Focus on Pre-2020:India

From Saidul Khan

Marrakech, Nov 17: India has laid its trust that developing countries focus on Pre – 2020 actions and provide effective finance, technology transfer and capacity building support to developing countries at the high level segment of the 22nd session of the conference of parties (COP) at the UN climate change conference.

Making the country statement at Marrakech, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Forest, Environment and Climate Change Anil Madhav Dave said, “India is undertaking ambitious adaptation and mitigation actions and making greater use of renewable energy”.

Dave said that national adaptation fund has been established to help states in implementing their action plans. “The needs of poor and vulnerable need to be considered and actions must be based on climate justice and protect the poor and vulnerable from the risks of climate change”, Dave added.

“Going forward, we expect that the direction set by Paris Agreement will be followed at COP22 and all decisions would respect the spirit of Common But Differentiated Responsibility (CBDR) and respective capability set in the Agreement”, the minister said.

Dave said that access to adequate and predictable climate finance, especially from funds under the Convention, in both pre-2020 and post-2020 period remains an overriding concern for developing countries.

“Despite our serious resource constraints and developmental priorities, India is undertaking ambitious adaptation and mitigation actions, by increasing energy efficiency across sectors and making greater use of renewables, under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi”, he said.

He informed that India has already achieved about 45 GW of grid connected renewable energy capacity, about ten-fold increase in over a decade. “Our airports are using solar energy and will move towards becoming carbon neutral. We are working on Greening of India’s extensive Railway routes and Highways”, he said.

In a loud and clear message to the world on sustainable lifestyle, Dave quoting Mahatma Gandhi – “My life is my message”, Dave said, “The life of Mahatma Gandhi, a life of simple living based on minimum requirements is a role model for us. Scientific reports show that increasing human demand on the Earth’s ecosystems will exceed its carrying capacity by about 75 per cent by 2020. Small changes in our everyday lives, by moderating our lifestyles and encouraging sustainable consumption and production patterns will contribute in a big way”.

The high level segment opened on Tuesday with 195 countries participation.

The segment will proceed by the 1st conference of the parties serving as the meeting of the parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA1).  COP22 ends tomorrow with parties coming to a conclusion on action ahead.