Durban will create climate apartheid, under which rich polluters evade responsibility, but underprivileged people suffer the worst effects of climate change for which they are least responsible, writes Praful Bidwai.

Climate meet: Why Durban was a disaster

Driven by its over-emphasis on evading a “legally binding” commitment, India signed on at Durban to a key agreement that has not even a pro forma reference to equity and sets aside differentiation explicitly.

Post-Durban, India has its task cut out 

The 17th Conference of Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was convened in Durban when the membership of this multilateral body faced two exceptional challenges. First, a critical component of the convention, the Kyoto Protocol, under which industrialized countries took binding commitments to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, is completing the first period of implementation at the end of next year. In the absence of any agreement among the UNFCCC members, the global community would have lost the first and only opportunity that it has had to address the scourge of global warming through a multilaterally negotiated process. The second was a stern message sent out by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the agency that provides assessments of the risks arising from the risk of climate change. In its special report on managing the risks of extreme events and disasters to advance climate change adaptation, IPCC warned that as the earth’s temperature rises, the likelihood of extreme weather conditions will also increase.

An uncertain climate after Durban 

London: At the start of the 20th century, inventors Thomas Alva Edison and Nikola Tesla clashed in the “war of the currents”. To highlight the dangers of his rival’s system, Edison even electrocuted an elephant. The animal died in vain; it was Tesla’s system and not Edison’s that took off. But today, helped by technological advances and the need to conserve energy, Edison may finally get his revenge.

Did Edison see it coming? Renewable energy may be his revenge 

Members of the District Exnora, Youth Exnora and Students’ Exnora of Bishop Heber College took out a rally in the city on Monday to sensitise the people on renewable energy and solid waste management.

Students come together to galvanise renewable energy

There is no denying that ever since the Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) of India revealed the potential losses on account of spectrum allocation, there is not only a freeze on decision-making but some ministries are now even considering a rethink on decisions taken a few years ago.

Free Coal Supply-Outlook Business 

The stormy weather outside mirrored the mood in the conference room. As the 17th meeting of the Conference of Parties (CoP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) went into overtime in Durban, negotiators fought hard to safeguard their nations’ interests. The Indian delegation, headed by Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan, countered a campaign by the European Union to label India a ‘deal-breaker’. In her first outing as India’s chief climate change negotiator, Natarajan  succeeded in getting the country 10 years’ time, before a new treaty to curb emissions comes into being. She also managed to put the principle of equity, ensuring equal development opportunities for all, back on the table. Natarajan countered the EU position: “Am I to sign away the livelihoods and sustainability of 1.2 billion Indians without even knowing what the EU roadmap contains?”

Climate’s good