India to push for climate justice at COP26: Environment minister

India will strongly highlight the need for “climate justice” at COP26 in Glasgow as the solution to global warming can’t be addressed in a piecemeal manner, environment minister Bhupender Yadav told TOI. While not commenting directly on whether 450GW renewable energy will be made part of India’s NDCs, Yadav said the target is a serious commitment.
Amid pressure from affluent nations to get a ‘net zero’ commitment from all countries, environment minister Yadav added while India will take a call on carbon neutrality at an appropriate time, developed nations must remember their unfulfilled pre-2020 promises as commitments and action on climate justice is the need of the hour.
Excerpts of a conversation with TOI:
Will India commit to a ‘net zero’ goal at the upcoming UN climate change conference (COP26)?
We will take a call on this at the appropriate time and this could come anytime. We are very clear that whatever our leadership will decide, they will decide at the right time. We are committed to a solution. We will not become a problem.We had made our ‘nationally determined contribution’ (NDC) commitments in 2015 and we have, unlike many countries, been on track to fulfil whatever we have committed. Declaration should not just be in terms of declaration. It must be acted upon and fulfilled. Declaration should be to save the planet. It should not be a mere statement.
What would be India’s focus during negotiations at COP26?
Discussions must be around fulfilling existing commitments by developed countries. We believe first there must be discussion on all issues which had already been committed by countries as the old pledges – be it cutting down emissions in pre-2020 period and extending financial support to developing countries as promised in 2009. All issues should be discussed, keeping in view principles of UN climate convention (UNFCCC) and Paris Agreements — be it ‘equity’ and ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’ and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC). There are four key issues in the negotiations. First, the entire world is worried that the global temperature is rising quite fast. Second, the world is conscious of mitigation measures needed to check this temperature rise. Third, the entire world is not at a level-playing field (in terms of capacities to take mitigation and adaptation measures) and therefore there should be robust financial support and technology transfer mechanisms. Fourth, is the issue of ‘loss and damage’ on account of disasters, and so there is a question of how to evolve a system to support vulnerable countries. India wants to discuss all these issues with an open mind. This global problem must be dealt with comprehensively, not partly.
Will the country’s new ambitious target of renewable energy (450 GW by 2030) and overachievement on climate actions be factored in under revised pledges?
The NDC is a voluntary declaration, but it’s not just a declaration. It is a commitment. We have not only set ambitious targets but also achieved our goals and fulfilled our pledges much before time. The big fight is around commitments of those who have not fulfilled it. Developed countries had promised in 2009 to mobilise climate finance of US$ 100 billion per year by 2020 to support developing countries for adaptation measures so that they could face the challenges of climate change. It has not been fulfilled.
Climate finance delivery plan, released this week, shows that the affluent nations would be able to mobilise finance only by 2023 – three years later than what they promised. Will the delay impact the negotiations at COP26?
We will put it on the negotiation table. There is also an issue of public finance and private finance. We must remind the developed countries that the promise was made to extend help to developing countries through public finance – government to government. I must, however, remind everyone that India has fulfilled its promises through its own money and budgetary provisions.
You had meetings with the US presidential climate envoy John Kerry and COP26 president designate Alok Sharma. Have you told them about India’s and developing countries’ concerns over these issues?
Besides them, we had bilateral and multilateral meetings with around 30 countries ahead of COP26. Everyone accepts the seriousness... But the question here is about action and effect. Consensus is being built up in this direction. These issues will also be discussed during COP26 (October 31-November 12 in Glasgow, UK). We will urge all countries to get actively involved in three institutions/initiatives — International Solar Alliance (ISA), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) — which are being spearheaded by India and other countries such as France and Sweden.
Both India and China have always been on the same page as part of ‘like-minded developing countries’ (LMDC) and BASIC climate negotiation groups despite differences elsewhere. Will this continue at COP26?
I believe there should not be any difference with anyone for making the world a better place to live in. Our conduct should be one when our objective is one. We’ll, in fact, try to build consensus with every country at COP26.