India votes against UNSC's climate draft

Sandeep Dikshit

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 14

Russia used its veto and India objected to an attempt largely by western countries at the UN Security Council (UNSC) to link climate change with global security challenges.

The Russian veto, the Indian opposition, Chinese abstention and a letter written by Brazil supporting them meant that most of the BRICS grouping had taken a common stand. This was similar to 2011 when all five members of the grouping were in the UNSC and had joined hands to turn down a similar western attempt.

Resolution will sow seeds of discord

UNSC resolution attempts to undermine the hard-won consensus in Glasgow. It will only sow seeds of discord among UN members. TS Tirumurti, India’s envoy to UN

“India had no option but to vote against the resolution. Today’s UNSC resolution attempts to undermine the hard-won consensus in Glasgow. It would only sow seeds of discord among the UN members,” said Permanent Representative at the UN TS Tirumurti while explaining India’s decision to vote against the draft resolution. Niger, which holds the UNSC chair for December, had presented the resolution which was supported by the US, UK and Ireland. In the end it was 12 votes in favour, India and Russia in opposition and China abstaining.