Current Affairs · · GS2 · International Relations

Climate Justice: India Raises Historical Emissions Responsibility

Who should bear the greater responsibility for climate change? PM Modi argues that developing countries should not face the same burden as historically high emitters. The debate highlights climate justice, unequal emissions and the need for fair climate finance, while all countries work towards their Paris Agreement commitments.

Event date:

reg
  1. Context1 / 4
    • Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed an international conference organised by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on 19 September 2026.
    • The conference, titled The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics, was held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
    • Modi argued that developing countries face disproportionate criticism over carbon emissions despite their lower per-capita contributions.
    • He highlighted India's renewable energy expansion and progress on its climate commitments.
    • The statement brings attention to climate justice and the distribution of responsibilities between developed and developing countries.
  2. Key highlights2 / 4
    • Per-capita emissions: Modi stated that India's per-person carbon emissions are less than half the global average, while developed countries emit up to six times more per person than India. The comparison needs a defined year and country group.
    • Historical responsibility: India argues that countries with a longer history of industrialisation should account for their accumulated emissions when sharing climate responsibilities.
    • Paris commitments: Modi stated that India was the only G20 country to fulfil its original Paris commitments ahead of schedule. Official progress reports confirm early achievement of two initial quantitative targets; the additional carbon-sink target remains separate.
    • Solar energy: The Prime Minister highlighted an increase in installed solar power capacity from approximately 2 GW to over 160 GW during the past 12 years.
    • Non-fossil capacity: He also stated that India's installed non-fossil electricity capacity had nearly quadrupled during the same period.
    • Carbon sink target: India's 2030 NDC includes creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5–3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent through forest and tree cover.
  3. Key concepts3 / 4
    1. Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC)
    • CBDR-RC is a principle of international climate cooperation.
    • It recognises that all countries have a responsibility to address climate change.
    • However, their responsibilities and capacities differ because of their development levels, national circumstances and contributions to the problem.
    • The Paris Agreement recognises this principle under Article 2(2).

    News connection: India's argument refers to differences in historical emissions and the ability of countries to finance climate action.

    1. Climate justice and historical emissions
    • Climate justice means distributing the costs and benefits of climate action fairly.
    • Historical emissions refer to greenhouse gases released over previous years, particularly during industrialisation.
    • Carbon dioxide accumulates in the atmosphere, so past emissions continue to influence global warming.
    • Developing countries emphasise historical responsibility and development needs. Current and future emissions also matter because continued releases add to warming.

    News connection: The debate concerns how countries should share responsibility for reducing emissions and supporting vulnerable populations.

    1. Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
    • An NDC is a country's climate action plan under the Paris Agreement.
    • Countries set out their own targets for reducing emissions and addressing climate change.
    • Parties must prepare, communicate and maintain successive NDCs and pursue domestic measures to achieve them.
    • Article 4 of the Paris Agreement deals with NDCs.
    • India's 2030 commitments include:
    • Reducing the emissions intensity of GDP by 45% from the 2005 level.
    • Achieving about 50% of total installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources.
    • Creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5–3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent through forest and tree cover.

    News connection: Modi cited India's progress on climate commitments while discussing the distribution of global responsibilities.

    Prelims distinction: A target for installed electricity capacity does not mean the same percentage of electricity must actually be generated from non-fossil sources.

    1. Carbon sinks and carbon sequestration
    • A carbon sink absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases.
    • Forests, soils and oceans are important natural carbon sinks.
    • Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing carbon.
    • Expanding and restoring forests can increase carbon storage, although the results depend on forest health, management and long-term survival.

    News connection: India's NDC includes expanding carbon storage through additional forest and tree cover. Official reporting indicates that progress has been made, but the full 2030 target had not yet been reached in the latest reported carbon-sink assessment.

  4. Way forward4 / 4
    • Climate finance: Continue international discussions on financial support for mitigation and adaptation in developing countries.
    • Technology transfer: Improve access to affordable clean-energy technologies and strengthen domestic innovation.
    • Domestic implementation: Improve measurement of forest carbon sinks, expand clean energy and support workers and communities affected by the transition away from fossil fuels.

Sources

Syllabus

PaperSubjectSub-topic
GS2International RelationsImportant international institutions
GS3Environmentnvironmental degradation, climate change and conservation.
GS3EnvironmentSustainable Development

Topics

Climate Change

Related previous-year questions

Asked in earlier UPSC Prelims papers on this topic. Answer, then check.

