MAHARASHTRA NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY, MUMBAI

COURCE-B.A. LL.B.(Hons.)

SUBMISSION OF ARTICLE/RESEARCH PAPER.

Sustainable Development Goals, Climate Action and India.

Submitted By- Shobhit Shukla

E-mail Id- sshobhit266@gmail.com
Date of Submission- 14th April ,2020.
Submitted To- iPleaders Online Blog
INTRODUCTION

Greta Thunberg the 16-year-old Swedish climate change activist and Nobel Peace Prize
nominee sailed into the New York harbour to attend the youth climate summit held there. On
her way to the harbour she was met with 17 sail boats each representing a Sustainable
Development Goal (SDG).1

The world has seen an upward trend towards these Sustainable Development Goals, people
have become more active towards fulfilling these goals and activists are trying to spread more
awareness about these goals. These accelerated trends have been punctuated by dramatic
single events such as the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster and the setting
alight of the Kuwait oil wells during the gulf war are few of those examples. The impact of
these “macro” events are accelerated by many continuous “micro” events. These joint events
threaten the stability of the complex biogeological systems, which maintain the conditions on
which life of this planet depends.

Now the question here has to be asked, what are these Sustainable Development Goals?
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global objectives designed to be a
"blueprint for a better and more prosperous future for all".2 The SDGs, set by the United
Nations General Assembly in 2015 and planned to be accomplished by the year 2030, form a
part of UN Resolution 70/1, the 2030 Agenda.3 Here Sustainable Development Goals are
difficult to define let alone implement, thus all the various intellectuals and NGO’s have
various definitions of the SDG’s.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted in 2015 by all members of the
United Nations, offers a global vision with a shared blueprint for stability and prosperity for
people and the world, now and into the future4. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action in a global partnership
between all countries - developed and emerging. They agree that reducing poverty and other
1
Sustainable Development Goals Fleet Greets Greta Thunberg in NYC Harbour, United Nations (15th April
2020) (online). <https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2019/08/greta-thunberg-arrives-nyc/ >
2
About the Sustainable Development Goals, United Nations Sustainable Development (15th April 2020).
(online). <https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/ >
3
United Nations Official Document, United Nations (15th April 2020) (online)
<https://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/70/1&Lang=E >
4
"Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development". United Nations – Sustainable
Development knowledge platform. (15th April 2020) (online).
<https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld >
deprivations will go hand-in-hand with strategies that enhance health and education, reduce
inequalities and promote economic growth – all while combating climate change and
promoting to preserve our oceans and forests.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The term “sustainable development” first came up in World Conservation Strategy (WCS)
published by the World Conservation Union in 1980. In 1983, the United Nations formed
the World Commission on Environment and Development (later known as the Brundtland
Commission), which described sustainable development as “meeting present needs without
sacrificing the future generation’s ability to meet their own needs”.5

But it all started in June 1992, at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where more than
178 countries adopted Agenda 21 which was a comprehensive plan of action to establish a
global partnership for sustainable development alliance with a view to improve human lives
and protecting the environment. This was the first time that a plan was adopted by nations to
battle the critical issue of environmental change. After that in September 2000, the member
states unanimously adopted the Millennium Declaration at the Millennium Summit held at
UN Headquarters New York. The summit led to elaboration of eight Millennium
Development Goals or MDG’s.6 The problem with MDG’s was that it provided a narrow
point of view, for which the governments failed to consider the root causes of poverty and
overlooked gender inequality as well as the holistic nature of development. The goals also
made no mention of human rights and did not specifically address economic development.
Although the MDGs, in principle, extended to all countries, they were in fact considered
targets for poor countries to achieve, with funding from wealthy states. 

Built on the frameworks of Agenda 21 and the Millennium Declaration The Johannesburg
Declaration on Sustainable Development and the Plan of Implementation, adopted in 2002,
at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in South Africa has reaffirmed the efforts
of the global community to poverty eradication and the atmosphere by placing greater focus
on multilateral partnerships.

