With growing concerns about India’s energy security and climate change, the importance of improving the energy efficiency (EE) of the economy is being realized by Indian policy makers, and significant efforts are being made to enhance EE in the country. Yet progress in EE implementation has been slow compared to its potential and benefits.
This article compares the future trajectory of carbon emissions of the Annex I countries under the Kyoto Protocol with the emission reduction targets being discussed in the US and the European Union. If the Annex I countries follow these trajectories, they would meet the Kyoto Protocol commitment in terms of the stock of emissions since 2008, only in 2021 or 2024.
The paper examines the extent to which the developed countries are shouldering their responsibility for mitigating climate change. Developed countries have a responsibility to reduce the threat of climate change in two ways: (1) by reducing their own emissions and (2) by facilitating the mitigation efforts of developing countries by providing financial support.
