Why in the News?
Vijai Sharma, a 1974-batch IAS officer and architect of India’s climate diplomacy, who helped shape the Kyoto Protocol for safeguarding the interests of developing countries like India, has passed away.
About Kyoto Protocol:
- Adopted: 11 December 1997 (UNFCCC COP-3, Kyoto, Japan); Came into Force: 16 February 2005
- Legal Status: Legally binding on developed (Annex I) countries
- Parent Treaty: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992)
- Objective: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change
- Principle: Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC)
- Parties: 192 ratified; key non-parties include United States and Canada
Key Features:
- Emission Targets:
- Annex B nations to cut emissions by 5% below 1990 levels (2008–2012)
- Doha Amendment (2012): 18% cut for 2013–2020
- Greenhouse Gases Covered:
- Carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous oxide, Hydrofluorocarbons, Perfluorocarbons, Sulfur hexafluoride
- Market Mechanisms:
- Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): Carbon credits via projects in developing nations
- Joint Implementation (JI): Emission reduction between Annex I countries
- International Emissions Trading: Trade surplus emission units
- Monitoring and Enforcement:
- Mandatory reporting and independent verification
- Compliance Committee oversight
- Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) included; aviation/shipping excluded
- Equity Element:
- No binding targets for developing nations like India and China
- Developed nations held accountable for historical emissions
Vijai Sharma’s Contributions:
- Climate Negotiations Leader: India’s chief negotiator (1995–2001), led G77+China, defended equity and exemptions for developing nations
- Policy Architect: Helped shape CDM governance, promoted India’s clean-tech access
- Environmental Reformer: As Environment Secretary (2008–2010), improved clearance processes
- Legacy: Called “Sir Humphrey Sharma” for his sharp wit and bureaucratic skill; key figure in India’s Kyoto-era climate diplomacy
| [UPSC 2016] Consider the following pairs:
Terms sometimes seen in the news : Their origin 1. Annex-I Countries : Cartagena Protocol 2. Certified Emissions Reductions : Nagoya Protocol 3. Clean Development Mechanisms : Kyoto Protocol Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched? Options: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 3 only* (d) 1, 2 and 3 |
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