India’s Turn in Climate Policy: Assessing the Interplay of Domestic and International Policy Change

Abstract

India has long been regarded as a deal-breaker in international climate negotiations; it was at the summit in Copenhagen that India first abandoned its old strategic line and made a commitment to reduce carbon emissions voluntarily. This shift was accompanied by a proliferation of domestic initiatives to save energy, to develop regenerative energies, etc. Traditional IR approaches remain insufficient to explain this policy shift -which is the aim of this paper -insofar as they fail to adequately take into account the fact that climate policies have to confront two audiences: a domestic and an international one, each presenting different tactical necessities for official reaction. On the international front, we argue that globally, India intended to be perceived as a responsible actor, one deserving of a greater say in global governance matters. On the domestic level, shrinking national energy reserves and mounting import dependence made the co-benefit of energy saving in reducing greenhouse gas emissions evident. The shift was made easier because important business associations aligned with a more eco-friendly development perspective and because the reduction commitments made by the Indian government on an international stage did not demand very stringent domestic emission reductions.

India’s Environmental Strategy in the Global Climate Negotiations

“…Furthermore, even if there was no emission reduction commitment from the Indian side, India had to reduce its dependence on fossil fuel and focus on the use of alternative renewable energy resources due to its chronic energy insecurity (Gupta et al, 2015). Indeed, climate-friendly domestic activities of India can be easily explained through the lens of energy vulnerability (Betz, 2012). India's climate policies are mainly developed to ensure India's energy security (Rastogi, 2011;Wheeler & Shome, 2010).…”

Energy Security and Climate Change: India’s Responses to the Challenges

“…At the same time the Convention makes out that economic as well as social development and poverty obliteration are the 'fi rst and overriding priorities' of the developing countries. Though the world as a whole face the challenge to limit and cut emissions and to adapt to climate change, the Convention succeeded in handing over varying commitments on developed and developing countries depending upon the common but differentiated responsibilities of countries to take action 16 .…”