Making efforts to demonstrate leadership in climate change

India is making all efforts to demonstrate leadership in the fight against climate change by adopting a clean energy path, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said today.
His statement came days after US President Barack Obama asked India to cut down the use of carbon emitting fossil fuels to help combat global warming.
"For the last half century, emissions across the world have only been increasing. The developing world is now asking the developed world if they will vacate (the) carbon space," the minister said at a climate conference organised by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW).
"In India's case INDCs (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions) are not just intended as we have already started implementing some of the actions that will form of the core of India's contributions... We have already started walking the talk," Javadekar said.

India has already started work on its target of achieving 100 GW solar energy and "we are optimistic about meeting our clean energy goals," he said, adding that the business as usual attitude will not be there as far as India's actions on climate change are concerned.
The Minister hoped that the upcoming Budget will give a clear indication as to how India would "walk the talk" on climate issues while negotiating a deal on emission cuts in Paris later this year.

The UNFCCC meet on climate change is to be held in Paris in December this year for finalising a new climate deal on emission cuts.

"I hope the Budget will give a clear indication on how we want to walk the talk. And, therefore, clean energy, clean water, clean air and many other initiatives of the Narendra Modi-government will get reflected in the Budget," Javadekar said.
Saying that India is already taking actions to address climate change, the minister asked the developed nations to fulfil their commitment towards operationalising the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and providing clean technology at an affordable cost.