This house believes India should slow its economic growth to help the world's climateProposing the motionThe latest Met office climate predictions show that by 2100, temperatures are likely to rise to around 2 °C above pre-industrial levels. This prediction assumes large and early cuts of green house gas emissions are implemented. If no action is taken to check the rise in green house gas emissions, temperatures are more likely to rise by 5°C (Pope 2008).
It has been nigh on impossible for global leaders to create a solid framework to tackle climate change. Leaders are often unable to agree on a global resolution to mitigate climate change and so the process drags on year after year. The climate change conference which took place in Poznan, 1-12th December 2008 was a typical example of why countries are unable to agree on any sort of global framework. The aim of the conference was to shape an international response to climate change.
However, India merely used the conference to 'reaffirm its prioritisation of economic development and the responsibility of developed countries to address climate change' (Lewer 2008). When a country of India's size and growing influence, does not even wish to accept any responsibility for climate change mitigation, it is easy to see why a global response seems near impossible.
It is understandable to see why India believes they should not be burdened with the costs of mitigating climate change. India's policy on Climate change could be simplified as follows:•The developed world is responsible for causing climate change, thus the mitigation of climate change should be their responsibility.
•Agreeing to cut green-house gas emissions would be harmful to economic growth.
•Compared to the developed world, India's levels of emissions are still relatively small.
India's policy of refusing to accept emissions cuts is intended...