Yet, there are significant differences between India and China. China is 81 in the HDR ranking, India comes way below at 128. While the Chinese have a life expectancy of 72 years, an adult literacy level of 90.9 per cent, and per capita GDP of $6,757, for India the figures are much lower: 63.7, 61 per cent, and $3,452. What’s also plain is the difference in the emission level of the two countries: China’s is expected to be five times that of India’s by 2015. The average Indian uses 439 kg of oil-equivalent energy, less than one-half of the average for China. While half of India’s population still doesn’t have access to electricity, China has been able to achieve a far wider power distribution for its people.

Given the fact that both countries are at different points on the development/ emissions curve, the facile hyphenation between them may not be quite appropriate. This, however, cannot be an argument for India not taking the issue of climate change seriously, or for not changing policy and taking demonstrable and urgent steps to reduce its own carbon footprint. It should do this in its own best interests.

pamela.philipose@expressindia.com