Pankaj Sharma
As the world grapples with the escalating impacts of climate change, the divide between the developed and developing nations has become glaringly evident. Nowhere is this divide more visible than in the West’s approach to climate action, characterized by lofty promises, unfulfilled commitments, and actions that often contradict their rhetoric. Despite being historically responsible for the lion’s share of greenhouse gas emissions, Western nations continue to evade their moral and financial obligations, while simultaneously imposing undue pressures on developing nations.
Historical Responsibility vs. Current Inaction nations, particularly the United States, European Union member states, and other developed economies, are responsible for nearly 80% of the carbon dioxide emitted since the Industrial Revolution. This industrial prosperity was built on fossil fuels, laying the foundation for their current wealth and technological dominance.
Yet, when it comes to addressing the climate crisis, these nations often deflect responsibility by emphasizing current emissions rather than historical ones. Developing nations like India and China, which are now emerging as significant emitters, are unfairly targeted despite their per capita emissions being a fraction of those in the West.
Unfulfilled Promises of Climate Finance
A cornerstone of the West’s climate hypocrisy lies in its failure to deliver on financial commitments. At the 2009 Copenhagen climate conference, developed nations pledged $100 billion annually by 2020 to help developing countries mitigate and adapt to climate change. This promise remains largely unmet.
Recent financial proposals from Western countries have been criticized as insufficient and self-serving. For example, much of the “aid” provided comes in the form of loans rather than grants, burdening developing nations with debt. India, along with other nations, recently rejected a Western aid package as inadequate, pointing out that it does not address the scale of the climate crisis nor the historical injustices faced by the global South.
Continued Fossil Fuel Dependence
Despite their calls for global decarbonization, Western countries continue to rely heavily on fossil fuels. The United States, for instance, has ramped up oil and gas production in recent years, even as it champions renewable energy transitions globally. Similarly, European nations, in the face of the energy crisis triggered by geopolitical tensions, have reopened coal plants and signed new fossil fuel contracts.
This double standard undermines the West’s credibility and highlights the inherent hypocrisy in its climate narrative. Developing nations are often criticized for not adopting renewable energy quickly enough, yet they face barriers such as high technology costs, restrictive intellectual property rights, and insufficient support from developed nations.
Green Protectionism and Unequal Policies
The West’s climate hypocrisy is also evident in its trade and environmental policies. The European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is a case in point. This policy imposes tariffs on imports from countries with higher carbon footprints, disproportionately affecting developing nations. While framed as a climate measure, CBAM ignores the historical emissions of developed countries and penalizes nations that are still industrializing.
India has been vocal in criticizing such measures, labeling them as “green protectionism” that prioritizes Western economic interests over genuine climate solutions.
The Loss and Damage Fund: A Symbolic Gesture?
The establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund at COP27 was hailed as a victory for climate justice. However, its implementation remains uncertain, with developed countries reluctant to provide substantial contributions. The fund, meant to compensate vulnerable nations for climate-induced damages, risks becoming another symbolic gesture unless backed by genuine commitments.
Hypocrisy in Action: Climate Narratives vs. Realities
While Western nations advocate for renewable energy adoption, they tightly guard green technologies through patents and intellectual property rights, making them prohibitively expensive for developing nations.
Despite having the highest per capita consumption and waste generation, Western countries shift the blame to nations with far lower environmental footprints.
The West often pressures developing nations to abandon coal while investing in their own fossil fuel infrastructure or funding fossil projects abroad.
The recently concluded COP29 summit in Baku has further exposed the West’s failure to live up to its climate responsibilities. Despite pledging $300 billion annually for climate finance by 2035, developed nations once again disappointed the global South, which had sought a trillion-dollar fund. India and other nations criticized the pledge as inadequate, calling it a symbolic move rather than a genuine attempt to address the climate crisis.
The Loss and Damage Fund, hailed as a historic achievement at COP27, was left weakened at COP29, with no clarity on implementation or sufficient financial backing. Calls for phasing out fossil fuels were largely ignored, with Western nations prioritizing energy security over meaningful climate action.
A Call for Genuine Climate Justice
For the global climate movement to succeed, the West must confront its hypocrisy and take meaningful action.
Developed nations must accept and address their historical emissions and provide reparations to those most affected by climate change.
Intellectual property rights on critical renewable technologies should be waived, allowing developing nations access to affordable solutions.
The West must lead by example, halting new fossil fuel projects and transitioning to renewable energy systems.
Trade and climate policies should be equitable, avoiding punitive measures like CBAM that exacerbate global inequalities.
The West’s climate hypocrisy is not merely a matter of rhetoric but a significant barrier to global progress. Developing nations cannot be expected to shoulder the climate burden alone while the wealthiest countries fail to lead by example. To address the climate crisis effectively, the West must abandon its double standards and embrace genuine, equitable action. Only then can the world move towards a sustainable and just future.
(The author is M.A Political science Jammu University Student).
