Bhupender Yadav believes that India’s lifestyle could be an example to the rest of the world on how to live in harmony within the environment.
New Delhi:
India is the voice of developing nations in climate change issues, said Environment Minister Bhupender Yodav on Thursday.
Responding to a Lok Sabha debate on climate change, Mr Yadav said that India has always been an international solution provider in matters of environment.
He stated that India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was one of the few countries to not only have set Nationally Determined Contributions for 2015, but also achieved them before time, setting an example and setting an example for other countries.
Mr Yadav, underlining the fact that the prime minister has spoken often about climate justice said that developed nations are principally responsible for carbon emissions and must take responsibility.
He noted that the developed nations have already acknowledged this fact and have pledged USD 100 Billion to developing countries.
Mr Yadav stated, “If the fight to combat climate change has to be fought jointly by the developed countries and the developing ones, then the developed countries will have to offer two facilities to developing nation — climate finance and technology transfers.”
During the COP26 conference in Glasgow, India’s prime minister spoke about various aspects related to climate change. The Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change stated that India’s vision of carbon neutrality by 2070 was one of the topics.
The minister said that India, home to 17 percent of the world’s population, is responsible for only 4% of global carbon emission.
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.
He pointed out that climate change has an effect on everyone regardless of where they live. The new cyclones that have hit India’s coastlines in recent years are proof that India is also vulnerable.
He listed the achievements of Modi government in climate change. He said that India is now a leader in environmental policy and action because of the efforts it made over the last seven years.
According to Mr Yadav: India under PM Modi has not only developed an environment policy which gives direction to the entire world, but it is also the only country which has taken 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 also stated that COP26 was a success from India’s perspective because the country has become a “strong vocal voice” for developing countries demanding equal treatment on climate change issues.
He also praised India’s efforts to establish the International Solar Alliance with France. 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.
Mr Gogoi stated that while he supports the development, the scheme which is a national masterplan for multi-modal connectivity and large-scale construction will increase emissions.
“Lakhs of Rupees have been allotted to PM Gati Shakhi for infrastructure for railways and highways. This scheme represents India’s greatest challenge.
“We would need coal, high emission producing technology will be needed. It will increase emissions. What model will keep emissions low? Will the government establish a rule that will allow only low-emission technology to be used? He asked.
Gogoi also said that even though the environment minister of India had declared in Glasgow during COP26 that India will decrease its coal use, the transition to an alternative fuel must be planned so that people who are closely connected to the sector are not affected.
Jayant Sinha, BJP MP, said that India’s net zero commitment by 2070 is “massively beneficial for India”. He demanded a global market for carbon and for India to be connected with a worldwide carbon network.
Both Mr Sinha as Mr Gogoi proposed an institutional arrangement to secure India’s climate future. The Congress MP even proposed that the government might consider bringing a law to this effect.
Malook Nagar, BSP’s Malook Nagar, said that the government should encourage electric vehicles and suggested that neem trees are grown in abundance to reduce pollution.
He suggested that industries responsible for generating emissions should be asked to plant trees proportionately to their carbon footprint.
Arvind Sawant of Shiv Sena raised concern about the use lithium batteries in evehicles.
(This story is not edited by NDTV staff.