5
“Our Common Future, Chapter 2: Towards Sustainable Development - A/42/427 Annex, Chapter 2 - UN
Documents: Gathering a body of global agreements”,World Commission on Environment (15th April, 2020)
(online) < http://www.un-documents.net/ocf-02.htm>
6
Millennium Development Goals, United Nations (16th April, 2020) (online)< https:// www.un.org /millennium
goals/ >
Unlike the MDGs, which were made by a group of people in a basement (or so the myth
goes), the UN has undertaken the largest consultation programme in its history to determine
what the situation about these SDG’. At the United Nations Conference on Sustainable
Development (Rio+20) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012, Member States adopted the
outcome document "The Future We Want" in what they agreed, to develop a set of SDGs to
build upon the MDGs and to initiate a process to create a UN High Level Sustainable
Political Forum.7 The Rio +20 outcome also contained other measures for implementing
sustainable development, including mandates for future programmes of work in development
financing, small island developing states and more. This conference was the first step towards
the creation of SDG’s.8

In 2013, the General Assembly formed a Open Working Group of 30-member to produce a
proposal on the SDGs. The UN held a number of “global meetings” amid the open working
group discussions.9 This included 11 thematic and 83 national consultations, and door-to-door
surveys. The UN has also launched an online survey called My World to ask people to give
priority to the areas they want to see addressed in the goals. The findings of the consultations
have been incorporated into the discussions of the working groups.10

The negotiation process on the post-2015 development agenda began at the General

Assembly on January 2015. The process led to the establishment and creation of 17 SDG’s
after the subsequent adoption and the blueprint of the sustainable development goals till
2030, at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015. The annual High-level
Political Forum on Sustainable Development was also established which serves as the central
UN platform for the follow-up and review of the SDGs.

THE INDIAN POLICY CONTEXT.

India being a member nation of the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development which includes 17 SDGs and 169 targets at the UN General Assembly Summit
in September 2015, and which came into effect on 1 January 2016.These goals brought
7
High level political forum on sustainable development. (16th April, 2020) (online)
<https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/hlpf>
8
"A Short History of the SDGs" Caballero, Paula (16th April, 2020). (PDF).
<https://web.archive.org/web/20171118221940/http://deliver2030.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/A-short-
history-of-the-SDGs-Paula-Caballero.pdf>
9
New  Open Working Group to Propose Sustainable Development Goals for Action by General Assembly's
Sixty-eighth Session | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". Un.org (16th April, 2020).
<https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2013/ga11339.doc.htm>
10
" Future We Want Outcome document. Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform". Sustainable
development.un.org. (16th April, 2020) (online). <https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/futurewewant.html>
national governments and millions of citizens from all over the world to negotiate and walk
on the global path for the next 15 years leading to sustainable development. The Government
of India has also adopted a National Action Plan on Climate Change to address this issue
directly, as well as a National Mission for Green India. These national schemes are
complemented by a host of specific programmes on solar energy, enhanced energy efficiency,
sustainable habitats, water, sustaining the Himalayan ecosystem, and to encourage strategic
knowledge for climate change.11 India still is the third highest emitter of carbon-dioxide and
is responsible for 6.9% of global emissions. However, the emissions intensity of India’s GDP
reduced by 12% between 2005 and 2010. In October 2015, India made a commitment to
reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 20-25% from its 2005 levels by 2020 and by 33-
35% by 2030. On 2 October 2016 India formally ratified the historic Paris Agreement. India
has committed to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 20-25% by 2020.12

So, what does the 13th SDG ask the government to do? What exactly does the Indian
government needs to do in this regard?

All the governments are asked to ‘take urgent action to combat climate change and its
impacts’ by the SDG 13. The goal recognises that addressing and minimising the risks posed
by climate change is integral to the successful implementation of the SDGs. The SDG 13
includes 5 targets which are:

1. Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural

disasters in all countries
2. Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning
3. Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate
change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
4. Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly
$100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing
countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on
implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its
capitalization as soon as possible.

11
SDG 13: Climate Action, UN. (17th April, 2020) (online) <https://in.one.un.org/page/sustainable-
development-goals/sdg-13/>
12
India to reduce Emissions Intensity, Press Information Bureau. (17th April, 2020) (online)
<https://pib.gov.in/newsite/printrelease.aspx?relid=128403>
 5. Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related
planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing
States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities.

