Key Points

Environmental concerns became a significant part of global politics from the 1960s onwards, moving beyond purely scientific or geographical discussions to become issues of international relations and state responsibility.

This global think tank published the book 'Limits to Growth', which dramatised the potential depletion of Earth's resources due to the rapidly growing world population, raising global awareness.

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro consolidated environmental issues at the global political level. It produced conventions on climate change and biodiversity and recommended 'Agenda 21'.

At the Rio Summit, a clear difference emerged between the developed countries (Global North) and developing countries (Global South). The North focused on ozone depletion and global warming, while the South prioritized the relationship between economic development and environmental management.

A key consensus from the Rio Summit was the idea of 'sustainable development'. This approach aims to combine economic growth with ecological responsibility to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Global Commons are resources located outside the sovereign jurisdiction of any single state and require common governance by the international community. Examples include the Earth's atmosphere, Antarctica, the ocean floor, and outer space.

This principle, accepted at the Rio Summit, states that while all states share a common responsibility to protect the environment, the developed countries bear a greater responsibility. This is because they have historically contributed more to environmental degradation and possess greater technological and financial resources.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992) provides a framework for action. The Kyoto Protocol (1997) is an international agreement that set binding targets for industrialized countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, exempting developing nations like India and China.

India ratified the Kyoto Protocol in 2002 and argues for the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. It holds that the primary responsibility for curbing emissions rests with developed countries due to their historical emissions.

India has taken several steps to address environmental concerns, including the National Auto-fuel Policy, the Energy Conservation Act (2001), and the Electricity Act (2003). It also has one of the world's largest renewable energy programs.

Significant responses to environmental challenges have come from diverse social movements, not just governments. These include forest movements, anti-mining movements, and anti-dam movements like the Narmada Bachao Andolan in India.

This term refers to the politics of 'who gets what, when, where, and how' regarding the world's natural resources. Access to and control over strategic resources like timber, oil, and water have been central to interstate rivalry and power.

Oil is the most important resource in global strategy, and struggles to control it have led to war. The Gulf region in West Asia is critical, holding about 64 percent of the planet's known oil reserves.

Freshwater is another crucial resource, and its increasing scarcity points to the possibility of violent conflicts in the 21st century. Disagreements over shared rivers between upstream and downstream states are a leading source of tension.

Indigenous peoples are defined by the UN as descendants of pre-colonial inhabitants who maintain their distinct cultural traditions. Their movements call for recognition of their rights, especially concerning their traditional lands and resources which are threatened by development.

In India, Scheduled Tribes are considered indigenous peoples, constituting about 8 percent of the population. They have often been displaced by development projects, paying a high price for national economic growth.

Formed in 1975, this organization was the first indigenous NGO to receive consultative status in the UN. It helped bring the common concerns and shared experiences of indigenous peoples to the global stage.