Environment Ministers Speech at the Major Economies Forum
India has advocated bringing in positivity and shunning negativity in the run-up to the Paris Conference. Speaking at the Major Economies Forum in New York today, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar said that ambitious Pre and Post 2020 actions and discussion on real issues relating to lifestyle and climate justice will be more appropriate. Shri Javadekar also said that it is regrettable that some developed countries want to negate the whole set of principles of UNFCCC. Following is the text of the Ministers speech on the occasion:
All countries need to respect differentiation as a principle to deliver climate justice to the developing world. Some developed countries want to negate the whole set of principles of UNFCCC which is regrettable. The genesis of Differentiation lies in principle of historical responsibility, polluter pays, and equity. Therefore, for the success of Paris there should be no effort to tamper with any principle and elements of the convention.
Though India is not part of the problem, it wants to be part of the solution. Our historical cumulative emission as of today is below 3%. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also made a strong pitch for a positive agenda to tackle climate change and appealed that the current climate of negativism is not a useful factor as we approach COP21 in Paris.
The Pope in his address to the UNGA and Congress, has also talked about historical responsibility, equity and Principles of polluter to pay, precautionary approach and CBDR. He advised rich countries not to destroy poor ones as earth is getting warmer.The developed world must take moral responsibility for the state of the world today. Pope has also mentioned that the huge consumption of developed world has repercussions on the developing world.
Instead of new distractions like redefining differentiation, we should concentrate on the outcome of COP Paris. Ambitious Pre and Post 2020 actions and discussion on real issues relating to lifestyle and climate justice as propounded by Pope and Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be more appropriate at this stage. So let us shun negativity and bring in positivity.
