Why did the South Australian government first decide to take action to address climate change?
“It’s pretty difficult for us to have moral suasion with other states and nations act if we’re not prepared to lead.” South Australia (SA) is the driest state on the driest continent on the planet. With the exception of some island states, we are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts. So it’s pretty difficult for us to have moral suasion with other states and nations act if we’re not prepared to lead.  When I was re-elected in 2006, as well as being Premier, I appointed myself as Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change – the first in Australia and maybe even internationally. So as a state of 1.6 million people (8 per cent of Australia’s population) – but covering an area of land nine times the size of England – we have an opportunity to demonstrate leadership that has an impact on others.

To what extent has action to reduce emissions in SA been spurred on by the climate change impacts the state has been experiencing in recent years?
Climate change is being felt right now in Southern Australia, particularly in the Murray Darling Basin. We’re in a perilous situation, with what the Murray Commission stated is a one-in-one thousand year drought, or one-in-one thousand year low in-flow, into the River Murray. We regard these impacts as a real and present threat.  When we were first elected six years ago there were no wind turbines operating in SA. We now have 53 per cent of wind power and about 40 per cent of solar power in Australia. We are also conducting exploration and development research into emissions-free geothermal energy, which we think has enormous potential for the future.

SA was the first state in the country to legislate climate change targets, through the Climate Change and Greenhouse Emissions Reduction Act 2007. What were the main challenges you faced in implementing this legislation?
Basically, we devised a plan to see where we wanted the state to be in 10 years time and how we were going to get there. We set numerous targets which were then enshrined in the legislation. In addition to the overall target relating to 2050, we also set interim goals for 2014. “We now have 53 per cent of wind power and about 40 per cent of solar power in Australia.” We legislated that by 2014, 20 per cent of power generated and consumed in SA would come from sustainable energy, such as wind and solar. 

Many critics said the 2014 target was unachievable – but I’m delighted to say that these targets will be reached in 2009, 5 years ahead of schedule. This puts us in an international leadership position. Even as a small jurisdiction we are leading by example and having a positive collateral impact on other states, cities and regions - as well as national jurisdictions.

The legislation has some ambitious targets - what are the main actions being taken by the state to achieve these goals?
We’ve done a suite of things. We introduced feed-in laws to stimulate greater uptake of solar energy; this came into force on July 1st. The Electricity (Feed-In Scheme-Solar Systems) Amendment Act 2008 is the first solar feed-in law in Australia that will pay a premium guaranteed tariff of AUS$0.44 per unit of electricity (kWh) to households and small customers who feed solar electricity into the grid. 

We have mandated that all new homes in SA will be 5* energy rated and come with plumbed rainwater tanks, solar hot water systems or equivalent for sustainable hot water.  The state government will only purchase, lease or rent government buildings if they are 5* energy rated.

As a big purchaser of energy, through buildings such as schools and hospitals, I recently announced that by 2014 50 per cent of the SA government’s own power will come from sustainable energy. At the beginning of 2009, we’ll also be getting our first electricity from hot rocks (geothermal) in a pilot plant.

“By 2020 SA will be the first carbon neutral government in the world.”As well as embracing sustainable energy, we’re also looking at offsets and reducing energy outputs. By 2020 SA will be the first carbon neutral government in the world. The cabinet is already carbon neutral - we offset our travel from planes and cars - but this will make the entire public service, all civil servants and government departments totally carbon neutral.

Our climate change legislation provides for sector agreements so that different industries can commit to our targets I recently signed an agreement with the South Australian wine industry, in order for it to reduce its carbon footprint.  We’re negotiating with other industry groups on similar agreements. And I’m really pleased that many local government councils have decided to match our target and purchase green power.

What role, if any, will SA’s targets play now that the federal government has committed to a 60 per cent target?
Since newly-elected Prime Minister Rudd signed the Kyoto Protocol last November, we’ve been leading the push for Australian emissions trading alongside a couple of other states. The federal government has now committed to join us in establishing an emissions trading scheme by the end of 2010.  Under the Council of Australian Governments which brings the Prime Minister together with the Premiers and Chief Ministers, we are working very collaboratively on this.

