in this vehement attack on our planet. The protocol, whether unanimous or fragmented, is just another excuse…
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The worldwide media attention received by the recent Copenhagen Climate Summit shows that climate talk has moved beyond mere symbolic rhetoric to assume more serious tones. While many had initially viewed the summit with renewed hope, the disappointing outcome showed how difficult it is to make those who want to maintain their standards of living and those who aspire for the same, see eye to eye. The BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) group made its stance clear – development and poverty eradication take priority over climate change (United Nations, 2009) despite global pressure. With the environment at jeopardy, isn’t India’s stance myopic? For instant gratification, has India put the future at peril?

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15 COPs, 17 years of climate talks and a new misaligned group formed each year, yet the heat is on and future looks gloomy. Are we awaiting a twister that shall sweep millions out of their homes like dust or build a home that can stand against these winds? India says ‘a brick at a time’.

The past – Rio convention, Kyoto and Bali, the current – Copenhagen or the future – Mexico – the drift between the developed and developing nations on climate continues to widen. During the U.N. climate summit in Bali, a delegate from Papua New Guinea, told the U.S. delegation: “We seek your leadership, but if for some reason you are not willing to lead, leave it to the rest of us.

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“…climate change negotiations have become less about fashioning a truly collaborative global response to a planetary challenge and more about safeguarding and promoting competitive economic interests.”
Shyam Saran – India’s special envoy on Climate Change

While prima-facie it appears that it is the west which is playing a high-handed role in deciding the rules of the game on the emissions turf, the emerging economies too have been acting evasively. When the engine of the world’s growth is the emerging economies, it is, perhaps, time they stopped acting as the deprived younger sibling.

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