International Climate Change Regime: A Critical Appraisal of the Indian Approach

Abstract

Climate change is regarded as one of the common concerns of the humankind. It is the most important global environmental problems facing the world today1 as is illustrated by the previous United Nation Climate Change Conferences and most recently held COP 21 at Paris. Now there is little doubt about its seriousness and the challenges it poses for our society. The successive Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Reports (IPCC) have established it beyond doubt. Further, effects of the climate change have started giving their appearances and future impacts are inevitable.2
Ordinarily by climate change wo mean a change of the climate that alters the composition of the global atmosphere.3 Such a change is attributed to the direct and indirect activities of human being. Growing human civilization and rapid industrialization with their expanded activities affect the thin layer of the atmosphere that he surrounds the earth. The greenhouses gases contribute significantly for the warming of the globe also are responsible in disturbing the global climate.
The aim of this paper is to critically appraise the Climate Change Regime and Indian approach in that regard. This paper argues that the Indian approach to the Climate change problem is based on the principle of equity or combined but differentiated responsibility. But as a fast-developing economy, it has put in place measures/ mechanisms as mandated by different Conferences held under UNFCCC, even though initially it took time to start with.