In a recent publication, a comprehensive report by the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) has highlighted that India, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland stand as the exclusive quartet of major economies that are currently poised to align with the goals set forth in the Paris Climate Agreement. The CVF, an international coalition of 58 countries deemed highly susceptible to the escalating impacts of global warming, has drawn attention to a glaring contrast in climate action initiatives as the UN climate conference looms on the horizon.
The findings of this study, made public on Monday, illuminate a significant issue. Major economies, it appears, have predicated their emissions targets on the presumption that all nations would reduce emissions at an equivalent rate, without accounting for their disparate contributions to global pollution. This disregard for historical emissions and the delineation of efforts between the wealthiest and poorest nations have rendered many commitments falling short of equity and effectiveness.
India, often cited for its population of nearly one-fifth of the world’s inhabitants, stands out with a per capita CO2 emission of merely 2.9 metric tons, a stark contrast to the G7 average of 11.7 metric tons per capita in 2021. In the same year, the global average per capita CO2 emission was 6.4 metric tons, with the European Union at 8.1 metric tons, China at 10.1 metric tons, and the United States at a staggering 17.5 metric tons per capita—six times more than India.
The significance of the CVF’s report, titled the “Traffic Light Assessment Report: Fair Share Pathways to Combat Global Climate Breakdown,” lies in its objective to hold nations accountable by assessing their alignment with the temperature and equity principles outlined in the Paris Agreement. The report emphasizes that the countries failing to pledge their fair share towards the Paris Agreement are primarily those characterized as the wealthiest and most capable nations in terms of GDP and HDI.
Notably, India and Indonesia emerge as the sole representatives from the G20 nations whose climate actions are in accordance with their respective Paris Agreement goals for 2030. The report underscores a glaring disparity, as it indicates that while a majority of countries are compliant, wealthier nations, particularly within the G7 and G20, are significantly falling short of their obligations.
The CVF’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo, who also presides over Ghana, underscores the moral imperative for countries that have historically contributed the most to global pollution to take a more substantial role in addressing climate change, given their wealth and capabilities. This report assumes particular significance as it precedes the global stocktake of climate actions set to conclude during the upcoming UN climate conference from November 30 to December 12 in Dubai, UAE.