Pachauri, who is also member of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Council on Climate Change, in an interview to TOI spoke on a range of issues including the course of action India should take to go on low- carbon growth path, outcome of the Lima climate talks, future of the IPCC and the GCF that is meant for helping out developing countries for their mitigation and adaptation actions.

He said the countries in Lima had, at least, come up with a framework for a kind of agreement that the world would get in Paris in December next year in the form of a global climate deal. He said the rich nations would, hopefully, contribute to the GCF once all the countries provide their INDCs next year. The IPCC chairman also opened up on the future of the UN body on climate change, saying it will continue to work and there is a possibility of sixth assessment report.

Excerpts:

Q. How you see the outcome of the Lima climate conference?

A. Lima outcome has, at least, come up with a framework for a kind of agreement that we would get in Paris. I don't know whether this is enough or not, but now we have at least a concrete basis on which we will carry out our negotiations. Every country will provide their INDCs on certain basis (elements) and will see whether it would be enough to meet the goal of keeping the temperature rise below 2 degree Celsius this century. So, Lima to that extent is a beginning but we have to build on that.

I am glad, at least now we have an agreement or a sort of building blocks of any agreement with the INDCs. What these INDCs will turn out to be country by country is left to be seen and of course will also be left open to scrutiny because all of this is now going to be transparent.

Q. There has been reluctance on the part of rich nations to contribute to the GCF. Do you see any change of stand in future? Will more money come to the fund, beyond the existing sum of over 10 billion US dollars in the kitty?

A. It seems to me that once you get the INDCs from all the countries and if they find that these INDCs don't add up to what is required then the next step would be to see how you can make it happen. In the developing countries, you have to provide resources to make it happen. I hope that will convince the developed countries that we are all in it together and if we have to stabilize the earth climate, this money has to be provided. Otherwise, we won't reach the kind of result which we want.

Finance would be required to take mitigation and adaptation measures. It is to be found out how those finances can be made available for enhancing the GCF. So, I think there lots need to be looked at and there is lot more attention that needs to be provided to it. I hope it happens once the INDCs come together and see the gap in terms of funding and the gap in terms of reducing emission.

Q. What would you like to suggest the PM council on climate change in India in view of rising demand to cut emission at the time when the country needs to develop to fulfill its obligation to poor citizens?

A. India has to do much more on adaptation to face the impact of climate change. We have not paid enough attention on it. We have many regulations but we are not sure whether these are being properly observed at local level. Therefore, local government has to be strengthened if we want to carry out adaptation measures.

There is a whole range of things. Even in agriculture, the impacts of climate change are going to be serious and therefore we have to start preparing for that and possibly to bring about shift not only in agriculture practices but even in crop patterns.

On the mitigation front, I would say that the India has a very serious challenge of energy security. We need to use energy more efficiently. That would require a major restructuring in many sectors specifically transport, industry and building. We should also start looking at the mix of energy supply that we need for the future.

Q. How can country meet its growing energy need?

A. India has abundance of renewable energy sources. We should go for it in a big way. It will also give us lower emission of greenhouse gases. It is time we should start shaping our policy in a way that renewable sources of energy, at least where it is economically viable, get utilized. Once the country moves on this path with clear policy, finance will, hopefully, not be a problem.

Q. What is the future of the IPCC as it has already submitted its report\findings? Will this UN body continue? If yes, then in what form?

A. As far as the IPCC is concerned, we in the immediate future are going to ensure that the findings of the synthesis report are spread and made known to communities all over the world. This is going to be something which I personally will be focusing on in the next six to eight months. But over a longer period of time, the governments are now in a state of decision making discussion on what the next cycle of the IPCC should be.

My expectation is that there will be a sixth assessment report (AR6). Whether it is going to be structurally identical to the fifth assessment report (AR5) or whether it would be different would be clearer by the end of February when the plenary of the IPCC takes place.

It seems to me that the result of the fifth assessment report would perhaps only strengthen the need for carrying out updated assessment. Given the fact that we have a lot more information and knowledge in this report (AR5) than what we had in AR4 and similarly the AR4 had much more as compared to the AR3. This only strengthens the need for coming out with successive assessment.

In essence, I think the work of the IPCC will continue as there is also growing desire on the part of the scientific community to contribute.