RIGHT STANCE
   Date :16-Apr-2021
INDIA’S approach to climate issues needs to be applauded for the fine mix of self-motivation and self-restraint, leaving no chance for anybody to misinterpret where the country stands as regards global concerns. Union Minister of Environment Mr. Prakash Javdekar has made the Indian stand clear during his discussion with French Foreign Minister Mr. Yves Le Drian. He said that India would certainly achieve its climate goals and even go beyond, but would never get pressured by anybody to overstate its ambitions. This sense of proportion has been India’s greatest strength while tackling various climate issues including diplomatic considerations.
 
 
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That is also the reason why world leaders have come to admire India for clarity of ideas and charity of heart to cooperate with all countries. If Paris Climate Meet is the current metaphor, then India has deciphered its nuances most accurately. When countries like the United States dithered in their participation in combat to protect climate from total and irredeemable deterioration, India understood its role correctly and operated on clear definitions on technology change and global know-how exchange. Thanks to this sense of equilibrium, India won global praises as well, let alone some ill-formed expectations of some countries.India has been quite consistent and clear with its expectations from the global technology-leaders. It has not wavered even once in stressing that advanced countries should stop dumping obsolete technologies on undeveloped and developing countries and upset the carbon balance of Planet Earth. About thirty years ago, China also shared a similar approach. Subsequently, however, China started diluting its sternness of stance as it started its commercial trading of technologies with lesser countries of the world. Currently, the Chinese narrative remains the same, but its insistence has got watered down.
 
Because Beijing uses technology as a diplomatic tool to pressure smaller countries into submission, its diplomatic pitch, too, has undergone a change that nobody can miss. That is not the case with India. New Delhi has continued with high levels of motivation to pursue right and sustainable development goals (SDGs) along with appropriate climate ambitions. Not only has India kept its global commitment on climate issues but also has kept enhancing those from time to time after achieving the agreed levels of carbon management. This is the crux of Mr. Prakash Javdekar’s assertion with the French Foreign Minister -- Yes, India will always be willing to enhance its climate goals, but not under pressure from any other country. In other words, India has often told the world that even though it would keep its commitments on climate issues, it would never allow any compromise with national interests. Of course, every country conducts itself similarly on climate concerns.
 
But countries like the United States or China always harbour overly political ambitions and use climate as a tool of diplomacy to pressure lesser nations. And that is where India differs from such overbearing countries. At Paris Meet, India was clear in appealing to all countries to take a sensible and reasonable look at the overall climate condition before finalising goals. Realism should be the most crucial consideration, India often insisted during climate negotiations. Let alone a few occasional pressure-points some countries may have in m ind while pushing climate negotiations with India, the world at large has appreciated the overall Indian approach. It is important to recall here what Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi often tells the world -- which, in effect, means that for India, accommodating global considerations is a matter of just a normal extension of its experience of thousands of years of practical globalisation where sharing of common resources and protecting and preserving those is the most simple attribute to international togetherness. Mr. Prakash Javdekar’s assertion has to be understood in this light. The question, however, is: Is the world ready for such a mature response to climate issues?