LIMA: With air pollution levels reaching alarming levels in Indian cities, the government has raised the stakes at global climate negotiations and sent a much bigger team than before to Lima, which includes an official from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) for talks, signaling the Narendra Modi government's concern about the issue.
In a departure from the last two years, when the Indian team of negotiators comprised about 15 people, this time it includes 32 members, who bring a wide spectrum of expertise with members from the PMO, a member of the PM's Council on Climate Change, an executive from NTPC, a former finance ministry adviser, as well as officials dealing with renewable energy, coal, forests and funding.
ET had reported that the environment ministry had suggested a delegation comprising 36 members, including the environment minister.
The Indian delegation to Lima sees the return of Jayant Mauskar, member of the Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change and former co-chair of the Durban Platform, which is discussing the new climate agreement.
Mauskar is a veteran negotiator, and his presence in the team adds heft to the Indian contingent. Another senior negotiator who marks a return to the team is Dipak Dasgupta, member of the board of the Green Climate Fund and former principal economic adviser in the ministry of finance. The inclusion of both Mauskar and Dasgupta signals the level of importance that the government is attaching to the Lima round of talks.
At Lima, countries propose to decide the elements that will comprise each one's contribution to tackling climate change.
In climate negotiation parlance, this is referred to as intended nationally determined contributions or INDC. India has argued that these contributions cannot be just about emission reduction but need to include efforts to adapt to climate change, and providing finance, technology, and capacity building to developing countries. In this context, Dasgupta's inclusion into the team is important.
As a member of the board of the Green Climate Fund, he will be able to provide New Delhi with an accurate assessment of the actual flow of climate funds. India has repeatedly stressed that without adequate funds it would be difficult for developing countries to contribute meaningfully to tackling climate change.
The team also includes another longtime negotiator, Jagdish Kishwan, former additional director general of forests.
The negotiating team also includes scientists from the Indian Agriculture Research Institute and the ministry of renewable energy, India's biggest utility NTPC, an official from the power ministry who is part of the project monitoring group, and an official from the trade policy division of the department of commerce.
These choices indicate India's focus on renewables as well as the understanding that coal will be the country's mainstay for energy.
The Modi administration's focus on economic growth and trade is also evident in the team. The new look Indian negotiating team doesn't however signal a change in approach. On Tuesday, the Cabinet approved India's negotiating playbook.
In a brief statement, the government said the approach seeks to protect the interests of the country in climate change negotiations based on the principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol.
It would also enhance the solidarity among the developing countries on these issues.
