Delivering India’s National statement at the High-level Segment of the CoP29 of UN Climate Change Conference at Baku, Azerbaijan today, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh called the CoP as historic and called all Nations to put up a collective fight against Climate Change, under UNFCCC and its Paris Agreement. He said, “What we decide here, will enable all of us, particularly those in the Global South, to not only take ambitious mitigation action but also adapt to Climate Change. This CoP is historic in this context”.
The Minister reiterated that the decisions on this forum should be guided by the core principles of Equity, Climate Justice and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities provided in the UNFCCC and its Paris Agreement. The context of different national circumstances, sustainable development goals and poverty eradication, particularly in respect of the Global South should not be lost sight of, he added.
India’s statement noted that the high Carbon Emission Development Pathways of the Global North in past have left very little carbon space for the Global South. However, it read, the growth trajectories for fulfilling the primary needs of sustainable development and poverty eradication cannot be compromised. The Minister asserted, “Despite not contributing to the problem, we in the Global South are bearing huge financial burden on account of climate actions for mitigation on the one hand, and losses and damages caused by climate change on the other, thus severely limiting our capacity to meet our developmental needs. But these have not dampened India’s resolve and commitment to take ambitious climate actions.”
Informing the gathering about India’s initiatives towards combating Climate Change, Shri Singh said that the country has achieved the 2015 NDC targets on emission intensity reduction and non fossil based installed electricity generation capacity much earlier than 2030 and have further enhanced its ambition. The Minister talked about how India’s Renewable Energy Capacity has nearly tripled from its 2014 levels and the country is on the course to achieve the 500 GW target by 2030. Further, he said, “India has launched the Mission LiFE- Lifestyle for Environment to encourage the sustainable lifestyle practices at the global level. Mission LiFE inspires individuals, communities and societies to exercise choices and behaviours that focus on mindful utilisation of resources.”
Talking about how India is at the forefront of pro-planet actions, Shri Singh stated, “The campaign – ‘Ek Ped Maa ke Naam’ – was launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, on World Environment Day 2024, wherein one billion saplings have been planted already. ‘Plant4Mother’, which exhorts everyone to plant a tree as a mark of love, respect and honour of our mother and Mother Earth has resonated across the spectrum because of its powerful, inspirational and emotional connect, the Minister added.
Furthermore, the Indian statement informed about its initiatives like the International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilience Infrastructure (CDRI), Global Biofuel Alliance, Leadership Group on Industry Transition and Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Industry Coalition that have been launched with different partner countries, in pursuance of global climate actions.
India called out some of the developed countries that have resorted to unilateral measures making climate actions more difficult for the Global South. Raising of climate ambitions to align with Paris Temperature Goals has to be preceded by free availability of green technologies, producing them on scale and availability of finance for their deployment, particularly in the Global South. The statement read, “The emergent situation we are in, there is no option but to break all barriers to flow of technology, finances and capacity to the Global South. The theme of this CoP – ‘enabling actions and enhanced ambition’ is very relevant in this context. CoP29 is the CoP for Climate Finance – the New Collective Quantified Goals (NCQG) on Climate Finance for mobilizing climate finance for meeting the needs and priorities of Developing countries.”
In the statement, Shri Singh called for the need to appreciate that huge costs are being imposed on a Developing country like India, for undertaking the climate actions. He said, “What we decide here on NCQG must be founded on the principle of Climate Justice. The decisions must be ambitious and unambiguous, taking into consideration the evolving needs and priorities of the Developing countries, and their commitment to sustainable development and eradication of poverty.”
Reminding the gathering that the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are due for submission the next year, India stated that the breach of carbon space seems imminent towards the end of this critical decade. The statement said, “It is imperative, therefore, that the Developed countries show leadership in mitigation actions, as required under Paris Agreement, by not just advancing their net zero targets but providing enough carbon space for Developing countries like ours to develop. What we decide here will determine the course of history. I urge that all of us should work with determination towards making the CoP 29, meaningful and impactful in its outcomes. Please be assured of India’s full cooperation for a successful COP-29.”
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