Developed Nations Should Present Pre-2020 Targets before Paris: Javadekar

Developed Nations Should Present Pre-2020 Targets before Paris: Javadekar

Minister Attends Sixth Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Germany

            The Minister for State (Independent Charge) of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar has said that developed countries should present their ambitious targets for pre-2020 action and roadmaps for the same well before Paris.  Addressing the Sixth Petersberg Climate Dialogue at Berlin today, the Minister also said that the Warsaw international mechanism for loss and damage should be operationalised by 2016.  Shri Javadekar added that India would like to see a Paris agreement that is based on trust and is balanced and realistic.

            Following is the text of the Minister’s speech on the occasion:

“India has emphasised that developed countries should present their ambitious targets for pre-2020 action and roadmaps for the same, well before Paris. We have suggested that the negotiators at Bonn ADP session should be directed to come up with the Draft decision text on pre-2020 actions. It will be ironical that we formulate post-2020 architecture without finalizing pre-2020 action plan.

The historical context of the constitution of the ADP (Ad-Hoc Durban Platform for Enhanced Action) in 2012 was the urgent need to enhance action on all aspects of the climate change agenda.  We must appreciate this while we move towards the culmination of the ADP process in Paris. 

Paris Conference will have delivered, if all countries demonstrate their will to tackle the problem of climate change frontally.  It is not about sharing of blame or finger-pointing, but acting with wisdom, understanding and cooperation. 

Ambitious pre-2020 actions of developed countries will create the carbon space required for the developing world, as every poor person has the right to equitable access to the atmospheric resources.

In this regard, the pre-2020 actions would be an important signal to the world about our commitment on climate change issues.  I say this with confidence, as India has launched an ambitious action, targeting 175 GW of renewable energy, and it has received a tremendous response from investors in the form of LOIs worth more than 200GW of energy.

Ø  India has increased cess on coal to Rs 200 per tonne, and the fund generated is being used for Clean Technologies.

Ø  We have recently launched a scheme of Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid & Electric Vehicles in India with an aim of reducing dependency on fossil fuels.

Ø  We have incentivized afforestation (provided $ 9 billion or $125 per hectare) through the 14th Finance Commission, and we have already presented a bill for devolution of more than $6 billion for specific projects of afforestation to create more carbon sinks.

Ø  We have enhanced public and private investment in Railways and have plans for investing billions of dollars in Railways.

Ø  India has created architecture for 100 smart cities which will be essentially clean and green cities.

Ø  India has asked 3, 200 severely polluting industries to install 24X7 pollution monitoring devices for eflluents as well as emissions.

Ø  India is preparing ambitious plan of roooftop solar energy program and solar powered agriculture pumps. We are also planning to use irrigation canal tops and banks for generating solar energy.

Ø  Through a series of reform measures, LPG will be provided to millions of poor families thereby reducing carbon emissions.

These actions of India, that are voluntary, arise out of our commitment. This must be seen against the backdrop that these actions are from a country which is not mandated under the UNFCCC, and therefore developed world must take ambitious pre-2020 action.

India also demands that the Warsaw international mechanism for loss and damage should be operationalised by 2016. This mechanism should provide for specific commitments from developed country parties and Annex II parties to provide support for the financing and operationalization of this mechanism.

We would like to see a Paris Agreement that is based on Trust, that is balanced and realistic. Let us not create a document full of pious statements. Let us also not complicate it further and bring in newer elements and ideas at this stage. If Paris is to succeed, let us welcome a new beginning where all countries take actions on their own!

The Paris agreement should be rooted in the principles of CBDR-RC, Equity, and means of implementation, which enables the realisation of fair and ambitious goals of development, poverty eradication, as well as climate change.”