India is now the voice of developing countries on climate change issues that cannot be ignored or suppressed, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav stated on Thursday.
Yadav replied to a Lok Sabha debate on climate change. He said that India has been a solution provider to the entire world when it came to environment.
He said that India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the few countries which not only set Nationally Determined Contributions (in 2015) but also achieved them in time, setting an example for other nations.
Yadav stated that the prime minister has spoken often about climate justice and that developed nations are responsible for most carbon emissions. He noted that the developed nations have already acknowledged this and have pledged USD 100 millions to developing countries.
Yadav stated, “If the fight against global warming must be fought together by the developed as well as developing nations, then developed countries will have to offer two facilities to the developing nations — technology transfer and climate finance.”
During the COP26 meeting in Glasgow, the prime Minister spoke about various aspects of India’s fight against climate change. He also discussed India’s vision to reach carbon neutrality by 2070, according to the Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
The minister stated that India’s share in global carbon emission, which accounts for 17% of the population, is 60%. India, however, only 4%, is home to 17%. He said that India’s lifestyle can be a model for the rest of the world on how to live in harmony and with the environment.
Yadav noted that climate change has an effect on everyone, regardless of where they live. He said that the recent cyclones that hit India’s coasts in the last few decades show that “we are also vulnerable”.
He outlined the achievements of Modi’s government in climate change and said that India has become a leader for environment policy and action due to the efforts made over the past seven years.
Yadav said that India has under Modi created an environment policy which gives direction to the entire world. It is also the only country to have made major steps towards achieving the goals of the climate summits.
“The time has come when India’s voice is not heard on international platforms. He stated that India has established a strong identity under Prime Minister Modi and the world community cannot ignore or suppress it.
The minister stated that another achievement of COP26 for India is that the country has become an ”strong voice” of developing countries demanding equal treatment on climate change issues.
He also praised the government’s initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, which India launched along with France, and stated that such steps increased India’s international prestige. Gaurav Gogoi, a Congress MP, asked the government about the impact of the PM Gati Shakti Scheme, the Centre’s major-ticket infrastructure project on India’s commitment to reduce its emissions to zero by 2070.
Gogoi stated that he supported the development of the scheme but that the national master plan for multimodal connectivity, which involves large-scale construction, will increase emissions.
PM Gati Shakhi has been given a ”Lakh’ of rupees to fund infrastructure for highways, railways, and airports. This scheme presents India with the greatest challenge.
“We would require coal, high-emission technology will be required. It will increase emissions. What is the best way to keep emissions low? Is there a government rule that will require the use of lower-emission technology? He asked.
Gogoi also stated that while India’s environment minister had declared in Glasgow during COP26 that India will decrease its coal use, the transition to an alternative fuel needs to be planned to ensure that the sector’s workers are not left behind.
Jayant Sinha, a BJP MP said that India’s net zero commitment by 2070 is a ”massively net benefit”. He demanded a global market for carbon and that India be connected with a worldwide carbon network.
Both Sinha as well as Gogoi proposed an institution arrangement to protect India’s future climate. The Congress MP even proposed that the government might bring a legislation in that regard.
Malook Nagar from BSP said that the government should encourage the use of electric vehicles. He also suggested that neem be grown in large numbers to reduce pollution.
He said that companies responsible for carbon emissions should be asked if they are willing to plant trees according to their carbon footprint.
Arvind Sawant of Shiv Sena raised concerns over the use lithium batteries in eVehicles.
(This story is not edited by Devdiscourse staff.
