As US retreats on climate, India must step up, Pg13

Key Highlights:

• US President Donald Trump repealed the Endangerment Finding (EF), initially issued by the EPA in 2009.
• The EF had legally supported mitigation efforts and the Paris Agreement, even without US ratification of the Kyoto Protocol.
• The repeal may lead to a resurgence of fossil fuels in the US due to regulatory rollbacks and financial incentives.
• India has the opportunity to intensify investments in green technologies and strengthen its commitment to sustainable development.

Detailed Insights:

• The Endangerment Finding was the basis for all subsequent regulations by the EPA, ensuring that the agency could not ignore climate change.
• The repeal of the EF may dampen investor confidence in renewable energy and electric mobility within the US.
• Slowed investment in low-carbon technology innovation in the US could affect the pace at which new technologies become affordable globally.
• India should intensify investment in green technologies to accelerate its energy transition, capture global value chains, and create jobs.
• India's hosting of events like the AI Impact Summit, Mumbai Climate Week, and the Tamil Nadu Climate Summit provides an opportunity to signal its commitment to sustainable development.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Endangerment Finding (EF): A legal determination by the US EPA that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and welfare.
• Mitigation: Actions taken to reduce the severity of climate change by limiting greenhouse gas emissions.
• Net-Zero: Achieving a balance between the amount of greenhouse gases produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere.