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India and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), Global South in G-20 summit, High-Altitude Sickness

Table of Contents

(General Studies III – Environment section – Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.)

  • The European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), a measure designed to impose carbon costs on imported goods, is being criticised by India and other developing nations as discriminatory.
  • With the definite phase set to begin in 2026, the CBAM poses a serious challenge to India’s exports, particularly in sectors such as iron, steel, and aluminium, which constitute a significant portion of India’s trade with the EU.
CBAM: A Discriminatory Measure Shifting the Responsibility: Experts argue that CBAM disproportionately burdens exporters from developing nations by holding them accountable for emissions embedded in their exports. This contravenes the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) under the UNFCCC, which acknowledges the differing capacities of countries to address climate change.Exacerbating Inequities: Noted economists emphasize that CBAM ignores historical emissions by developed nations, instead penalizing countries with emerging economies for their developmental emissions. This approach deepens the divide between the Global North and South, fostering inequality in global climate governance.Revenue Retention: CBAM retains revenues within the EU, depriving developing nations of financial support for technology transfer and capacity-building, which are essential for adopting sustainable practices. Critics call this a unilateral move that disregards the cooperative nature required for addressing climate issues.Limited Adaptation Time: Experts highlight that developing countries have not been afforded the decades-long timelines enjoyed by the EU to adapt to stringent climate measures, making CBAM particularly onerous.

Proposed Arguments and Solutions for India

  1. Demand for Adequate Preparation Time: Highlight the disparity in timelines for emission reduction targets.
  2. While the EU began its climate action in 1990, developing countries, including India, lack similar historical timelines to adapt to mechanisms like CBAM.
  1. Call for Revenue Sharing: Advocate for sharing CBAM revenues to fund capacity-building, technology transfer, and sustainable development in developing economies.
  2. Promote Equity-Based Accounting (EBA): Push for a fairer system of emission accountability based on principles of intra-generational equity and inter-generational equity.
  3. Introduce a tariff calculation formula incorporating factors like per capita GDP, per capita emissions, and historical contributions to climate change.
  4. Strengthen Retaliatory Mechanisms: Collaborate with other developing nations to develop counter-measures that reflect their economic and developmental heterogeneities.
  5. Propose a collective response at global platforms like COP29.
  6. Leverage Multilateral Platforms: Use platforms such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to contest CBAM’s lack of compensatory and distributive justice.
Broader Implications for Global Trade                                    

To effectively counter CBAM, India must adopt a multi-pronged strategy emphasizing fairness, equity, and international collaboration. Advocating for adequate preparation time, revenue sharing, and equity-based accounting principles will not only strengthen India’s position but also uphold the principles of CBDR-RC.
Global South
Global South is a term incorporating developing countries, east developed countries, underdeveloped countries, low-income economies or third-world countries.
Global South is used to describe countries whose economies are not yet fully developed and which face challenges such as low per capita income, excessive unemployment, and a lack of valuable capital.
  • At the G-20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the Prime Minister highlighted the challenges faced by countries of the Global South, including food, fuel, and fertilizer crises.
  • Global South stressed that discussions must address the challenges of hunger, poverty, and inclusion, with a focus on the Global South.
  • India supported Brazil’s efforts to advance people-centric decisions from India’s G-20 presidency.
  • Launch of a Global Alliance to combat Hunger and Poverty supported by 80 nations.
  • India’s approach combines “Back to Basics” (organic farming, millet promotion) with “March to the Future” (climate-resilient crops).
Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty
The Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, proposed by Brazil’s G20 presidency, aims to eradicate hunger (SDG 2) and poverty (SDG 1), reduce inequalities (SDG 10), and strengthen global partnerships for sustainable development (SDG 17).
Unified database reduces transaction costs and prevents duplication.
Focus on pooling resources and expertise for efficient, multisectoral strategies.
Open and voluntary membership.
Constituent Pillars:
National Pillar: Focused on country-led initiatives.
Financial Support Pillar: Aligns financial resources to support programs.
Knowledge Pillar: Promotes sharing of expertise and best practices.
Governance Structure
Summit Against Hunger and Poverty: High-level forum
Board of Champions: Senior representatives motivate participation and decision-making within their organizations.
Support Mechanism: Multiskilled teams from UN agencies and international organizations.

Dig Deeper: Read various dimensions of Global South and South-South Cooperation.

  • India and Italy released the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-29 during the G-20 Summit, focusing on strengthening defence, maritime, trade, and cultural ties.
  • Defence Cooperation to be focused in the Joint Strategic Action Plan:
  • Negotiation of Defence Industrial Road Map: To enhance collaboration between the Defence Ministries.
  • Mutual Protection of Classified Information: Agreement for secure information exchange.
  • Industry Collaboration: Promote an MoU between the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers and the Italian Industries Federation for Aerospace, Defence, and Security.
  • Increased interactions between armed forces to strengthen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. Exploration of agreements for enhancing interoperability and joint exercises.
  • Maritime Engagement: Agreement on cooperation in the maritime and port sectors.
Carrier Strike Group Exercise 2014
Conducted off the Goa coast, led by INS Vikramaditya and ITS Cavour.
It involved both open sea and territorial water operations in all weather conditions, with special participation from the Indian Airforce as well.

Dig Deeper: Read about the Middle Powers in the International Relations.

  • Rising prison occupancy in India, at 131.4% of capacity, necessitates innovative measures such as electronic tracking of parolees and furlough beneficiaries to decongest prisons.
  • Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023 proposes granting prison leave conditioned on the use of electronic tracking devices.
  • Non-compliance may lead to cancellation of leave.
  • Pilot Programme Proposal suggested for low or moderate-risk undertrials to monitor movements and ensure compliance.
  • Odisha pioneered the proposal for using tamper-proof electronic trackers on undertrials accused of non-heinous offences.
  • Prevents offenders from contacting victims or returning to crime locations.
  • Risk of infringing on prisoners’ Privacy Rights, as noted in a recent Supreme Court judgment.
  • Absence of clear norms for the ethical use of such technology.
  • Compact and discreet designs are needed to reduce reluctance among beneficiaries.

Dig Deeper: Read about Prison Reforms pushed by the central Government and Supreme Court.

  • High-altitude sickness poses a severe risk to tourists in the inner Himalayas due to reduced oxygen levels and inadequate infrastructure.
  • Conditions like Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) can escalate into life-threatening situations, requiring urgent intervention.
  • AMS occurs when the body cannot acclimatise to elevations above 8,000 feet due to reduced oxygen.
  • Early signs include headache, nausea, fatigue, and breathlessness.
  • Severe cases may result in High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) or High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE).
  • High altitudes cause hyperventilation and increased red blood cell production, straining the heart and lungs.
  • Travellers should ascend slowly, resting every 3-4 days above 3,000 meters and limiting daily elevation increases to 500 meters.
  • Drugs like Acetazolamide aid acclimatisation; Dexamethasone and Nifedipine are used for severe cases or prevention.
  • Immediate Descent: Moving 300-1,000 meters lower often improves symptoms.
  • Supplemental Oxygen: Use of oxygen or portable hyperbaric chambers in emergencies.
  • Pharmacological Relief: Temporary symptom relief with medications, but descent is crucial.

Dig Deeper: Read about HAPE and HACE conditions.