New Delhi: Calling the new global climate deal adopted by over 190 countries late Saturday evening ‘historic’, India praised the Paris climate accord stating that it supports the country’s right to development and acknowledges its efforts to harmonize development with environment.
India, however, noted that the agreement could have been more ambitious.
“Today is a historic day. What we have adopted is not only an agreement but a new ‘chapter of hope’ in the lives of seven billion people. The Paris agreement acknowledges and recognizes the development imperatives of India and other developing countries,” said India’s environment minister Prakash Javadekar while speaking at the final plenary session of the Paris climate summit late on Saturday.
“The agreement supports their (of developing nations) right to development and their efforts to harmonize development with environment, while also protecting the interests of the most vulnerable. I hope that Paris will mark the new beginning, where commitments made will be fulfilled,” he added.
196 countries took part in the Conference of Parties (CoP) 21 that started in Paris on 30 November for reaching consensus on a new global climate regime. It took them 13 days of intense negotiations to finally reach an agreement acceptable to all on 12 December.
Javadekar quoted Mahatma Gandhi’s words that ‘‘we have not inherited earth from our ancestors, but we have it on loan from future generations” and said, “we have today reassured our future generation that we all together will mitigate the challenge posed by climate change and we will give them a better future.”
He also praised France, host country for CoP 21, for the patience and firmness with which the negotiations were handled.
“We are happy that the agreement has unequivocally acknowledged the imperative of climate justice – which we have no doubt reflects common sentiment - and has based itself on the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities,” said Javadekar, who lead India’s delegation at the climate summit.
India’s environment minister also acknowledged the importance of sustainable lifestyles and sustainable consumption patterns—a cause that was taken up with much enthusiasm by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the run up to the summit.
Javadekar said they are also happy that the agreement “differentiates between the actions of developed and developing countries across its elements”.
“India has consistently said that the path to climate ambition must be paved with equity. I am happy that the Agreement has recognized this,” he added.
The environment minister, however, said that the agreement could have been more ambitious. “While give and take is normal in negotiations, we are of the opinion that the Agreement could have been more ambitious. We share the concern of several friends that this Agreement does not put us on the path to prevent temperature rise below 2 degree Celsius and that the actions of developed countries are far below their historical responsibilities and fair shares,” he said while emphasizing that India agreed in the spirit of compromise on a number of phrases in the agreement.
He also observed that solar alliance—another idea pioneered by Modi—will provide an unprecedented boost to solar energy development and deployment for meeting the energy needs in a clean, affordable and sustainable manner.
