Climate Geopolitics: Why India is the World’s Deal Breaker

At every global climate summit, all eyes are on India. Why? Because we are the third-largest emitter, and we are a developing country that refuses to accept the same rules as the West. India’s stance is simple: ‘You (the West) got rich by burning coal for 200 years; you don’t get to tell us to stop using coal overnight.’ It’s a strong moral argument. But it’s also a geopolitical tool. India uses climate negotiations to extract technology transfers and funding from richer nations. The phrase ‘climate justice’ is basically India’s bargaining chip. However, there is a flip side. As a country highly vulnerable to climate change (coastal cities, monsoon dependency), we are also shooting ourselves in the foot by delaying the transition. It’s a classic case of short-term pragmatism versus long-term survival. Right now, pragmatism is winning.