  1. UPSC Prelims 2016 · Environment and Ecology · Climate Change

    With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in 2017. 2. The Agreement aims to limit the greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature by the end of this century does not exceed 2°C or even 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. 3. Developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility in global warming and committed to donate $1000 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries cope with climate change. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    1. 1 and 3 only
    2. 2 only
    3. 2 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    Show answer

    Answer: B. VERDICT: The answer is 2 only. The Paris Agreement set the two degree and 1.5 degree temperature goals, but the other two statements are wrong. ANALYSIS: Statement 2 is CORRECT. The Agreement aims to hold the increase in global average temperature to well below two degrees above pre industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees. Statement 1 is INCORRECT. The Agreement was scheduled to take effect from 2020, not 2017, and adoption at the conference is not the same as signature by every United Nations member. Statement 3 is INCORRECT on the figure. The developed country finance pledge in this framework was of the order of one hundred billion dollars a year from 2020, not one thousand billion. SOURCE: The Hindu report on the adoption of the Paris climate pact. Source type EN. HOW TO CRACK IT: Attack the numbers first, because two of the three statements here carry figures and figures are falsifiable without judgement. A tenfold exaggeration of a well known pledge is a common construction, so when a financial commitment looks implausibly large, check the order of magnitude before anything else. Then keep two dates apart for every treaty: the year of adoption and the year of entry into force, since UPSC swaps one for the other routinely.

    Difficulty: medium · statement

  2. UPSC Prelims 2025 · Environment and Ecology · Climate Change

    Consider the following statements: Statement I: Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change is frequently discussed in global discussions on sustainable development and climate change. Statement II: Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change sets out the principles of carbon markets. Statement III: Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change intends to promote inter-country non-market strategies to reach their climate targets. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

    1. Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I
    2. Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I
    3. Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I
    4. Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Statement I – CORRECT: Article 6 of the Paris Agreement is indeed frequently discussed in global climate negotiations, particularly after COP29 marked its adoption after nine years of negotiations. Statement II – CORRECT: Article 6 sets out principles for carbon markets — Article 6.2 provides accounting guidance for internationally transferred mitigation outcomes; Article 6.4 establishes a new UNFCCC mechanism for trading carbon credits. Statement III – CORRECT: Article 6.8 provides opportunities for non-market-based cooperation for enhancing climate action, enabling countries to promote inter-country non-market strategies. Both Statement II and III are correct and both explain Statement I → Option (a).

    Difficulty: medium · assertion

Practice questions

  1. With reference to the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC), consider the following statements: 1. It recognises that all countries share responsibility for addressing climate change. 2. It takes into account differences in national circumstances and apabilities. 3. It completely exempts developing countries from taking action on climate change. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3 only
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is incorrect because CBDR-RC differentiates responsibilities but does not exempt developing countries from climate action. The other options incorrectly include Statement 3.

    Difficulty: medium · statement

  2. With reference to India's 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution, consider the following statements: 1. India aims to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% from the 2005 level. 2. India aims to achieve about 50% of cumulative installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources. 3. India aims to create an additional carbon sink through forest and tree cover. Which of the statements given above are correct?

    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3 only
    Show answer

    Answer: D. All three statements correctly describe India's 2030 commitments. Options (a), (b) and (c) each exclude one correct statement. The electricity target concerns installed capacity rather than actual electricity generation. V5 NDC submission to UNFCCC

    Difficulty: medium · statement

  3. Consider the following statements: 1. Per-capita emissions represent emissions divided by the population. 2. Historical emissions refer to accumulated emissions over a specified period. 3. A country with low per-capita emissions must necessarily have low total annual emissions. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 1 and 2 only
    3. 2 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3 only
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is incorrect because a country with a large population can have substantial total emissions despite relatively low emissions per person. Options (c) and (d) include Statement 3, while option (a) excludes Statement 2.

    Difficulty: hard · statement

Mains practice

Answer-writing practice on this article. Attempt it first, then open the hints.

  1. GS3 · 150 words

    Climate justice requires balancing historical responsibility with the need for global climate action. Discuss with reference to the principle of CBDR-RC and India's climate commitments.

    Show hints
    1. Explain climate justice and historical emissions.
    2. Discuss CBDR-RC under the Paris Agreement.
    3. Distinguish total, per-capita and cumulative emissions.
    4. Explain India's NDCs and domestic climate actions.
    5. Discuss climate finance, technology transfer and a just transition.