India votes against Resolution on Climat

Q Why is it in News ?

A India has voted against a draft resolution at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) linking climate to security.

Q What are some details about United Nations Security Council ?

A 

• The UNSC is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security.
• Its powers include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of international sanctions, and the authorization of military action through Security Council resolutions.
• It is the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions to member states.
• The Security Council consists of fifteen members. Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, and the United States serve as the body’s five permanent members (P5).
• These permanent members can veto any substantive Security Council resolution, including those on the admission of new member states or candidates for Secretary-General.
• The Council also has 10 non-permanent members, elected on a regional basis to serve two-year terms.
• The body’s presidency rotates monthly among its members.

Q What was the recent draft about?

A 

• The objective of the draft was to examine how terrorism and security risks could be linked to climate change.

Q What were the reasons cited by India ?

A 

• Deviation from UNFCCC: The draft was an attempt to shift climate talks from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to the Security Council and a “step backward” for collective action on the issue.
• Evasion of responsibility: The attempt to discuss climate action and climate justice issues at the UNSC was “motivated by a desire to evade responsibility in the appropriate forum.”
• Veto hegemony over Climate Action: Countries are attempting to bring climate talks to the UNSC so that decisions could be taken without consensus or the involvement of most developing countries.
• Historic pollutants: Many of the UNSC members were the primary contributors to climate change due to historical emissions.
• Overtly ambitious targets: Indian officials had said at the conclusion of COP26 that India alone would need a trillion dollars by 2030 to achieve its climate ambitions.

Q What is the significance of UNFCC ?

A 

• The UN already has a specialized agency, the UNFCCC, for discussing all matters related to climate change.
• The parties to the UNFCCC - over 190 countries  meet several times every year, including at a two-week year-ending conference like the one at Glasgow, to work on a global approach to combat climate change.
• It is this process that has given rise to the Paris Agreement, and its predecessor the Kyoto Protocol, the international instrument that is designed to respond to the climate change crisis.

Q What are arguments in favor of UNSC in climate talks ?

A 

• Preventing conflicts: The UNSC exists primarily to prevent conflicts and maintain global peace.
• International security: A few EU countries, led by Germany, have been pushing for a role for UNSC in climate change discussions citing international security dimensions.
• Climate-led conflicts: Climate change-induced food or water shortage, loss of habitat or livelihood, or migration can exacerbate existing conflicts or even create new ones.
• UN Peacekeeping: This can have implications for the UN field missions that are deployed across the world in peacekeeping efforts.

Q What are issues with UNSC ?

A 

• Veto by Russia and China: These two permanent members have always been opposed to the move to bring climate change on the Security Council agenda.
• Lack of expertise: The opposing countries claim that the UNSC does not have the expertise as compared to UNFCCC.
• Lack of consensus: Unlike UNFCCC, where decisions are taken by consensus of all the 190-plus countries, the UNSC would enable climate change decision-making by a handful of developed countries.

Q Why is India is in highlight again ?

A 

• This was the second time that India went against the tide to block a climate change-related proposal that it did not agree with.
• At the Glasgow COP, India had forced a last-minute amendment in the final draft agreement to ensure that a provision calling for “phase-out” of coal was changed to “phase-down”.