Until recently, India’s domestic status and climate change policy scarcely acknowledged the
topic as one of importance to the country’s growth imperatives. However, over the last
decade, there has been a gradual change in perceptions around the issue of climate change
emerging both within national and state governments in India, the same applies to numerous
non-state actors including the private sector and civil society organisations. In particular,
since 2007 in response to international pressure for action, domestic policy activity on
climate change and related issues has become more focussed, including the establishment of
institutional frameworks at the national and state levels to prioritize and enact climate change
action plans. While the growing involvement of national and state governments and their
agencies in climate change policy has been a welcome change, the absence of local
governments in Indian cities from this process as they are only seen as conduits for
implementation. In India, climate change action plans have been formulated at the state
(regional) level by government officials from state-level agencies, but aim to integrate
national priorities with the respective state’s development goals. Government officials from
Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) are typically absent from the plan-making process. This is a
function both of the governance structure in Indian cities as well as a lack of awareness and
capacity to deal with these challenges. Climate change is rarely seen as an urban challenge by
local and state governments in the context of Indian cities. This is exacerbated by the
governance framework in India, where local governments have very little power and
decision-making authority. Fragmented urban governance, and the division of responsibilities
for urban planning among a very wide range of agencies, often lead to a lack of ownership
over larger issues. There is also a huge challenge in terms of the awareness of the issue itself,
and the capacity to engage and deal with it within government. That said, there are a few
examples of what people call ‘environmental champions’ in a few Indian cities: political
leaders who have explicitly engaged with climate change as an issue in urban areas and
attempted to develop strategies to tackle emerging concerns. However, these remain a
minority and climate change are yet to become a priority.13

13
Neha Sami, Chandni Singh and Amir Bazaz, Climate Change Policy in India and Goal 13. (17 th April, 2020)
(online) <http://iihs.co.in/knowledge-gateway/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Climate-Change-Policy-in-India-
and-Goal-13pdf>
Various schemes started by the government of India to combat climate change are National
Action Plan on Climate Change ,National Mission for a Green India, National Solar Mission,
National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency, National Mission for Sustainable Habitat,
National Water Mission, National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, National
Mission for Sustainable Agriculture and National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for
Climate Change.

In the Indian context, environmental governance has largely been underpinned by concerns
around reconciling developmental priorities and economic growth with sustainable
development pathways. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(MoEFCC) has adopted an overarching environmental policy), which sets mandates for
concerned departments, both 6 Climate Change Policy in India and Goal 13 at the apex and at
the sub-national level for the implementation of environmental quality standards (themed
areas of air, water and solid waste management and land degradation) within their defined
areas of jurisdiction. Climate change policies in India are firmly anchored within a co-
benefits framework, focussing on leveraging the synergies between development and climate
outcomes. These were first articulated in the National Action Plan on Climate Change
(NAPCC) 2008, and were also explicitly stated in the 12th Five Year Plan, introducing
measures that promote economic development while yielding secondary climate benefits.
NAPCC, released in 2008, aimed at creating a directional shift in India’s development
trajectory by integrating climate concerns with broader sustainable development pathways
that advance both economic and environmental objectives. Strategies outlined include
deployment of appropriate technologies, use of innovative markets, regulatory and voluntary
mechanisms, and linkages between various stakeholders. The plan itself was organized
around eight missions or sectors that chart long-term, coordinated strategies for national
climate change targets, ranging from the production solar power to agriculture and water as
well as a separate mission on the Himalayan ecosystem. Several of the NAPCC missions
(Energy Efficiency, Water and Greening India, for example) offered opportunities for urban-
scale engagement, including one (the Mission on Sustainable Habitat) that focussed explicitly
on cities. Following the establishment of the NAPCC, in 2009, the Government of India
asked the governments of states to mirror this process in their respective states, with a
particular emphasis on developing policies and plans that align with the eight NAPCC
missions and the development priorities of each state. The aim was to decentralise the
implementation of the eight NAPCC missions beyond the national scale, especially because
several of the focus areas of the missions (such as water and agriculture) were state subject.
As of October 2016, the National Steering Committee on Climate Change (MoEFCC) has
endorsed 32 states and union territories in India with Action Plans on Climate Change. The
state plans seem to focus largely on good sustainable development strategies, rather than
addressing climate change specifically. They also took the lead from the MoEFCC in
concentrating more on adaptation rather than mitigation, combining their action plans on
climate change with the state’s overall objectives. However, here too, the urban story was
largely missing.

