[Answered] “India has the potential to show the pathway to the world on accelerating action on climate change while pursuing its development interests.” Evaluate the statement in context of potential of India to emerge as a global leader in climate change efforts.

India is a global leader in the fight against climate change. In fact, India’s global leadership on climate action predates the adoption of the 2030 development agenda. India is not only a global leader in climate change mitigation but also a global leader from whom many countries can learn how to maintain balance between development and keeping environment safe and healthy.

India as a global leader in climate change efforts:

1. India’s initiative for Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure is a model and can help other countries in the development of appropriate infrastructure to face the least developed and developing countries with natural calamities.
2. Buildings contribute 30-40% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Smart Cities Mission focus on sustainability and climate resilience. In 2019, SCM launched the Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework, a first-of-its-kind public assessment framework on climate-relevant parameters. Thus India teach other countries through formulation of greener policies and projects.
3. India seeks to strike the perfect balance between growth and development. It simultaneously addresses social progress and environmental conservation. The achievements in the urban space not only reaffirm India’s stature as a global leader around the normative frameworks on sustainability, but also indicate that India is walking the talk on climate action and setting global benchmarks vis-a-vis climate resilience and green growth.
4. It’s per-capita emissions are amongst the lowest in the world despite being the third largest economy in the world. Thus Indian practices can teach a lot to the world about sustainable living.
5. India is a conscious aspirant. It has shown leadership in combating climate change and meeting the Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs), as is reflected in many of its developmental schemes.
6. India is one of the least wasteful economies. It has frequently been acknowledged by stakeholders for its cooperation and efforts to promote climate change mitigation, and environmental sustainability. This has been through policy measures, dialogue facilitation between nations, and taking decisive steps, especially after India emerged as a key player in shaping the Paris Agreement, along with adopting energy-efficiency measures.
7. Sustainability has always been a core component of Indian culture. Its philosophy and values have underscored a sustainable way of life. For example, the yogic principle of aparigraha, which is a virtue of being non-attached to materialistic possessions. Humans and nature share a harmonious relationship, which goes as far as a reverence for various flora and fauna. This has aided biodiversity conservation efforts.
8. Yoga and Ayurveda are perhaps among the most well-known ways of holistic Indian living. Sustainable and environmentally friendly practices and psyches still continue to be part of the lifestyle and culture. India should teach world about these practices.
9. Things which have absolutely no value, such as old newspapers and books, or utensils, can be easily sold off to a scrap dealers to be re-used or re-cycled. Bucket baths, sun- drying clothes, and hand-washing dishes are other widespread, sustainable practices. Culturally, there is also an aversion to wasting food. Rural communities, which constituted about 70% of the Indian population as of 2011, live close to nature and continue to live a simple and frugal lifestyle.
10. Countries can learn through various Indian programs like National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), International Solar Alliance (ISA), FAME Scheme for E-mobility, UJALA scheme etc.
11. India has emerged as a global leader in renewable energy, with investments in renewable energy topping fossil fuel investments. After adopting its National Electricity Plan (NEP) in 2018, India remains on track to overachieve its “2˚C compatible” rated Paris Agreement NDC climate action targets.
12. India’s INDC goals target to achieve 40% non-fossil-based power capacity by 2030 more than a decade earlier than targeted. Given these positive signals, there is significant potential for the incoming government to increase the ambition of India’s NDC to a 1.5˚C compatible rating.
13. India has recently banned complete use of single use plastic in various sectors and industries. This would pave a way not only to tackle air pollution but also would prevent climate change.

India and the world have a long and challenging way to go in dealing with environmental problems, and learning to live together in sustainable communities. We need to realize that development is more than economic, and sustainable development is a collective responsibility. As a global family and village, we should come together to learn from each other, and good lessons can be drawn and implemented from both ancient wisdom, and scientific fact. It can be seen that India is pushing hard not only to mitigate climate change but also to stop causes of climate change.