Your strategy was developed in collaboration with 600 stakeholders. How important is such collaboration is in addressing climate change?
I think it’s critically important to lead but it is just as important to bring people with you.

One of the things we did when first elected was to follow the advice of The °Climate Group’s Australian Board Vice-Chair, prominent Australian environmentalist, Tim Flannery, who was then the director of the South Australian museum. He recommended that I fund the installation of solar panels on the roof of the South Australian Museum and a number of other prominent buildings in the state. And now we’re set to announce the biggest solar roof in Australia. “I want to demonstrate that you can be pro-jobs, pro social justice and pro-environment - that those things aren’t mutually exclusive.”

We’ve got a massive development of wind farms and are introducing mini wind towers on the roofs of government buildings and football stadiums, as well as putting solar panels on the roofs of 250 schools and integrating what’s happening on the roof with the curriculum.

These sorts of things might be seen as symbolic but they’re also highly educational. Kids go to school and when they see how much solar power is being produced by the roof, and then see the same at the museum or the football, they go home and encourage their parents to install similar systems.

As well as being Premier, you are also Minister for Climate Change and as such you personally have been a very proactive leader on the issue. Do you think that your leadership has been central to raising the profile of climate change in the state? And how significant do you think top-level support for mitigation efforts is more generally?
Well, I hope so. That is why I took on the portfolio – it was a very unusual thing to do. I am also Minister for Economic Development and Social Inclusion. Through these roles I want to demonstrate that you can be pro-jobs, pro social justice and pro-environment – that those things aren’t mutually exclusive. 

Some of the things we’ve been doing in SA, including our solar feed-in laws and government purchases of renewable energy, are being taken up by other states in Australia and other jurisdictions internationally. We see ourselves as a bit of a laboratory for change. And I think that our leadership is paying dividends.  Ultimately, the good thing about being the Premier or the Prime Minister is that if you go into cabinet with an idea, it is likely to get adopted and supported. I have the strong support of my ministers and my party in making SA a world leader tackling climate change.
 
In the absence of national leadership the states worked together on developing an emissions trading scheme. How important was this in getting the issue taken up at a national level?
Critically important.  Under the Howard Government, the states and regions wanted to collaborate with the federal government, but the former Prime Minister was until the last moment a climate change denier, refusing to sign Kyoto.  So we went public in stating that if the federal - the former conservative Government of Australia - wasn’t prepared to establish an emission trading scheme then we, as states and territories, would act alone and commit to doing so by the end of 2010.  “The role of sub-national governments in tackling climate change could be critically important.”

I was the inaugural Chair for the Council for the Australian Federation of states and territories. We commissioned the Garnaut Report, which was released in July. We also commissioned a major discussion paper on setting up an emissions trading scheme.  And we’re delighted that we’ve now got a federal government whose first act was to sign Kyoto and is now collaborating with us to get a unified, national emissions trading scheme up and running. 

When I proposed a scheme with a couple of other Premiers, about two years ago, John Howard basically stated in Parliament that we would wreck the economy...what a difference an election makes.

Now that the federal government has committed to emissions trading and increasing the renewable energy target, what do you think the priorities should be for state governments when it comes to addressing climate change?
Both measures are priorities.  They have to be done concurrently - this is absolutely critically important. It can’t be seen as an either/or scenario.

What are your future plans for taking climate change abatement work forward?
We’ve only just announced that the government is going carbon neutral and the purchase of 50 per cent of government power from sustainable energy by 2014. Now what I am trying to do, through my role as the President of the Australian Labour Party, is to see if we can re-energise our party membership on climate change right across the nation. 

Senior sustainability experts from Xerox, Alcoa, National Grid, Coca-Cola Enterprises, DuPont, Stonyfield Farms, News Corporation, adidas, Pepsi, Caterpillar, and more are confirmed to present case studies on their company’s climate reduction strategies at this premier networking event for environmental management, sustainability and CSR professionals.

John Wells, CEO of Interface Americas, is presenting a keynote case study on his company’s goal to source all of its energy globally from renewable sources by 2020. “As green topics and issues have exploded, many companies are getting involved and are coming up with new and innovative ideas to use renewable energy and decrease their carbon emissions,” says Wells. “I’m looking forward to hearing more about some of these new strategies at Corporate Climate Response.”

