Why in news?

SVA group of developing countries that includes India and China has rejected the first draft of the expected agreement from the Glasgow climate conference and asked for changing the entire section on enhancing of mitigation actions.

Key points-

• Colonialism is defined as “control by one power over a dependent area or people.” It occurs when one nation subjugates another, conquering its population and exploiting it, often while forcing its own language and cultural values upon its people.
• Modern colonialism began during what's also known as the Age of Discovery. Beginning in the 15th century, Portugal began looking for new trade routes and searching for civilizations outside of Europe.
• In 21st century new type of colonialism is seen i.e. Neocolonialism which is defined as the economic and political policies by which a great power indirectly maintains or extends its influence over other areas of the world.
• To deal with the impacts of climate change, the Paris Agreement sets out a global framework to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2°C and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C.
• Carbon offsetting has been proposed as a win-win solution to mitigate climate change, one that helps the Global North to meet their emission caps while promoting sustainable development in the Global South.
• Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) allows industrialized nations and their private corporations to invest in carbon efficient projects in developing countries while the net benefits of carbon reduction accrue to the investors.

• Carbon colonialism is the practice of claiming space in the Global South to meet the needs of the Global North in the name of carbon dioxide reduction.

Example: Norwegian companies are acquiring several thousand hectares of land in East Africa to plant fast growing trees like eucalyptus and pine. They expect to make profits from these plantations by selling timber and wood and in the future, through sale of carbon credits on basis of carbon dioxide storage in the plantations.

Issues-

• The 2050 net zero targets being “forced” on the developing countries.
• Ignored historical responsibilities of the developed nations and the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) enshrined in the (UNFCCC).
• The developing countries would be trapped in a very unjust way of addressing climate change because only the developed countries will have the financial capabilities and technological capacities to achieve that target.
• Countries that would not able to achieve the net zero targets would be ethically and financially condemned.

Way ahead

Like Minded Developing Countries (LMDCs) such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia among several others, accused the developed countries of attempting to transfer their responsibilities on the rest of the world, and trying to impose new rules. Developing countries need to fight the developed world against this carbon colonialism.

Source-Indian express, Down to earth.