Sustainable Development Goal of Climate Action and India’s Policy Approach

Abstract

The rapid industrialization across the globe is the root cause of climate change phenomenon because this growth was fostered by large scale production in industries using fossil fuels. The concentration of greenhouse gasses in the earth’s atmosphere is directly linked to the rising average global temperature on Earth. This global warming is causing changes in weather patterns or ‘climate change’. The long-term consequences of climate change are already visible as the world is facing extreme weather conditions. The nations across the world realised that it was critically important to take climate action and make development ‘sustainable’. Global agreements have been signed to discuss the climate change issue, initiate climate action and monitor its progress. All agreements primarily emphasise on its mitigation, adaption and reduction of impact. Countries are switching from use of fossil fuels to renewable energy sources to reduce the emissions causing pollution. The developed countries have made a commitment of ‘Net Zero’ by 2050 and the developing economies too have to follow suit in the next half of the century. This research paper outlines the issue global warming and climate change and the factors causing it, traces the evolution of the concept of sustainable development i.e. the integration of environment policies with development strategies. It explores the SDG 13: Climate Action and the the Paris Agreement and the subsequent Climate Change Conference of Parties. It then discusses India’s commitment to climate action commitments