Indian government this week published its strategy for tackling the threat posed by climate change. However, The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) lacks any firm commitment to cutting carbon emissions, which are set to rise as a direct result of economic development.

Mumbai and Delhi bottom of list for Asia air quality

A recent study by MasterCard Worldwide Insights called "Urbanization and Environmental Challenges in Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa" found that of 21 leading cities Mumbai and Delhi came bottom when comparing indicators under government control, one of which was air quality. While the weighting given by MasterCard to different environmental issues is open to debate there is no doubt India has a major environmental challenge.

Consider the following, according to the International Energy Agency the growth of the Chinese and Indian economies will raise global energy demand by 50% before 2030 and India will become the third largest carbon emitter by 2015. In addition, India imports 70% of its oil and gas while relying on coal to generate half its electricity.

The need to triple its current power capacity

According to McKinsey & Co's report "Powering India, The Road to 2017", India needs to almost triple its existing power capacity, equivalent of 30 gigawatts per year - or adding half the UK's electricity generating capacity to the Indian grid annually.

The NAPCC sets out eight areas to focus on, one of which is increasing solar power in India's energy mix, there is evidence to support Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's desire to see the sun "occupy centre stage". Moser Baer, a domestic DVD maker has invested US$ 250 million in a partnership with Applied Materials, a US semiconductor maker. They estimate that energy production from solar panels alone could grow to generate 2 gigawatts of energy by 2010. A good start but a fraction of what is required.

Economic development comes first

Indian government has optimistically pledged to abolish poverty by 2040, so it is easy to understand why no formal commitments have been made, economic development comes first. While fingers are being pointed at India by more developed 'greener' countries the international community has to remember that per capita the US produces about 20 tonnes of emissions compared with India's 1.2 tonnes.

India's astute pledge

Prime Minister Singh has pledged to the G8 that India's carbon emissions - per capita - will never exceed those of developed nations, a clever ploy providing him with plenty of environmental wiggle room, this promise also challenges more developed nations to put their own house in order.

Government needs to remember that global warming could cripple its economy. The Peterson Institute for International Economics estimates that if global temperatures rise 4.4 degrees celsius by 2080, India's agricultural output is projected to fall by 30%.

Powering a growing economy is one thing, feeding a growing population is something entirely different.