Burt’s Bees CEO John Replogle is also speaking at this event and will discuss the complexities of building a sustainable supply chain. The company recently announced its goal to reduce its US Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 35 percent per dollar sales from 2006 to 2011.

Recent additions to the Corporate Climate Response agenda include Robert Meyers, Principal Deputy Assistant at EPA and Allison Hannon of The °Climate Group. Meyers will participate in a discussion on the outlook for national carbon trading in the US. With both presidential nominees supporting climate policy, it’s widely anticipated companies will soon be impacted by a national carbon capping system and this panel will provide the latest updates on how companies should prepare. Hannon will be presenting on managing carbon in China’s supply chains and the China Climate Change Training Initiative.

Corporate Climate Response is the must-attend event for those charged with developing corporate environmental strategies and their advisers. It provides practical advice and the latest updates on how companies are responding to climate change through corporate case studies and expert panels. Topics to be covered at this event include cutting absolute carbon emissions, supply chain efficiency, the role of clean technologies, water management, carbon offsetting and engaging employees on carbon reduction. 

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For more info, please contact
Victoria Adair
+44 207 801 6333
victoria.adair@greenpowerconferences.co.uk

China is already the world’s leading renewable energy producer* and is over-taking more developed economies in exploiting valuable economic opportunities, creating green-collar jobs and leading development of critical low carbon technologies, says a new report to be published by The Climate Group.

The report – China’s Clean Revolution - shows that China’s transition to a low carbon economy is well underway, led by supportive government policies which are not only driving innovation in low carbon technologies but also diverting billions of dollars of investment into energy efficiency and renewable energy.

The report reveals that the low carbon economy is just as attractive to developing nations like China, as it is for richer countries such as the UK, Japan and Germany.

China’s combination of cost advantages, a clear policy framework, a dynamic and entrepreneurial business environment and abundant abatement opportunities, is proving that developing nations have as much, if not more, to gain from investment in low carbon solutions creating green-collar jobs, social benefits and economic growth.

Despite its coal-dependent economy, the report reveals Chinese government and businesses have embarked on a Clean Revolution that has already made it a world leader in the manufacture of solar photo-voltaic technology (Solar PV) where its six biggest solar companies have a combined market value of over USD $15 billion.

China is also set to become the world’s leading manufacturer of wind turbines, with production capacity expected to reach 10GW per year by the end of 2009, and is competing aggressively in other low carbon markets including solar water heaters, energy efficient home appliances, and rechargeable batteries.

Steve Howard, CEO of The Climate Group says: “For too long, many governments, businesses and individuals have been wary of committing to action on climate change because they perceive that China – the world’s largest emitter – is doing little to address the issue. However, the reality is that China’s government is beginning to unleash a low carbon dragon which will power its future growth, development and energy security objectives.”

Changhua Wu, China Director, The Climate Group, says: “Far from ignoring climate change, Chinese leaders have already committed to improving energy efficiency and scaling up the growth of low carbon industries. China is beginning to pull its weight on climate change and the targets and policies in place are in line with those being taken by ‘leading’ countries like the UK and Germany.”

Investment in renewable energy in China - almost USD $12 billion in 2007 - is almost level with world leader Germany as a percentage of GDP. Stronger policies from the Chinese government are creating increased demand for low carbon investment and China will require a further USD $398 billion (USD $33billion per year) to meet its 2020 renewable energy goals.

Steve Howard says: “China’s current trajectory will ensure it remains a strategic global hub for low carbon investment, innovation and growth over coming decades.”

* In terms of installed renewable capacity, China leads the world, reaching 152 Gigawatts in 2007.
ENDS

• China has recently over-taken the US as the world’s leading emitter of greenhouse gas and will play a key role in solving the climate change challenge facing the world. China’s 1.3 billion population currently accounts for 24 per cent of total global emissions. Although China’s CO₂ per capita is still relatively low, should China’s citizens ever emit as much CO₂ per capita as Americans now are, China’s total emissions would be roughly equivalent to the entire planet today.

