Developing nations have reasserted that fossil fuels must remain a critical part of their energy mix, citing historical carbon debt and the necessity of maintaining economic growth while pursuing climate goals. The position was emphasized following the BRICS New Delhi declaration, in which member states acknowledged the need to promote “just, orderly, equitable and inclusive energy transitions” without prematurely abandoning fossil energy sources.
The stance comes as climate advocates and policy experts point to stark disparities in historical greenhouse gas emissions between industrialized and developing economies. Sanjay Vashist, Director at Climate Action Network in South Asia, stated that developed nations consumed more than their fair share of global atmospheric space by burning fossil fuels beyond survival limits at the expense of developing countries. Vashist noted that industrialized nations are now pressuring major emerging economies, including BRICS nations, to curb emissions and slow economic expansion after having already driven global industrialization.
Data on cumulative emissions underlines the divide. By 2019, India’s total historical carbon dioxide emissions accounted for roughly 11 percent of the cumulative emissions generated by the United States. Pallavi Das, a programme lead at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, noted that human societies were largely agrarian with minimal fossil fuel reliance and minimal emissions before the rise of carbon-intensive modern lifestyles.
Former Environment Ministry Secretary CK Mishra stated that developing countries are currently the primary entities adhering to the terms of the Paris Agreement, arguing that developed nations have found a “convenient way out of the process.” Mishra highlighted that the foundational architecture of the Paris accord was established on the principle that developed nations would provide financial resources and technology transfer to assist developing countries in their climate transitions.
The debate over atmospheric space and climate finance directly intersects with severe climate impacts affecting vulnerable populations in developing regions. Extreme weather patterns continue to disrupt lives across South Asia and the broader Global South, manifesting as droughts and crop failures for agricultural workers, home destruction from severe flooding, saltwater intrusion affecting drinking water for coastal residents, and heatstroke and wage loss for urban outdoor laborers during intense heatwaves.
Sources
[Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/understanding-carbon-debt-factors-behind-brics-stance-on-fossil-fuels-and-why-it-matters-at-cop31-101790987171097.html)
Source: Hindustan Times – India News
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Story synopsis gathered from: Hindustan Times – India News — source
