It’s only fair to cut developing world some slack on emission goals - South China Morning Post

Opinion | Climate change goals: it’s only fair to cut developing nations some slack | South China Morning Post

Climate change goals: it’s only fair to cut developing nations some slack

- As temperatures rise across the globe, the harsh reality is that those who burn the least fossil fuels lack the wealth to deal with climate change’s effects
- The developing needs flexibility in their climate adaptation plans, and that includes the option to explore and extract fossil fuels to help alleviate poverty

injustice of climate change lies in the disproportionate impact it has on the most vulnerable populations, those who contributed the least to greenhouse gas emissions. While the consequences of rising temperatures unfold globally, the harsh reality is that those who burned the most fossil fuels have amassed enough wealth to shield themselves from the worst effects.

certain regions of the world uninhabitable. Dealing with these effects is both energy-intensive and costly. Some areas now face

more frequent and intense heatwaves, making cooling a life-saving need.

For the Global South, these challenges build atop existing issues of poverty, inequality and the remnants of past exploitation.

countries with high emissions and those with negligible contributions be held to the same standard in cutting emissions? While every tonne of emission matters globally, it’s essential to understand that not all greenhouse gases are emitted equally.

Consider the recent scrutiny faced by Mexico and India for expanding their fossil fuel operations. Mexico’s power emissions increased by 11 per cent last year to more than 175 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, the highest level in more than five years. Naturally, this surge has raised concerns among climate trackers.

However, when viewed within the broader context, Mexico contributed just 1.4 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2021. A substantial drop in hydropower output required it to increase fossil fuel-powered electricity generation as a response to an immediate energy crisis.

its reliance on coal in the past year to meet its surging power demand, with the rise in coal-fired power output exceeding the growth of renewable energy for the first time since at least 2019. Although this might initially raise concerns, India’s situation is more nuanced than it appears at first glance. While India is the third-largest emitter globally, its per-capita greenhouse gas emissions of around 2 tonnes are lower than the world average of more than 6 tonnes.

more than 1.4 billion people do in such a situation? Certainly, it will spare no effort to tend to the needs of its citizens. Pushing for

emission reductions within the same energy mix could force these countries to accept structurally lower living standards.

its fossil fuels, recognising their limitations in resources and technology.

in a debt crisis, spending five times more on repayments than addressing the climate crisis.

debt-stricken Pakistan, a country grappling with the aftermath of

devastating floods in 2022 and recognised as one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries. Recent elections saw major parties strategically leveraging climate change as a positive campaign tactic.

climate adaptation or prioritising the overall development of the country. Alternatively, the government might prioritise paying down Pakistan’s debt.

outsourcing their emissions to the Global South. Nowhere is this practice more glaring than in China, which has the world’s

second-largest population and highest emissions.

China, India set to increase emissions by 2030; all major economies to miss reduction goals

China has held the title of the world’s largest exporter since 2009, with the United States, Japan, South Korea, Germany and other developed nations among its top export destinations. As it happens, the emissions trajectory for most of these countries has fallen off in that time while China’s emissions continue to rise.

high-emissions manufacturing to China and other developing economies while claiming to have taken action against climate change. Even Tesla, heralded for revolutionising climate technology in the electric vehicle space, operates one of the

largest manufacturing plants in China.

Apple, a trillion-dollar company that presented its first “carbon-neutral” products through offsetting emissions last year, has had a significant presence in China’s manufacturing landscape for many years. It is time to debunk “net zero” illusions – emissions persist, just elsewhere.

The crux of the matter is that the 64 poorest countries, home to a quarter of the world’s population, together contribute only 4.5 per cent to total global greenhouse gas emissions. Even if these countries were to escalate their fossil fuel usage by 2035, their impact on global emissions would still be minimal. Penalising these countries for their carbon footprint is unfair.

Instead, the developing world should have flexibility in their approach, enabling them to focus on alleviating poverty. This doesn’t necessarily advocate for fossil fuels as the best option but rather underscores that imposing penalties, or even scrutinising their energy choices, is unjust.

Rizwan Basir is a sociologist who works as a climate finance specialist at the Climate Resourcing Coordination Centre (CRCC), based in Islamabad, Pakistan