India’s Climate Change Policy

Avoiding Western Pitfalls and Prioritising Pragmatic Solutions.

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing the world today, but different countries have responded to it in different ways. Many Western nations have pursued aggressive climate policies that focus on rapid emission reductions, often at the cost of economic stability. These policies have led to higher energy prices, financial strain, and the diversion of resources from essential public services.

India, a developing country with unique socio-economic challenges, must take a different approach. It cannot afford to blindly follow Western strategies that may not suit its needs. Instead, India must find a way to tackle climate change while ensuring economic growth, poverty reduction, and technological progress. This essay argues that India should avoid costly Western-style climate policies and instead adopt a balanced, innovation-driven approach. By prioritising renewable energy, nuclear power, adaptation strategies, and high-return investments in health, nutrition, and agricultural research and development (R&D), India can effectively address climate change while securing long-term development.

What is climate change? 

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperature, weather patterns, and ecosystems due to natural processes and human activities.

What causes climate change?

Climate change is caused by natural factors like volcanic eruptions and solar variations, and human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial emissions. These release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane, trapping heat in the atmosphere, leading to global warming, extreme weather, rising sea levels, and ecosystem disruptions.

The Pitfalls of Western Climate Policies

Many Western countries have taken extreme measures to combat climate change, often implementing strict environmental regulations and ambitious emission targets. While the intention is to protect the planet, these policies have sometimes come at a high economic cost. India must carefully evaluate these experiences and avoid making similar mistakes.

Exaggerated Narratives and Economic Strains: Climate change is frequently described as an “existential crisis,” leading many Western governments to adopt drastic policies. However, experts argue that this characterisation is often exaggerated. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that unmitigated global warming could lower global GDP by 2–3% by the end of the century. While this is a challenge, it is not the catastrophic scenario often portrayed in media and politics. Despite this, Western nations have spent vast amounts on climate policies with limited economic benefits.

For example, the UK’s net-zero strategy has tripled electricity prices since 2003, placing a heavy burden on both households and businesses. Similarly, the European Union (EU) spends €3.3 trillion annually on climate initiatives—more than its total budget for healthcare, education, defence, and environmental protection combined. These costly measures divert resources from more urgent needs such as infrastructure development and social welfare.

Opportunity Costs and Resource Misallocation: Western governments face significant economic challenges, including ageing populations, deteriorating public services, and increasing healthcare expenses. However, instead of addressing these pressing issues, large portions of their budgets are allocated to expensive climate policies. For example, the EU’s climate budget could have been used to improve healthcare systems or strengthen pension schemes, providing more immediate and tangible benefits to citizens. This misallocation of resources serves as an important lesson for India. Climate action should not come at the cost of essential development goals. Instead of blindly adopting expensive climate policies, India must focus on a more balanced strategy that addresses both environmental and economic priorities.

Balancing Development and Climate Action

As a rapidly growing economy, India must strike a balance between environmental protection and economic progress. Unlike developed Western nations, India still has millions of people living in poverty and a vast population dependent on agriculture. While it is important to address climate change, policies must also support industrial growth, energy security, and poverty reduction.

India’s situation is different from that of Western nations in several ways. First, with a population of over 1.4 billion, India faces the challenge of creating jobs and improving living standards while managing its environmental responsibilities. Nearly 60% of India’s population depends on agriculture, making them particularly vulnerable to changes in weather patterns. At the same time, rapid urbanisation and industrialisation are increasing the country’s energy demand.

Furthermore, India’s per capita carbon emissions remain far lower than those of Western nations. Historically, developed countries have contributed the most to greenhouse gas emissions, yet developing nations like India are now being pressured to take drastic climate action. This raises concerns about climate justice, as India cannot afford to compromise its economic future for environmental targets set by wealthier nations.

