US Taxpayers To Pay For ‘Viral Videos On Climate Change’ In India

By Thomas Phippen

The U.S. government is planning a viral video campaign to “raise awareness on climate change” in India as part of an initiative to help the country decrease its carbon emissions.

“Climate Change is a top policy priority for Mission India,” which is why State Department will pay up to $95,000 for several 2-3 minute videos that will “inspire the viewers to take action to curb climate change,” according to a grant announcement posted Friday.

In partnership with the U.S. Consulate in Hyderabad, India, the State Department wants to “create and spread awareness on key climate change issues.”

The organization who eventually gets the award will research topics, conduct focus groups and create storyboards for the video series. The U.S. consulate in India will assist in the project by coordinating with locals and approving final content.

The State Department wants to do the project right, as “visual mediums tend to create a strong impression.” Whatever organization receives the award must work with a local Indian director. The grant could also support the local economy, as the grant could be awarded to an Indian non-profit organization.

As a developing country, India has struggled to commit the same level of support to the global fight against climate change that other, more developed nations have promised. “While concerns about air pollution are widespread in India, the connection to climate change and the burning of fossil fuels and wood (as opposed to moving towards clean energy that reduces air pollution) is less understood,” the grant notice says.(RELATED: US Taxpayers To Fund Global Warming Debates For Colleges In India)

Organizations interested in the grant have until Sept. 22, 2016, to submit proposals for the grant.

As the fourth-largest carbon emitter, India’s high carbon emissions have brought the ire of the UN and the State Department over the past few years. At the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris last November, India agreed to cut their carbon emissions after pressure from President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry.

While India promised to get 40 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2030, carbon fuel remains the cheapest and most efficient source, especially for developing economies.(RELATED: Scientists Say The Math Simply Doesn’t Add Up On Obama’s Big Global Warming Plan) 

Developing renewable technology is difficult even for a thriving western economies, and India doesn’t want to miss out on opportunities developed countries have. “Climate justice demands that, with the little carbon space we still have, developing countries should have enough room to grow,” India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a speech last November.

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