Choose the correct options from the following statements related to India's stand on environmental issues.

(A) India signed and ratified the Kyoto protocol in 2005

(B) India's International negotiating position relies heavily on the principles of historical responsibility as ensured in UNFCCC

(C) India's Auto Fuel Policy mandates cleaner fuels for vehicles.

(D) India ratified the Paris Climate Agreement on 2nd October 2020

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(B) and (C)

The correct answer is option 1 - (B) and (C)

Statements A and D are incorrect as:

(A) India signed and ratified the Kyoto protocol in August 2002 not 2005.

(D) India ratified the Paris Climate Agreement on 2nd October 2016 not 2020.

India’s Stand on Environmental Issues:

India signed and ratified the 1997 Kyoto Protocol in August 2002 (Correct version of Statement A). India, China and other developing countries were exempt from the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol because their contribution to the emission of greenhouse gases during the industrialisation period (that is believed to be causing today’s global warming and climate change) was not significant. However, the critics of the Kyoto Protocol point out that sooner or later, both India and China, along with other developing countries, will be among the leading countributors to greenhouse gas emissions. At the G-8 meeting in June 2005, India pointed out that the per capita emission rates of the developing countries are a tiny fraction of those in the developed world. Following the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, India is of the view that the major responsibility of curbing emission rests with the developed countries, which have accumulated emissions over a long period of time.

India's international negotiating position relies heavily on principles of historical responsibility, as enshrined in UNFCCC (Statement B). This acknowledges that developed countries are responsible for most historical and current greenhouse gas emissions, and emphasizes that ‘economic and social development are the first and overriding priorities of the developing country parties’. So India is wary of recent discussions within UNFCCC about introducing binding commitments on rapidly industrialising countries (such as Brazil, China and India) to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. India feels this contravenes the very spirit of UNFCCC. Neither does it seem fair to impose restrictions on India when the country’s rise in per capita carbon emissions by 2030 is likely to still represent less than half the world average of 3.8 tonnes in 2000. Indian emissions are predicted to rise from 0.9 tonnes per capita in 2000 to 1.6 tonnes per capita in 2030.

The Indian government is already participating in global efforts through a number of programmes. For example, India’s National Auto-fuel Policy mandates cleaner fuels for vehicles (Statement C). The Energy Conservation Act, passed in 2001, outlines initiatives to improve energy efficiency. Similarly, the Electricity Act of 2003 encourages the use of renewable energy. Recent trends in importing natural gas and encouraging the adoption of clean coal technologies show that India has been making real efforts. The government is also keen to launch a National Mission on Biodiesel, using about 11 million hectares of land to produce biodiesel by 2011–2012. India ratified the Paris Climate Agreement on 2 October 2016 (Statement D). And India has one of the largest renewable energy programmes in the world.