Indian environmental diplomacy: focus and framework

Abstract

Indian environmental diplomacy made a strong initial mark at the UnitedNation Conference on Human Environment in Stockholm in 1972. Thereare currently more than 200 environmental treaties and India has signedor ratified 74 of them.Environmental issues are not merely scientific and technical subjects butare intertwined with the central issues of world politics: internationalsystem of resource production and use, principles of world trade, North-South relations, security concerns of India and internal social andpolitical stability. Being a party to the international environmentalregime enjoins national responsibility and the outcomes affect commonpeople. It can also mean incurring higher cost of production, changingconsumption pattern, new priorities of investment, need for researchand development, and even reforms in governance. Debate over devisingprinciple for sharing the responsibility is intense and negotiators need tohave very informed and tactical positions. Thus focused approach,comprehensive perspective, and suitable structure of environmentaldiplomacy are the sine qua non of present-day international relations.Global thinking and managing national interests together expect greaterresponsibility of the policy framers.This study examines the adequacy of existing institutional structures andmechanisms to transact environmental negotiation, inclusion of differentstakeholders, and capability to meet present or futuristic needs ofmultilateral environmental negotiations. It discusses the present focus ofIndian environmental diplomacy and suggests changes in the institutionalmechanism and principles to make environmental diplomacy moreeffective.Indian environmental diplomacy has been characterized by concern forsovereignty, concern for equity, solidarity with the Third World, priorityof development over environment, and a high degree of self-esteem andconcern for India's international image. Environmental diplomacy inIndia is conducted jointly by the Ministry of Environment and Forests(MOEF) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MOEA). No environmental functionary works in MOEA. There is no fixed method of coordinatingwith MOEF. MOEF brings environmental issues in picture, butdevelopment aspects are taken care of by MOEA. In MOEF initially theInternational Cooperation (IC) division used to handle all multilateralenvironmental agreements but in the post-Rio scenario specificconventions and related activities are looked after by different divisions,normally headed by Joint Secretaries (JS). The arrangement has intrinsicproblems of lack of smooth coordination and professional expertise,inadequate consultation, exclusion of stakeholders, missing peopleconnectivity, faulty and delayed choice of delegation, ineffectiveinteraction with global bureaucracy, and unprepared negotiations.Two most important needs of Indian environmental diplomacy are themainstreaming with foreign policy and turning proactive. Consistencybetween multilateral environmental agreements (MEA) and the relatedprovision in other multilateral arrangements, closer coordinationbetween trade and environmental diplomacies, reconsideration of ThirdWorld solidarity, integration of China in WTO and MEAs, unilateral policyof US, and Japan's rising interest in environment should define thepresent focus of environmental diplomacy. India can play a role indeveloping new financial sources by consolidating its old rhetoric of thePlanet Protection Fund or advocacy for creation of fund through tax onthe flow of capital. India must lead nations in stabilizing the meaning ofcommonly referred principles of international environment law,reviewing existing treaties, leading new issues of biotechnologicaldevelopments, and rekindling international debate on production andconsumption patterns. India can guide even capacity building of G-77 asa group.Strengthening the United Nations Environment and Science (UNES)division of MOEA, designating Permanent Missions of India in New Yorkand Geneva and embassies in Bonn, Nairobi, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo,Singapore and Canberra as regional centres for environmentaldiplomacy, strengthening of the IC division of MOEF, constitution of anAdvisory Committee on International Environmental Issues, involvementof the Indian National Science Academy to work on science and policyimplications of environmental issues, capacity building of state and nonstateactors, and establishing a system of environmental review of tradeand investment agreements are recommended for improvingenvironmental diplomatic institutions.