India to ratify COP 21 Global Climate agreement on Apr 22: Prakash Javadekar

The agreement, negotiated in Paris in December 2015, sets out a global action plan to put the world on track by limiting global warming below 2 degree Celsius.

Speaking at a Symposium “COP 21 – Building Synergies, Shaping Actions” organized in the University of Mumbai, Prakash Javadekar said “all countries have decided to walk the green path as per their common but differentiated responsibilities”.

He described the Paris agreement as a victory of multilateralism and the one which helped correct image perception of India. “India was always perceived to be a naysayer and negative in its approach and took a corner seat in most of the international conferences.

But in Paris, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the concept of climate justice driving home the message of sustainable development”

Javadekar said climate change was a reality with 1 degree rise in temperature caused by 150 years of uncontrolled carbon emission by the developed world.

He said while 30% of cumulative contribution was that of the United States, 50% by Europe, Canada and other developed world and 10% by China, India was responsible for only 3% carbon emission.

The Minister further said, “though India is not part of the problem, it wants to be part of the solution. Our commitment is reflected in every programme being pursued by the Government” .

He said India had taken pro-active measures to discourage use of fossil fuels in a bid to reduce carbon foot print by levying Rs 400 per tonne green cess on coal. “If the developed world followed India’s example and levied higher taxes on coal, billions of dollars would accrue to pursue clean energy programmes” he added.

Javadekar said the proposed Compensatory Afforestation Funds Bill 2015, would unlock Rs 40,000 crores of funds for the ‘Green India’ initiative.

The Bill, which was referred to a Parliamentary Standing Committee is likely to be passed in the second half of the budget session. Under CAF, funds would be made available to states to take up afforestation programmes, and to increase density of existing forests to substantially boost tree cover in the country.

The Minister also listed out plans to control vehicular pollution by moving to Bharat VI emission norms, policies on waste management, Swachch Bharat initiative, Ganga rejuvenation etc as other measures aimed at sustainable development and containing climate change.