Often described as the factory of the world, 23 per cent of China’s CO₂ emissions were produced in the manufacture of products for export in 2004, mainly to the developed world. However, it is precisely its ability to manufacture technology in large volumes and at competitive prices that will enable it to dominate the world’s renewable technology market.

• China is already the leading renewable energy producer in the world in terms of installed generating capacity, with the largest hydro-electric fleet and fifth largest wind power fleet in the world. It plans to double the proportion of renewable energy to 15 per cent by 2020. China has seen investment of USD$12bn in renewable energy - more than than any other country in the world except Germany.

• China is already a leading manufacturer of solar photo-voltaic technology with 820 megawatts of production by the end of 2007, second only to Japan. Output of solar panels has doubled for each of the last four years. By 2009, China will also become the world’s leading manufacturer of wind turbines, with leading companies Goldwind and Sinovel branching into exports. It is also taking the lead in solar water heaters, energy efficient home appliances, and rechargeable batteries.

• China leads the world in low carbon transport. China is introducing fuel efficiency standards for cars which are 40 per cent higher than those in the US. 21 million electric bicycles and 1.64 million energy efficient compact cars were sold in 2007. China is the world’s third largest ethanol producer, and by converting an area of marginal land half the size of the UK, it plans to grow 12 million tonnes of low carbon fuel per year by 2020.

• China is making successful efforts in reducing energy intensity. China has targeted a 20 per cent reduction in energy intensity by 2010, on 2005 levels. Using high efficiency, super critical technology to replace small, inefficient coal plants, China has avoided CO₂ emissions of approximately 37.6 million tonnes a year (since 2007). China has set energy efficiency targets for its 1000 largest energy consuming companies.

• China has a strong and comprehensive low carbon policy framework in place. In addition to an over-arching 20 per cent energy intensity reduction target and a 15 per cent energy reduction target a comprehensive set of complementary regulations have been developed to cover almost every sector of China’s economy. These include fuel economy regulations, mandatory efficiency and labelling standards for home appliances, green car taxes, strict building efficiency design codes, and renewable subsidies.

• Chinese entrepreneurs are riding a low carbon wave of investment. A low carbon wave has swept up tens of thousands of Chinese companies and created some of China’s most successful business leaders. China’s six largest solar PV manufacturers had a market value of over USD$15bn in July 2008; the market for solar water heaters is worth over USD$2bn a year and is growing at 20 per cent; and the market for electric bicycles (e-bikes) is around USD$6bn.

• The report highlights the massive investment opportunity that will be created around China’s low carbon development. Returns on energy efficiency improvements often exceed 50 per cent per year, equivalent to a pay-back period of only two years. China is the second largest recipient of sustainable energy investment (USD$12bn) of any other country in the world except Germany. Taking advantage of international markets, China has already become the largest supplier of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) credits in the world which is now funding billions of dollars worth of carbon reductions. It is estimated that China will require a further USD $398bn (USD$33bn per year) to meet its 2020 renewable energy goals.

At the core of the Government’s strategy is an emissions trading scheme that should start in 2010. At least 70 per cent of the permits would be auctioned in the first years in order to create revenue to assist structural adjustment. Thirty percent of permits will be allocated for free to emissions-intensive trade-exposed activities, based on a simple formula that will take account of the extent of assistance required. No barriers will be imposed on who purchases permits.

The Green Paper maintains that Australia can maintain economic prosperity while making emissions cuts, and that implementing a trading scheme is necessary for maintaining competitive advantage. However, it makes clear that business that has not already factored in a carbon-constrained future will meet with limited sympathy – but early action will be rewarded. 

Supplementary measures will ease the transition, including support to low and middle-income households, design features such as banking and borrowing of permits, and specific industry support through two adjustment funds, the Climate Change Action Fund and the Electricity Sector Adjustment Scheme.

Like the Europeans, the Australians are keen to see a limit put on the amount of international offsets brought into the trading scheme in the first years. Over the longer term they are keen to see complete international linking of schemes and for now see the value of trading in Kyoto credits (CERs, ERUs, and RMUs). 

Ambitious timetable

The Green paper follows close on the heels of the much talked about Garnaut Climate Change Review. That draft review, which updates the influential Stern Review, paints an even more convincing argument for immediate and drastic action against climate change.  That the two reports came out so close together reveals both the Government’s desire to have the scheme set-up ahead of the Copenhapen COP and its close cooperation on Garnaut’s review.

