By carrying out the deliberations behind closed doors the panel of Indian experts who prepared the climate action report-eminent persons in the environment field have obviously aroused misgivings among the civil society groups. But some others who can also legitimately claim to be part of the same civil society would perhaps be less complaining when at least the Government has a plan that is supposed to prepare the country to meet the challenges from climate change. The Indian strategy for dealing with these challenges is going to be only a gradual shift from carbon emitting sources of energy to reliance on sustainable but green sources of energy, with development of solar energy as the pivot of this shift-India is just not in a position to hasten the pace of the switch over because developmental imperatives require sustained economic growth, which remains dependent on the use of more readily available and more viable sources of energy.

Clearly, India cannot be pressurized to go slow with its development programmes when countries like the US are so hesitant is bringing down their emission levels and thus affect their luxurious style of living. Admittedly, the Indian climate action plan makes no commitment on cutting carbon emissions, which are obviously rising in the country. The Americans seem to be saying that since they are used to eating well they are not in a position to make any sacrifice but the Indians should and must eat poorly because they have been haunted for long by hunger and malnourishment.

Interestingly, even as copious tears are being shed over climate degradation some rich countries are looking for riches (mining and oil) from the Arctic, which is fast losing its thick ice cover. The summer of 2008 in the Arctic may not be very different from the previous summer when the region had recorded its smallest area of ice. Some believe that by the middle of this century the area will be ice-free; the more pessimistic prediction is that the day might arrive within the next five years. Scientists think if the Earth temperatures continue to rise, climate cycle will actually see cooling effect in coming years. Industrialized nations need to cut emissions urgently by 25 to 40 percent. Europe and Japan seem to see the point, especially the latter. The picture could look brighter if the US administration showed more determination to act. 

The whole business of pitching developed countries against developing countries in the climate debate is pointless. The damage from climate change affects the whole world, not just a country or a region. India is being scared with the prediction that global warming and rising sea levels will render at least 45 million climate refugees people living in areas that will be inundated by the swollen sea. The battle to save the planet from climate change has to be a joint effort but the lead has to come from the countries that have enjoyed all the fruits of energy-based development for well over a century at the cost of the rest of the world.