UPSC Mains Daily Questions » Daily Answer Writing Challenge-30th September

Daily Answer Writing Challenge-30th September

Q1. The creation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was  significant and ahead of its time. Discuss its specific objectives and explain how it puts the  onus on the developed countries to lead the climate change initiative while assisting developing  countries. (250 words, 15 Marks) 

Approach: 

  • Introduction: Briefly give an introduction to UNFCCC and its significance.
  • Body:  
    • Discuss its specific objectives and how it puts the onus on the developed countries  to lead. 
    • Highlight how it accommodates funds for climate change activities in developing  countries. 
  • Conclusion: Conclude by stating how this paves the path to strike a delicate balance  between economic development and climate change.  

Answer: 

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) entered into force in  March 1994. Currently, it has near-universal membership. The 198 countries that have ratified the  Convention are called Parties to the Convention. Preventing “dangerous” human interference with  the climate system is the ultimate aim of the UNFCCC.  

Significance of the UNFCCC: 

  • This was remarkable and way ahead of its time because, in 1994, when the UNFCCC took  effect, there was less scientific evidence than there is now.  
  • The UNFCCC borrowed a very important line from one of the most successful multilateral  environmental treaties in history (the Montreal Protocol, in 1987): “it bound member states to  act in the interests of human safety even in the face of scientific uncertainty”.  

Specific Objective: 

  • The ultimate objective of the Convention is to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations “at  a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic (human-induced) interference with the  climate system.”  
  • It states “such a level should be achieved within a time-frame sufficient to allow ecosystems  to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened, and to  enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner.”  

Onus on Developed Countries to Lead: 

  • The idea is that, as developed countries are the source of most past and current greenhouse  gas emissions, industrialised countries are expected to do the most to cut emissions on home  ground.  
  • They are called Annex I countries and belong to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and  Development (OECD).  
  • They include countries with “economies in transition” from Central and Eastern Europe. Annex I countries were expected by the year 2000 to reduce emissions to 1990 levels. Many of them  have taken strong action to do so, and some have already succeeded.  

Concept of New Funds to Climate Change Activities in Developing Countries: 

  • Industrialised nations agree under the Convention to support climate change activities in  developing countries by providing financial support for action on climate change– above and  beyond any financial assistance they already provide to these countries.  
  • A system of grants and loans has been set up through the Convention and is managed by the  Global Environment Facility. Industrialised countries also agree to share technology with less advanced nations.  

A Path to Strike a Delicate Balance: 

  • Economic development is particularly vital to the world’s poorer countries. Such progress is  difficult to achieve even without the complications added by climate change.  
  • The Convention takes this into consideration by accepting that the share of greenhouse gas  emissions produced by developing nations will grow in the coming years.  
  • Nonetheless, in the interests of fulfilling its ultimate goal, it seeks to help such countries limit  emissions in ways that will not hinder their economic progress.  
  • One such win-win solution was to emerge later when the Kyoto Protocol to the Convention  was conceived. 

Since the inception of UNFCCC, the relationship between international and domestic climate  change action has changed significantly. The UNFCCC developed in advance of most domestic  actions to reduce emissions and has paved the way for a better and sustainable future.  

Additional Information  

UNFCCC and the Rio Convention: 

  • The UNFCCC is a “Rio Convention”, one of two opened for signature at the “Rio Earth Summit”  in 1992.  
  • Its sister Rio Conventions are the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention  to Combat Desertification. The three are intrinsically linked.  
  • It is in this context that the Joint Liaison Group was set up to boost cooperation among the  three Conventions, with the ultimate aim of developing synergies in their activities on issues  of mutual concern. 

India and UNFCCC: 

  • India is a Non-Annex I Party (refers to countries that have ratified or acceded to the UNFCCC  but are not included in Annex I) to the UNFCCC. 
  • Ratification Status: 
    • Kyoto Protocol: Date of ratification is 26th August 2002. 
    • Paris Agreement: Date of ratification is 2nd October 2016. 
  • The Indian Cabinet has approved the Updated Nationally Determined Contribution to be  communicated to the UNFCCC.  
    • Approval translates India’s ‘Panchamrit’ (announced at COP 26) enhanced climate targets. ○ It is a step toward achieving India’s long-term goal of reaching net-zero by 2070. 
    • India now stands committed to reducing the Emissions Intensity of its GDP by 45 percent  by 2030. 
    • India conceptualises the mass movement for ‘LIFE’– ‘Lifestyle for Environment’ as a key  to combating climate change”.