Baku climate talks: India asks developed countries to show leadership in mitigation actions
I
ndia on Tuesday asked developed countries to show leadership in climate mitigation actions, as required under the 2015 Paris Agreement, by not just advancing their net-zero targets but by providing enough carbon space for developing countries like “ours” to develop.
Speaking on behalf of the Global South at the ongoing 29th session of the climate change conference of parties (COP29) in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku, India’s Minister of State for Environment, Kirti Vardhan Singh, emphasized that raising climate ambitions to align with Paris temperature goals must be preceded by the free availability of green technologies, production at scale, and access to finance for their deployment, particularly in the Global South.
He noted, “On the contrary, some of the developed countries have resorted to unilateral measures making climate actions more difficult for the Global South.” During the plenary session, Singh addressed the emergent situation, stating, “We are in, there is no option but to break all barriers to the flow of technology, finances, and capacity to the Global South.” He highlighted that the theme of this COP — ‘enabling actions and enhanced ambition’ — is very relevant in this context.
Singh pointed out that COP29 is the COP for climate finance, focusing on the New Collective Quantified Goals (NCQG) aimed at mobilizing climate finance to meet the needs and priorities of developing countries. He remarked, “We all need to appreciate that huge costs are being imposed on a developing country like ours for undertaking climate actions. 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 developing countries and their commitment to sustainable development and eradication of poverty.”
He added that India was clear about submitting the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) next year, warning that “the breach of carbon space seems imminent towards the end of this critical decade.” Singh stated that India has already achieved its 2015 NDC targets on emission intensity reduction and non-fossil-based installed electricity generation capacity much earlier than 2030 and has further enhanced its ambition.
India’s renewable energy capacity has nearly tripled from its 2014 levels, and Singh asserted, “We are on the course to achieve the 500 GW target by 2030.” He also mentioned India’s launch of the Mission LiFE — Lifestyle for Environment — to encourage sustainable lifestyle practices globally. “Mission LiFE inspires individuals, communities, and societies to exercise choices and behaviors that focus on mindful utilization of resources,” he explained.
Highlighting India’s proactive stance, Singh referred to the campaign “Ek Ped Maa ke Naam,” launched by Prime Minister Modi on World Environment Day in June this year. He noted that one billion saplings have been planted since then. The initiative “Plant4Mother” encourages everyone to plant a tree as a mark of love, respect, and honor for their mother and Mother Earth, resonating across various demographics due to its inspirational and emotional appeal.
Singh also discussed India's collaborations on global climate actions, including launching 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 with different partner countries.
He concluded by stating that “the high carbon emission development pathways of the Global North in the past have left very little carbon space for the Global South.” Despite not contributing significantly to climate change, Singh emphasized that countries in the Global South are bearing a substantial financial burden from mitigation efforts and damage caused by climate change, which severely limits their capacity to meet developmental needs.
✔️ Baku climate talks: India asks developed countries to show leadership in mitigation actions
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