Climate change: India ready to be part of solution, says Javadekar

India has said it is ready to be a part of the solution for tackling climate change.

Ahead of the crucial climate change summit in Paris, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar has emphasised on the need to look at the 'polluter pays' principle as one of the ways of tackling climate change.

He said India would urge rich nations to deliver climate justice for developing countries at the United Nations Climate Change conference in Paris.

Javadekar said India expects an "equitable and just" climate agreement in Paris and does not want the Paris summit to repeat the outcome of previous summits.

He also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed on "climate justice" and sustainable lifestyle by developed countries to help combat the threat of climate change.

For the first time in over 20 years of UN negotiations, the Paris conference aims to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius.

The Paris conference is expected to attract close to 50,000 participants, including 25,000 official delegates from government, intergovernmental organisations, UN agencies, NGOs and civil society.

Javadekar said that vigorous cleanliness campaigns need to be conducted before cleanliness becomes a way of life for the country.

In the last phase of the flag-in ceremony of 'Swachh Bharat, Swachh Himalaya' campaign, organised by the Border Security Force at a function here, Javadekar lauded the BSF for undertaking the campaign as part of its Golden Jubilee expedition.

The Border Security Force completes 50 years of service to the nation on December 1. The BSF carried out a 'Swachh Bharat Swachh Himalaya' in Himalayan region from October 12 to November 25. The 45-day expedition was conducted in four phases, covering approximately 1500 km across three states.

The aim of the campaign was to create awareness among the civil population and various other stakeholders on the need to ensure basic cleanliness in day-to-day life, besides various measures for ensuring cleanliness of Himalayas that encompass many glaciers, the Ganges and connected environmental issues of the Himalayan valleys and foothills.

The last of the four phases, included a cycling expedition from Rishikesh to New Delhi, has been campaigning for a safer environment. The expedition also organised a series of free medical camps and interacted with groups of civil society to spread awareness about cleanliness in daily lives.

Speaking on the occasion, Director General of the Border Security Force D K Pathak said that the sentinels of the borders are not only confined to the assigned duties, but are also the sentinels of the environment.