The Government of India has appointed the National Institution for Transforming Urban
India (NITI Aayog), successor to the Planning Commission, as the nodal agency to
coordinate the SDGs. Together with the Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation (MoSPI), NITI Aayog will work together with the different line ministries to
develop indicators that reflect the SDG goals and targets. There has already been an initial
mapping exercise to identify specific nodal and other ministries for individual goals and
targets, as well as the mapping of some of the recent steps taken by the central government.
MoEFCC has been identified as the nodal ministry for Goal 1through initial mapping
exercise. It has also identified a couple of other ministries such as Home Affairs and
Information & Broadcasting to assist with specific targets. The larger concern is that there is,
as yet, no centrally sponsored scheme that has been identified as a potential source of
financing to help with the implementation of the targets. The related interventions that have
been identified map onto the eight NAPCC missions. Lack of adequate funding is another
critical barrier in the implementation of the climate action plans at the state level.

FROM ONE WORLD TO ONE EARTH-THE FUTURE WE WANT

We saw our world from space for the first time in the mid-20th century. Eventually historians
may find that this vision has a greater effect on thought than the 16th century Copernican
revolution14, which questioned the human self-image by revealing that the Earth is not the
centre of the universe. Through space, we see a small and delicate ball formed by a pattern of
clouds, oceans, greenery, and soils and not by human activity and edifice. Inability pf
humanity to suit its behaviours into that pattern is profoundly transforming planetary systems.

14
Eleanor Imster, Copernicus’s vision and Galileo’s vision, in pictures. (17 th April, 2020) (online)
<https://earthsky.org/space/copernicus-revolution-galileo-notes-pictures >
Many such changes are accompanied by life-threatening hazards. It is important to
understand and handle this new reality, from which there is no escape. The relationship
between the human world and the planet that sustains it has undergone profound changes
over the course of this century. The Millennium Development Goals have been a turning step
for the United Nations leaders to strive for a more prosperous and a better future for their
countries and its citizens. Following its footsteps, the Sustainable development goals are
designed to make the planet a better place to live by 2030. The climate of our planet is
shifting, with serious consequences for our daily lives and the survival of our nations.
Climate change is affecting national economies, People are experiencing shifting weather
patterns, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events.

India will continue to pursue the implementation of the SDG agenda through close
collaboration between the national and sub-national governments as well as active
participation of all other relevant stakeholders. In order to recognise good practices as well as
problems and implement effective course corrections, bi-annual assessments will be
performed with the state governments. The process of implementing SDG has begun to yield
valuable and useful insights. The process of introducing the SDG has begun to offer useful
insights. In addition to incorporating the SDGs into their current national and sub-national
policies and initiatives, India will continue to concentrate on cultivating regional and global
partnerships. This will work for a greater influx of finance and technology from developing
countries-in line with their clear pledge under the 2030 Agenda - to developing and least
developed nations. India claims that it will also be possible to eliminate poverty and ensure a
sustainable planet for everyone by integrating and maintaining efforts at the national and
global levels. We would like to conclude by arguing that India has the institutional
framework to take concrete steps to meet the climate change goals set out in Goal 13. India
claims that it will also be possible to eliminate poverty and ensure a sustainable planet for
everyone by integrating and maintaining efforts at the national and global levels. We would
like to conclude by arguing that India has the institutional framework to take concrete steps to
meet the climate change goals set out in Goal 13.

However, to make the objective truly meaningful, it will entail mapping of current climate
change initiatives with the SDG goals in order to prevent duplication and ensure the proper
utilization of funds, as well as reorienting policy towards urban areas. We are united in our
belief that the planet's stability, health and very existence depend on its India claims that it
will also be possible to eliminate poverty and ensure a sustainable planet for everyone by
integrating and maintaining efforts at the national and global levels. We would like to
conclude by arguing that India has the institutional framework to take concrete steps to meet
the climate change goals set out in Goal 13. However, to make the objective truly
meaningful, it will entail mapping of current climate change initiatives with the SDG goals in
order to prevent duplication and ensure the proper utilization of funds, as well as reorienting
policy towards urban areas.

We are united in our belief that the planet's stability, health and very existence depend on
such changes, now.