The shape of climate justice in a warming India

Source: This post has been created based on the article “The shape of climate justice in a warming India” published in The Hindu on 20^th October 2023.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 Environment — Conservation, Environmental pollution and degradation.
GS Paper 3 Indian Economy — Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

News: This article discusses the importance of taking into account and mitigating the rise in inequalities as a consequence of energy-transition policies for combating climate change.

What should be the ideals for a just energy-transition?

Any energy transition initiative must embrace two ideals:

First, those who emit greenhouse gases should pay the social and environmental costs.

Second, climate justice requires compensation for those who are harmed. The richer countries or richer classes within a country should pay for the energy transition.

What are the issues with India’s policy of energy transition?

India’s stance has largely been framed through the lens of foreign policy and its approach to common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) in international negotiations.

However, given the country’s historically lower emissions, focusing on economic growth has taken precedence over climate concerns.

Such an approach leads to a lack of climate justice within India, particularly its effect on inequality across class, caste and region.

Societal responses which are necessary to address climate change (such as public action and state capacity) are slowed down in more unequal settings. Given its highly unequal economic structure, India is vulnerable to it.

Recognising and mitigating the barriers that this inequality poses to effective climate action is a critical step toward a more sustainable and just future.

What is the state of inequality with respect to climate change?

1) Effect on the poor: Climate change and energy transition disproportionately affect the poor.

2) Effect on agrarian communities: The climate-induced variations in rainfall, temperature and extreme climate events directly impact agricultural productivity, compounding farmers’ income loss.

3) Effect on fishing communities: Rising temperature in the ocean ecosystem has already led to a decrease in fish stocks in parts of the country, hurting fishing communities.

What is the status of India’s energy consumption?

Source-wise: As of 2021, coal was the major contributor to the total energy supply in India (56.1%), followed by crude oil (33.4%).

Sector-wise: The industrial sector was the largest consumer of energy, using more than half, i.e., 51% of the total final energy consumption, followed by transport (11%), residential (10%), and agriculture (3.6%) sectors.

India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) aim to ensure that 40% of the total installed power generation capacity is clean energy.

India has pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.

What are the various types of inequalities that may be intensified due to energy-transition policies?

1) Socio-economic inequalities:

The renewable sector requires higher skill sets but generates a lower number of jobs compared to fossil fuel industries.

Many fossil fuel firms are in the public sector and act as a critical avenue for creating job opportunities for Dalits and the lower castes in India.

A shift to renewable energy can potentially slow down generational mobility achieved by these disadvantaged groups.

2) Regional inequalities:

For instance, regions that are heavily reliant on coal production often struggle with pollution, poverty, and low-quality employment.

Coal, the cheapest source of energy, is in the poorer regions in eastern and central India while renewable energy hubs, powered by wind and solar photovoltaics (PV) technologies, are in the relatively wealthy southern and western India.

What should be done?

1) India’s energy transition strategy must pay attention to regional inequalities.

2) Transfer of funds to States dependent on coal, and carving out State-specific programmes for reskilling development and local rehabilitation should be undertaken.

3) Strategies must target inequality reduction and green investment simultaneously.

4) Policy alignment and cooperation should be achieved across the levels of government.

5) A deliberate focus on protecting livelihoods, offering alternative job opportunities, and ensuring that vulnerable communities are not adversely impacted.