As world leaders meet this week in New York and Washington to discuss climate change and ways to mitigate its effects, the discussion frequently turns to the large, fast-growing economies such as China and India who are, and are likely to be, among the largest emitters of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases.  But despite being the world's second most populous country and fourth largest economy, India's CO2 emissions is still only one-fifth that of the U.S. or China.  Furthermore, India is one of the lowest-intensity producers of CO2 among the large countries. India's per-capita emissions of CO2 is about one metric ton per person, compared with 4 as the world average, 9 for the United Kingdom and 20 for the U.S..  In a group of 70 of the world's largest emitters, India ranks in the bottom 10.  In terms of carbon emissions per unit of GDP (measured at Purchasing Power Parity, or PPP), too, India is virtually the lowest among comparator countries (see chart).  Finally, unlike in other countries, India's carbon intensity did not rise as economic growth accelerated in the last decade. 

The reasons for India's low carbon intensity have much to do with the low access to electricity.  Four hundred million Indians lack access to electricity (as opposed to 100 million Africans), 600 million cook with biomass, and rural electrification rates in the most populous states such as Bihar (10 percent) and Uttar Pradesh (18 percent) are considerably below the African average (21 percent).  This means that any effort to slow the growth of CO2 emissions in India will have to be matched by a strategy of giving poor people greater access to electricity.  India’s own energy strategy articulated in the Integrated Energy Policy report (2006) and 11th Plan seeks to do this byaugmenting clean and efficient supply of energy, increasing end-use energy efficiency, deepening sectoral reforms and protecting the environment. In short, India has a real chance to set an inspiring example of rapid “climate-responsible” growth.