Talk about India’s involvement in the climate change talks, the Paris Agreement, and the Conference of the Parties (COP) summits that followed. Analyze India’s stances on matters such as technology transfer, differentiated responsibilities, and climate funding, and consider the impact ...
Answer: The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system and is made up of 47 United Nations Member States, which are elected by the UN General Assembly. It meets at the UN Office at Geneva. Functions of the United Nations Human Rights Council: It is responsiblRead more
Answer: The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system and is made up of 47 United Nations Member States, which are elected by the UN General Assembly. It meets at the UN Office at Geneva. Functions of the United Nations Human Rights Council:
- It is responsible for promoting universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all. It has the ability to discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout the year.
- It aims to prevent and combat human rights violations, including gross and systematic violations, and to make recommendations thereon.
- It also works to promote and coordinate the mainstreaming of human rights within the UN system.
- The Council serves as a forum for dialogue among States, with input from other stakeholders like NGOs etc. Through dialogue and cooperation, it contributes towards the prevention of human rights violations and responds promptly to human rights emergencies.
However, while performing these functions, following are the hurdles faced by the Council in promotion and protection of human rights around the globe:
- Vague membership criteria: It requires candidates to commit to the highest standards of human rights, and states should take into account a nominee’s human rights record when voting. Both of these rules are basically unenforceable. Also, the “measurement” and respective ranking of human rights records across states is contentious.
- Issues in Council elections: In some elections, there is lack of competitiveness. Countries have run unopposed after regional groups nominated the exact number of countries required to fill Council vacancies.
- Also, the Council’s closed ballot elections make it easier for countries with questionable human rights records to be elected to the Council.
- Prone to politicization: States generally vote in favour of their national interests rather than human rights interests if the two should clash. Thus, the Council remains prone to politicization, as evidenced by decisions that privilege political interests over human rights protection.
- Reprisals against human rights defenders: NGO representatives invited to speak at the Council are too often interrupted with harassing points of order from repressive delegations.
- Others:
- The submissions and statements of governments perceived to be human rights abusers are taken at face value rather than being challenged.
- Many experts have also expressed concern regarding some member states’ rejection of Universal Periodic Review (UPR) recommendations and nonparticipation in the UPR process.
Thus, there is need to undertake various measures such as open ballots in Council elections, lowering the two-thirds vote threshold to make it easier to remove a Council member, strengthening UPR mechanism of the UNHRC. Moreover, any state found to be responsible for reprisals against human rights defenders, and which fails to rectify them, should be disqualified from sitting on the Council.
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India has been an active participant in the climate change negotiations, playing a significant role in shaping the international response to climate change. Here's an overview of India's participation in the Paris Agreement and subsequent COP summits: **Paris Agreement:** 1. **Inclusion of developinRead more
India has been an active participant in the climate change negotiations, playing a significant role in shaping the international response to climate change. Here’s an overview of India’s participation in the Paris Agreement and subsequent COP summits:
**Paris Agreement:**
1. **Inclusion of developing country concerns:** India ensured that the Paris Agreement recognized the differentiated responsibilities of developed and developing countries in addressing climate change.
2. **Global temperature goal:** India supported the goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C.
3. **Climate finance:** India pushed for a financial commitment of $100 billion per year by 2020 from developed countries to support developing countries’ climate efforts.
**COP summits:**
1. **COP21 (2015):** India played a key role in negotiating the Paris Agreement, emphasizing the need for equity, justice, and sustainable development.
2. **COP22 (2016):** India was a key player in shaping the Marrakech Action Proclamation, which emphasized the urgent need for action on climate change.
3. **COP24 (2018):** India played a crucial role in negotiations on implementing the Paris Agreement, emphasizing the importance of transparency, accountability, and trust-building.
4. **COP25 (2019):** India was a key player in discussions on climate finance, technology transfer, and climate resilience, highlighting the need for developed countries to fulfill their commitments.
**India’s positions on key issues:**
1. **Climate finance:** India has emphasized the need for developed countries to fulfill their commitment of $100 billion per year by 2020 and has called for a “finance minister” to oversee climate finance flows.
2. **Technology transfer:** India has stressed the importance of technology transfer from developed to developing countries to support their transition to a low-carbon economy.
3. **Differentiated responsibilities:** India has consistently advocated for differentiated responsibilities, recognizing that developed countries have a historical responsibility to reduce their emissions and provide financial support to developing countries.
**Implications for global climate leadership:**
1. **Global South solidarity:** India’s stance on climate change has helped build bridges with other developing countries, fostering solidarity and cooperation on global climate issues.
2. **Enhanced global cooperation:** India’s engagement in climate negotiations has encouraged other developing countries to take a more active role in shaping global climate policy.
3. **Increased ambition:** India’s leadership on climate change has encouraged increased ambition among other countries, including developed nations, to reduce their emissions and take concrete actions on climate change.
However, India’s climate leadership is also subject to some limitations:
1. **Domestic challenges:** India still faces significant domestic challenges in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, including dependence on fossil fuels and inadequate infrastructure.
2. **Limited international cooperation:** While India has made progress on international cooperation, there are still significant challenges in coordinating with other countries on issues like climate finance and technology transfer.
3. **Rising expectations:** As a rapidly growing economy, India is under increasing pressure to deliver on its climate commitments and face scrutiny from international partners.
In conclusion, India’s participation in the Paris Agreement and subsequent COP summits has been marked by its emphasis on equity, justice, and sustainable development. Its positions on climate finance, technology transfer, and differentiated responsibilities have been critical in shaping global climate policy. While there are challenges ahead, India’s growing international influence and domestic actions will be crucial in driving progress on climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts globally.
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