'Lima Did Not Safeguard Interests Of Less Developed Nations Like India'

In 2014, the COP-20 added a third dimension of 'national circumstances' that amounts to re-interpreting "the Convention that was originally strictly about responsibility while acknowledging the limited capability of developing countries," Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), told IANS.

"By bringing in the clause of national circumstances, COP-20 has brought developed and developing countries on the same footing. Developed countries can now cite any national circumstance like the recession in Europe or the incapability to bring relevant legislation to justify its action or inaction with respect to climate change control," Bhushan explained.

The other potential roadblock for developing countries is the intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs), where, as some experts believed, India is also to blame. While Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar stood firm in refusing any external audit of India's INDCs to control climate change, environmentalists termed this "regressive".

Raghunandan, an environment activist at the Delhi Science Forum, said India had nothing to fear from any external review.

As the fourth biggest polluter, India has a comparatively marginal carbon footprint in the atmosphere. India could well defend its level of contribution in view of its growth imperatives and commitment to poverty alleviation. But by remaining adamant on its stance, India gave everyone else a free run. Raghunandan said.

"INDCs have been weakened in Lima. Countries were otherwise required to justify their contribution to climate change control.

They will still be declaring their contributions but whether they are fair, equitable or ambitious, that's become optional now. No review is going to happen. No question asked," said Bhushan as he voiced his fear for developing countries that will now face Paris 2015.

The meeting will hammer out crucial climate architecture that will govern global action on climate change post 2020.

Bhushan was not too hopeful as he predicted yet another weak deal in Paris.

"COP-20 has eroded the difference between developed and developing countries. This will have far reaching implications. For developing countries, it's a big thing before they face Paris 2015. I don't know how India or other countries will wriggle out of this situation. Paris will see yet another weak deal," Bhushan maintained.

However, there is a sliver of optimism amid these voices.

Former director of the UN Environment Programme and Terre Policy Centre chairperson Rajendra Shende said all was not lost in Lima.

"India succeeded in keeping the CBDR issue alive. If at all it is diluted, it remains so only until the next round of discussions in 2015," Shende told IANS from Pune.

The task ahead is for India to audit Lima's outcome based on its need for a climate-resilient green economy that would enable the country brace against losses caused by extreme weather patterns and provide the investment needs for clean technology, he said.

In Shende's opinion, it would serve India well to ensure that CBDR is not diluted to the point where the principle of historical responsibility falls through the cracks.

In the absence of accountability on part of the developed countries, there is limited clarity in sight to determine whether each partner is contributing enough to keep global warming under two degrees Celsius, beyond which, scientists say, the climate change effects will be irreversible and lead to catastrophic results for humanity.

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