The Australian scheme aims to inspire the confidence of the international community by getting the design right, and it has clearly built on the experience of others. It remains to be seen whether this design will survive until December when the White Paper is released - in particular, the 2010 start. However, the Government has already put in place a number of instruments and processes to assist in meeting the ambitious implementation timetable, such as the administrative foundation for the scheme, the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007, which came into force on the 1st of July this year.

The next day, a forum was held at Arup with UK climate leaders – James Cameron, Chris Mottershead, Shai Weiss, Peter Head - discussed the low carbon economy on a panel moderated by Steve Howard. Governor Crist addressed the group and spoke to the actions Florida is taking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and encourage green investment in Florida

The events took place as part of a series of meetings between representatives from leading Florida and UK businesses to identify low carbon opportunities and share best practices on tackling climate change.  The Climate Group’s US Southern Director, Susan Glickman worked closely with Enterprise Florida in planning the events.

In his speech, Governor Crist said, “The UK has shown extraordinary leader on climate change.  We understand the significance of our environment in Florida and how it relates to our economy.”

The °Climate Group works closely with the Florida government, which has signed up to The Climate Group’s States & Regions programme – a coalition of states and regions around the world working together on implementing pro-business climate policies to reduce emissions and create a low carbon economy.

Steve Howard, The Climate Group CEO, explained how the The Climate Group’s decision to open a US Southern region office in Florida had been influenced by Governor Crist’s leadership on climate change.  “He is great at engaging leaders in both parties and people across the state,” Howard said.

Auspoll findings released today indicate that 80 per cent of Australians are more willing to act on climate change if it is made easier and cheaper (with only 5 per cent not willing to act). Together partners are committed to delivering and promoting simple, practical solutions that will help people save energy, save money and save the planet. The aim of Together is to help every Australian reduce their carbon footprint by one tonne over the next three years.

In an unprecedented demonstration of support, retailers, banking, media and service sectors from across Australia - Westpac, Origin, NRMA Insurance, SGIO, SGIC, GE, Network Ten, Visy, Australia Post and Man Investments - have all united behind this initiative, with more brands set to join throughout 2008. The coalition also reaches beyond business with active support coming from The Brotherhood of St Lawrence, Sport 4 the Environment and ICLEI- Local Governments for Sustainability.

Together will promote simple products, services and initiatives that result in measurable CO2 savings and the campaign will clearly show how, together, all the small actions taken up by Australians make a big difference. The “Togetheriser”, an online aggregator at www.together.com, will tally the combined take-up of partner solutions, demonstrating actual CO₂ & money savings that the campaign delivers directly.

A new short film called ‘Together We Can’ was premiered at the launch event, which unites well known political figures, business leaders, celebrities and members of the public behind the simple environmental message - that it is only by working together that we can tackle climate change.

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair team up to lead a cast of campaign partner CEOs and celebrities in the new online film. The film also features international stars and celebrities including: AFL legend Ron Barassi, singer songwriter and activist Annie Lennox, comedian Peter Hellier and supermodel Claudia Schiffer. From today, the film can be viewed online at www.together.com and a number of other leading Australian websites.

Together is an initiative of The °Climate Group, a global, independent non-profit organisation dedicated to building public-private partnerships to find solutions to climate change. Together first launched in the UK in 2007 with the help of then Prime Minister Tony Blair. To date, Together solutions in the UK have helped consumers save over half a million tonnes of CO2 and over $200 million on household energy bills. Together was also launched in the US last month by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Rupert Posner, Australia Director of The Climate Group, said: “Climate change is a global issue that requires a global response. Following the success of Together in the UK and US, we’re thrilled to be bringing the campaign to Australia.”

“Today marks an unprecedented commitment from some of Australia’s favourite brands to provide their customers with easy ways to fight climate change. These companies have come up with new and innovative ways to make it easier to save energy, from lighting our homes and insuring cars, to greener energy tariffs and mortgages.”

“Australians are well aware of the need to address climate change, but we need to make it as easy and as motivating as possible.

