Confronting the climate change challenge: discussing the role of rural India under cumulative emission budget approach

► Global climate policy architecture shall be framed to limit cumulative future emissions. ► Distribution of global emission budget in per capita terms and allowing its trade is desirable. ► Trading allows decarbonization of industrialized economies and low carbon growth for others. ► Current low emission lifestyle and low energy demand in India means sizable surplus budget. ► Sustaining the surplus budget of today's low emitters is crucial in attaining the climatic goals.