India ‘walking the talk’ on climate change commitments: Javdekar
   Date :11-Dec-2019

India walking the talk on
Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change Prakash Javdekar tries his hand on a ‘Charkha’ during a visit to India Pavilion of UNFCCC Conference of Parties in Madrid on Monday. (ANI) 
 
MADRID :
 
INDIA is “walking the talk” in its climate change commitments and has reduced emission intensity by 21 per cent of its GDP while also being on track to achieve the goal of 35 per cent emission reduction as promised in the Paris summit in 2015, Environment Minister Prakash Javdekar said on Tuesday. Speaking at a high-level meeting at the ongoing UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 25 in the Spanish capital, the minister presented India’s stand and said the country is “walking the talk”. “Climate change is real. The world recognised it and adopted a comprehensive agreement in Paris. Let us concentrate on the implementation of the Paris Agreement and not digress.
 
“If there is an inconvenient truth in the form of climate change, we are providing a convenient action plan. We are walking the talk. “India has reduced emission intensity of GDP (gross domestic product) by 21 per cent and is on track to achieve the goal of 35 per cent emission reduction as promised in Paris,” Javdekar said. The 25th Conference of Parties (COP 25), which commenced on December 2 in the Spanish capital and is likely to go on till December 13, is being attended by over 190 countries. The minister said only six countries are on track to meet their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and India is leading the list. “Internationally, we launched t
he Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure which is a partnership to support countries through knowledge exchange and provide technical support on developing disaster and climate resilient infrastructure. “Only six countries are on track to meet their NDCs announced in Paris. We are leading the pack. Sustainable lifestyle is a part of the ethos of India,” he said.
 
In his address, Javdekar said India was making progress in harnessing solar, biomass and wind energy. He also listed out all the efforts being made in the country to combat climate change. The developed world had promised USD 1 trillion support in the last 10 years for climate change and not even 2 per cent has materialised, Javdekar said . Addressing a high-level segment with delegates from over 190 countries, Javdekar expressed concern over lack of funding and said the developed nations must repay.