“Together will go a long way to help everyone make positive decisions about how they can do their bit for the environment and demonstrate how their small actions add up to have a much bigger impact.

“If every Australian saves one tonne of CO₂ through the campaign this will cut our greenhouse emissions by 21 million tonnes, equivalent to annual the emissions of all the households in Sydney,” he added.

- Ends -

For further information, please contact:

Rupert Posner – Director Australia
The °Climate Group
Tel: +61 03 9617 4329

The leaders of the G8 – United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States – said they shared a “vision” of reducing emissions by “at least 50 per cent by 2050”.

G8 Leaders said in a joint statement that “common determination” would be necessary to reach this goal and stipulated that all major economies should commit to “meaningful mitigation actions to be bound in the international agreement to be negotiated by the end of 2009” when the UNFCCC meets in Copenhagen.  However, G8 countries pledged assistance to major developing economies in the form of technology, financing and capacity-building.

The “leadership role” of developed nations was recognised in the official statement released by the G8 today. In addition to the long-term vision, G8 leaders agreed that each of their countries “will implement ambitious economy-wide mid-term goals in order to achieve absolute emissions reductions” and recognised that “mid-term goals and national plans to achieve them” were also essential. The statement also said that developing economies such as India and China must play a part according to “common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities”.

Steve Howard, CEO, The Climate Group, said: “The G8 has helped send a signal that the major countries are serious about a global deal and about backing the roll out of energy efficiency and low carbon technology such as Carbon Capture and Storage.  Despite hoping for more, the level of G8 agreement this week exceeds our expectations. The challenge now is to build momentum for Copenhagen.”

The G8 communiqué is consistent with several recommendations made in Breaking The Climate Deadlock Report that was presented by Rt Hon Tony Blair to Prime Minister Fukuda, including: agreement on a 2050 goal of at least halving global emissions; the need for interim targets; the importance of developed country leadership accompanied by equitable contributions by developing countries; the need for high levels of financial support for developing countries for mitigation and adaptation; the role of carbon markets and the focus on energy efficiency and carbon capture and storage.

The °Climate Group also welcomed the joint statement by the leaders of the world’s major economies – The Declaration of Leaders Meeting of Major Economies on Energy Security and Climate Change – but was concerned by the lack of specific commitments contained in the text.

Steve Howard said: “Given the importance of all major economies in shaping a low carbon future, constructive engagement between all parties must continue around key ‘building blocks’ so that an effective global deal can be reached at the UN summit in Copenhagen.”

The °Climate Group organized its first Meeting of Indian Corporates this month, just four months after starting operations there.

Indian representatives of existing Climate Group members, including HSBC and News Corp’s Star TV, joined representatives from leading Indian companies such as Bajaj and Times of India.  Notable was the presence of some of the leading Financial Institutions (ICICI, Yes Bank), which increasingly show interest in developing products and services to enable emission reductions.

Indian firms are showing considerable appetite to learn more, and to learn fast, about the business opportunities in the low carbon economy. Some sectors in India - cement, for example - already lead in efficiency. As documentation and dissemination of best practice increases, their learning will encourage further sectoral actions and improvements.

There are extremely encouraging indications of climate leadership forming from across the Indian business community. Emerging sectors such as ICT and financial services in India are showing great interest in taking leadership on climate change. So too are the sectors that they service, including power where the potential for emissions reduction is huge. 

A further promising development: among the leading corporate houses with which The Climate Group is engaged are conglomerates of ‘diverse businesses’ (Automotive, Telecoms, Insurance, Real Estate, etc). The range of their interests allows tremendous scope for engagement across sectors whilst dealing with a sole business conglomerate.

The group that assembled for this first Meeting of Indian Corporates represents an early and extremely encouraging first step toward building and promoting strong climate leadership within India’s corporate community. 

What do you think is needed for a successful outcome at Copenhagen?  What key pieces need to come together for agreement?

The key pieces are spelt out in the Bali Action Plan itself.  We need to agree on a Long Term Vision and on practical steps to enhance the implementation of the 4 pillars of the Bali Action Plan.  These are mitigation, adaptation, supported by finance and technology, which must be part of a comprehensive package.  Furthermore, a successful outcome must be based on equity, as enshrined in the UNFCCC principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities and relative capabilities”.

