Developed world should not profit from disaster: India

 The Dollar Business Bureau Stressing on collective efforts to address the challenge of climate change, India has asked the developed world to help developing countries devise their own ways to curb carbon emission. In his address at the Major Economic Forum held in Washington on April 19-20, the Minister of State for Environment, Prakash Javadekar, said that providing critical technologies at affordable cost across the globe is a key to overcome the climate change challenge. “The developed world should not profit from disaster. Climate change is a challenge and not business opportunity,” Javadekar was quoted as having said at the forum in a PIB release. He reiterated India’s commitment for a fair and equitable agreement at the Paris Climate Summit to be held later this year, saying “We have to work like ants to build the earth.” “India is committed to walk along the road to Paris, hand-in-hand with others for a fair and equitable agreement this year. But it would not join bullying tactics and will not allow yet another Copenhagen in Paris. The days of bulldozing have gone and now we have to work like ants to build the earth together,” the Minister said. India also urged the Forum members to present their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) to check carbon emission and take stern measures to implement them. “Paris will succeed only if we restrict to ensure that every country presents its INDCs and that they get implemented. For compliance, the developed world must fulfil it's financial commitment. It will also have to ensure that at the very least, critical technologies are available at affordable cost,” Javadekar said. He suggested that the cycle of INDCs should be 10 years and drivers for updating should be science, as it evolves, and technologies, as they develop. Citing “ambitious action plan” towards the use of renewable energy, the Minister said, “India will walk energy efficiency path effectively. Our emission intensity is getting reduced as per our planning. Even the IPCC Emission Gap Report has certified that India is on the dot in the implementation.” India also urged the international community to discourage petroleum consumption that tends to increase due to falling price of the crude oil. “All countries need to ensure that fuel consumption does not increase in the period when petrol prices are lower,” he added.    

This article was published on April 21, 2015 – 8:31 pm IST.