A Pragmatic Approach: Innovation and Adaptation

Instead of adopting expensive Western policies, India should focus on a practical approach that combines clean energy expansion with technological innovation. By investing in renewable energy, nuclear power, and adaptation strategies, India can meet its energy needs while building resilience to climate change.

Renewable Energy Expansion: India has made great strides in renewable energy, with a target of installing 500 GW of capacity by 2030. The country is already home to some of the world’s largest solar parks, and wind energy is growing rapidly. However, challenges remain, particularly in energy storage, grid integration, and financing. To maximise the benefits of renewable energy, India must invest in battery storage technologies and modernise its grid infrastructure. Without these improvements, large-scale adoption of solar and wind power could lead to instability in the electricity supply. Smart planning and targeted investments will ensure that renewable energy can be a reliable part of India’s energy future.

Advancing Nuclear Power: While renewables are essential, they alone cannot meet India’s rising energy demand. Nuclear power, a low-carbon and reliable energy source, should play a bigger role in India’s energy strategy. Unlike solar and wind, nuclear power provides stable electricity, making it crucial for industrial development. Currently, nuclear energy remains underutilised in India due to regulatory hurdles, public fears, and high initial costs. However, by simplifying regulations, promoting public awareness, and investing in advanced technologies like small modular reactors (SMRs), India can significantly expand its nuclear power sector.

Adaptation Strategies for Climate Resilience: Adaptation is an often-overlooked strategy in climate discussions. Instead of only focusing on reducing emissions, India must also build resilience to climate impacts. Farmers, for example, have long adapted to changing weather conditions by adjusting their cropping patterns. Urban areas can also benefit from adaptation strategies such as creating green spaces, using reflective surfaces, and improving water management. Investments in flood-resistant infrastructure, drought-tolerant crops, and early-warning systems can help India mitigate the effects of climate change at a much lower cost than aggressive emission reduction policies.

Poverty Alleviation and High-Return Investments

India’s approach to climate change must go hand in hand with poverty reduction. Poor communities are the most vulnerable to climate shocks, making it essential to invest in healthcare, nutrition, and agriculture.

The Link Between Poverty and Climate Resilience: Lifting people out of poverty strengthens their ability to withstand climate impacts. Those with better access to education, healthcare, and housing are far less affected by extreme weather events. For example, Kerala’s strong public health system enabled it to manage the COVID-19 pandemic more effectively than wealthier but less equitable regions.

Investing in Healthcare and Nutrition: Healthcare and nutrition programmes are some of the most effective investments for improving resilience. Studies show that a six-year nutrition counselling programme in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan generated ₹61 and ₹43 in societal benefits per rupee spent, respectively. Expanding tuberculosis (TB) control, which costs ₹20,000 per patient, could save thousands of lives and return ₹105 in economic benefits for every rupee invested.

Agricultural R&D for Food Security and Sustainability: Agriculture employs 40% of India’s workforce but contributes only 15% to GDP, indicating inefficiencies that must be addressed. Increased investment in agricultural R&D—focusing on drought-resistant crops, precision farming, and sustainable practices—can enhance food security while reducing agriculture’s environmental impact.

The Role of International Cooperation

Global climate action must be fair and inclusive. Developed nations, responsible for most historical emissions, must support countries like India with financial aid and technology. By advocating for climate justice and collaborating on innovation, India can accelerate its clean energy transition while ensuring economic and environmental sustainability.

Climate Justice and Equitable Responsibility: India must advocate for fair climate policies in global discussions. Developed nations must fulfil their financial and technological commitments under the Paris Agreement to support developing countries. The promised $100 billion in annual climate finance must be delivered to help countries like India pursue sustainable growth without economic setbacks.

Leveraging Global Innovation: India should collaborate with leading nations in nuclear energy, battery storage, and hydrogen fuel to access cutting-edge technology at lower costs. Such partnerships can help India transition to clean energy more efficiently.

Conclusion

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The Source’s Authority and Ownership of the Article is Claimed By THE STUDY IAS BY MANIKANT SINGH