India: Wants climate finance window open for developing countries

Part of the BASIC block, with China, Brazil and South Africa; the like-minded developing countries group; and G77+China

Views on Paris agreement

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to strike a positive note at Paris, with his multi-country solar energy initiative, which falls outside the Paris agreement but is likely to be part of the overall Paris package to be endorsed by heads of states in France’s capital.

• India wants the climate finance window to remain open for developing countries as a matter of principle.

• It stands by other developing countries on their demand for finance, but has delinked its already committed domestic actions substantially from availability of global climate finance

• Developing countries willing to do so can contribute to climate finance outside the UNFCCC but should not be forced on basis of ‘national capacity’ that someone else decides.

• No holiday on climate action for developed countries between 2015 and 2020.

• A periodic review of aggregate impact of emission reduction pledges should be there but individual countries should not be told specifically how to ramp up their targets — a view closer to that of the US.

• Should retain the differentiation between developed and developing countries. It does not see self-differentiation by countries as the only basis for Paris agreement.

• A window for cooperation on future technologies and resolving concerns about intellectual property rights in existing and emerging green technologies

• A long-term goal of decarbonisation of economy or turning climate-neutral without a burden sharing formula based on equity between countries can restrict India’s economic space. It has to provide latitude for different countries’ economic situations.

• It has distinguished between what would be part of the core Paris agreement and other decisions and announcements that will form of the overall Paris package.

• Along with the US and China, India is agreeable to legal nature of the Paris pact being an ‘implementation agreement’ not legally binding on the targets but binding on what countries shall do to achieve their own self-determined targets.

• It requires a longer timeline than most large emerging economies to stabilise emissions and then bring those down. It will not give a peaking year at the moment, as its per capita and gross emissions are much lower than other large countries

• It is against any language that talks of disinvestment in coal. Despite its ambitious renewable energy plans, the country needs to use more coal for future energy needs.

• The PM has brought in the phrase ‘Climate Justice’ to the Indian discourse; it is yet to be explained for its actual implications.

 Stance-defining statement

“Every poor of the world has the right to emerge out of poverty. Poor and developing countries need sufficient carbon space to ensure sustainable development. As climate change impacts the poorer and vulnerable sections severely, we must ensure climate justice”

Prakash Javadekar

Union environment, forests & climate change minister, India