India won’t accept terms that impact its growth

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 5

India will not agree to any conditions or insertions in the agreement at the climate change meeting in Paris from November 30 which could impact its growth story.

The country’s stance at the United Nations Climate Change Conference aimed at creating a legally-binding agreement will be further augmented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Officials say India’s long-term goal is to move toward a system that doesn’t lead to irreversible damage to environment. At the same time, India’s growth story will be protected at the meeting, they say, quoting fundamental principles agreed in the CBDR (common but differentiated responsibility).

“At the heart of our INDC (Intended Nationally Determined Contribution) is India’s growth story. It is our firm belief that the Paris agreement be based on the fundamentals of the common but differentiated responsibility. Not all countries can be held responsible for the state of climate change. Therefore, action has to be taken on the basis of individual national responsibilities and capabilities,” they say.

Officials say India’s negotiating team has managed to get text of the Paris agreement amended to insert its concerns on finance and technology and also that of all developing nations. “It (the document drafted at Bonn) was a lop-sided document, not catering to the needs of the developing countries,” they say.

“Both in terms of the historical and current emissions, developing countries are not a part of the problem, though we can be a part of the solution. We will do our best to mitigate and adapt to climate change. However, acceleration would require international finance and technological support,” officials say, reiterating that any agreement at Paris, legally binding or otherwise, should be based on the principles of CBDR.

While INDCs submitted by developed countries are lacking in ambition, targets set up by India and other developing countries are quite adequate, they say.

India has committed itself to 33-35 per cent cut in the emission intensity of its GDP by 2030 and increase the share of its renewable in its energy mix by 40 per cent by 2020. Moreover, energy efficiency measures taken by India had already avoided 44 million tonnes of CO2 emissions. India’s per capita emissions would be 4.6 to 4.75 by 2030 which would still be lower than that of developed countries.