The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) recently proposed a draft resolution on climate change, which received opposition from India and Russia. This draft, originally proposed by Germany in 2020 and co-sponsored by Ireland and Niger, garnered the support of 113 UN member countries, including 12 of the 15 UNSC members.
The Draft Resolution on Climate Change
The draft resolution aimed to establish a formal arena within the Security Council for discussions on climate change and its implications for international security. It called for regular reports from the UN Secretary-General on how climate change risks could be managed to prevent conflicts. The resolution also sought the appointment of a special envoy for climate security and required UN field missions to routinely report on climate change assessments in their areas of operation.
Rationale behind the Draft Resolution
Climate change has been argued to possess an international security dimension. Issues such as food or water shortages induced by climate change, loss of habitat or livelihood, or migration can intensify existing conflicts or even create new ones. These issues can subsequently impact the UN field missions that play key roles in global peacekeeping efforts.
India’s Critique of the Draft Resolution
India critiqued the draft resolution for attempting to shift climate talks from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to the Security Council. India claimed this move was a “step backward” for collective action on climate issues. Additionally, India had previously forced a last-minute amendment in the final draft agreement at the annual climate change conference to ensure that the call for “phase-out” of coal was altered to “phase-down”.
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
The UNFCCC discusses all matters related to climate change. It consists of over 190 countries, which meet several times annually, including a two-week conference at the year’s end, to strategize a global approach towards climate change. This process led to the establishment of the Paris Agreement and its predecessor, the Kyoto Protocol.
Concerns over UNSC’s Expertise
Critics argue that the UNFCCC should be the primary forum to address all climate change-related issues as the Security Council is not equipped with the necessary expertise. They also express concerns about hegemony over climate action. In contrast to the UNFCCC, where decisions are reached through a unanimous agreement amongst all 190-plus countries, the UNSC would allow a few developed nations to determine the course of climate change action.
Recent Climate-Related Measures by India
India has taken several measures to combat climate change, including unveiling an ambitious climate action plan at COP26, striving to achieve “net zero” by 2070, increasing its installed renewable energy capacity, and taking a global lead in initiatives like the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
About the United Nations Security Council
The UNSC, one of the six main organs of the United Nations, is responsible for maintaining international peace and security. It comprises 15 members, five of whom are permanent members, and the remaining ten are non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly. Unlike other UN organs which can only make recommendations, the Security Council possesses the power to make decisions that member states are obliged to implement under the Charter.
India, recognizing its population size, territorial expanse, economic potential, civilisational legacy, cultural diversity, political system, and significant contributions to UN activities, especially peacekeeping operations, has been advocating for a permanent seat in the UNSC.