“As India pursues sustainable development, its per capita GHG emissions will at no point exceed those of the developed countries”India’s per capita emissions fall well below the global average. What is the best way to create an international agreement that will enable India to decouple future economic growth from emissions growth?  What role will India play in reaching such an agreement? What role will the international community play?

The Prime Minister of India has already declared that as India pursues sustainable development, its per capita GHG emissions will at no point exceed those of the developed countries.  This is a major contribution by India to the global effort to deal with climate change.  It also reflects our view that eventually there has to be a global convergence of per capita GHG emissions.  This is the only equitable basis on which existing atmospheric space can be shared.  India’s position in this regard has drawn a positive response from countries like the UK, France and Germany.  We are prepared to work with the international community to give this convergence principle a practical shape.

To be successful, international negotiations must arrive at a climate agreement that is both effective and equitable. How can countries achieve similar effectiveness and equity within their internal climate policies and strategies?

“India recycles over 70 per cent of its waste, while this figure is only 30 per cent in the US and less than 50 per cent in Germany”All countries must pursue ecologically sustainable policies at home, though their circumstances may be different.  This means sustainable patterns of both production and consumption, including sustainable lifestyles.  For example, India recycles over 70 per cent of its waste, while this figure is only 30 per cent in the US and less than 50 per cent in Germany.  There must also be a recognition that there is a difference between what I would call lifestyle emissions and survival emissions and these cannot be equated.  If we provide basic energy services to the rural poor in India, that will inevitably result in higher emissions.  But this cannot be equated to higher emissions as a result of high speed limits, or no speed limits at all, on highways in Europe. 

How will India reconcile the need for both adaptation and mitigation?

“We believe that development is the best form of adaptation”When we talk of sustainable development, it implies both adaptation to climate change that has already taken place and is expected to take place in the foreseeable future.  It also includes mitigation through the adoption of a strategy that, over time, moves the country to a growth pattern progressively less reliant on fossil fuels.  We believe that development is the best form of adaptation.  It is only with higher incomes that it becomes possible to increase resilience to changes in climatic patterns and unexpected climatic events.  In agriculture, this includes the development of drought resistant crops, arid zone agricultural practices and shorter growth cycles.  Therefore, adaptation is being built into our overall development strategies.  This will go hand in hand with mitigation-related measures, such as the promotion of renewable energy sources and increased energy efficiency.

As a net importer of primary energy, how will India balance the dual imperatives of climate security and energy security?

In a world of rising prices of oil and natural gas, it is becoming increasingly apparent that if India does not wish energy to become a constraint on its ability to deliver high levels of growth, (which is also a must for successful adaptation), then it must make a deliberate and graduated shift to renewable energy.  In the meantime, it must conserve energy and increase efficiency in energy-intensive sectors.  Thus, promoting energy security will, as a consequence, deliver Climate Change benefits as well.  This is the strategy which underlies India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change due to be released shortly.

An international climate agreement could establish flows of funds to developing economies which would fast exceed ODA flows. What international institutions are needed to ensure these funds are effective, and that they reach the intended targets?

“Concessional lending under the World Bank, for example, cannot be a substitute for a financing mechanism under the UNFCCC itself”It is our view that these financing mechanisms are best placed within the multilateral UNFCCC regime, so that they are managed by the State Parties themselves.  This will ensure that the use of the funds is not donor-driven, reflecting the priorities of the developed countries alone.  The funds should be utilized in accordance with the priorities and requirements of the developing countries.  Concessional lending under the World Bank, for example, cannot be a substitute for a financing mechanism under the UNFCCC itself.

What big opportunities exist for India in the move to a low carbon economy?

Indian business and industry is already ahead of the curve in recognizing and exploiting the opportunities inherent in the shift to a more climate-friendly growth strategy.  India is one of the leaders in wind energy and there will be a renewed focus on solar energy applications in the Climate Change Plan.  Improving energy efficiency in energy intensive sectors such as power, steel and cement, offers major opportunities to Energy Service Companies.  An ADB Study has estimated the current market in India for ESCOs alone at about US $3.5 billion.