Why the UN climate change summit in Paris will be a tightrope walk for PM Modi

by Ishan Russell

Just hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed here, the City of Paris was taken over by climate activists. Not allowed to march after the deadly terror attacks that tool place a fortnight back, over 20,000 of them arranged their shoes at the La Republique square to mark their presence. Famous personalities like Pope Francis and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon joined 7,85,000 people that marched in 2600 locations around the World - all urging their leaders to become heroes for the planet.

So what does it require to be a climate hero? And what does it mean for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who wants to be seen as a charismatic leader with a larger than life image?

“Prime Minister Modi has an inspiring vision to bring electricity to all of India, and an inspiring vision for a transition to the clean energy era. The question is, will he have the wisdom to follow his people’s lead and see how compatible these two visions are?”, asks Emma Ruby-Sachs from Avaaz, the organisers behind the Global Climate March events.

It’s expectations like these that will pose to be a big challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will test his diplomatic skills as he sits down to negotiate a fair and just deal on fighting Climate Challenge.

Nevertheless, PM Modi continues to stand his ground with his pitch for the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. Writing an editorial in Monday’s Financial Times Modi argued that advanced countries that “powered their way to prosperity on fossil fuel” must continue to shoulder the greatest burden. “Anything else would be morally wrong".

Building further on India’s moral position on the issue of Climate Justice, Modi wrote: “Justice demands that, with what little carbon we can still safely burn, developing countries are allowed to grow. The lifestyles of a few must not crowd out opportunities for the many still on the first steps of the development ladder.”

So far, the negotiations have shown no signs of any breakthrough with wealthy countries asking India and China as two of the largest polluters along with United States to shoulder the responsibility of financing the transition from carbon fuelled economy to clean energy.

With Beijing having already signalled a willingness to contribute, agreeing to deliver $3 billion in funding to help poorer countries combat climate change and setting a date of 2030 for when its emissions will peak, the spotlight is now on India to make similar, binding commitments.

At stake is whether India will give up on its reliance on coal and fossil fuel and instead commit to more renewables, an expensive but cleaner form of energy.

At stake is whether Modi will listen to the millions who protested around the world over the weekend, or, will he find a way to provide power to millions of Indians who have never had the ’luxury’ of even lightbulbs in their homes.