Solution to alarming pollution is clean energy: French envoy

Smita Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 9

As India and France prepare to celebrate the four-month-long 'Bonjour India' later this month, The Tribune’s Smita Sharma speaks to French Ambassador to India, Alexandre Ziegler, about Delhi’s alarming pollution, solutions, and the world’s apprehensions about US’ role in the Paris climate agreement. Here’s an excerpt.

S: France is partnering with India to develop three smart cities, but how much progress is there progress on the ground? Why do cities like Delhi feel unlivable?

A: The situation we are facing today in Delhi and in major cities in India is the result of history for decisions that have been taken or not taken over the past years. Solution to this is not going to happen overnight. But my conviction is that if action is taken it will improve pretty soon. What do you need to improve the situation? First you need clean energy and target that has been set by Indian government is very ambitious. I must say that they are not mere words but are actually happening on the ground. I came here in India 18 months ago. And between that time and now the installed solar capacity has tripled. You need clean mobility. You need metro rail, almost 15 projects going on in different cities. We are working on financing or technological solutions on these projects. I was in Hyderabad a couple of days ago and I could visit the new metro that will be operated from 28th of this month. Couple of months ago I was in Kochi where we opened a new metro. Extensive projects going on in Delhi and Mumbai. This will change the whole reality of the way people are moving into the cities. It requires more electric mobility and the target that has been set by the Indian government of going fully electric by 2030 is very ambitious. Everybody is working on it, including us. On Friday, we are going to spend the whole day with NITI Aayog with 15 French companies to see how we can partner on this electric mobility policy and bring solutions that would be affordable, innovative and also endorse the Make in India Scheme. Things are happening and changing: they’re not going to change overnight. Decisions that are taken will have to be implemented so that cities in this country and all over the world could become greener and better place to live in the coming years. 

S: Delhi is a being called a gas chamber. How is the toxicity impacting the day-to-day workings of the Embassy and also the open-air events lined up for Bonjour India?  

A: Situation is serious today but it is impacting the whole population, not just the French embassy or other embassies. This is a situation we have to tackle together. Our focus, our aim — our main objective — in this partnership of smart cities we are developing with India is precisely to look for solutions that is going to make the situation really better as soon as possible. I do not want to enter into apocalyptic judgement of what is going on now .It is the result of history. But I want to reiterate commitment of my country to engage very positively and actively in finding solutions together so that this situation can improve regularly. 

S: Has the embassy changed any rules and regulations or given directives to deal with the air crisis?  

A: We are taking the same precaution as everybody should take in this city when pollution level is high and try to remain indoors. We have air purifiers and wear masks. We do not play sports outside. What we are doing is what anyone should be doing when the situation is what it is currently. My focus and job here is to work actively in finding solutions with the Indian government, local authorities, so that we can provide technical options and solutions so that our cities remain places where we can live. 

S: Where do you see the Paris Climate Change Agreement headed with Trump’s opposition?  

A: COP23 has just started just a few days ago. What is very satisfactory to us is very wide support of large majority of countries in the world towards really implementing the Paris Agreement. Paris Agreement is a fantastic treaty. But a treaty is fantastic when once it is implemented .We still have two years to go before its entry into force by 2020.We have to work very actively so that what we have decided together can be implemented in the coming years. Majority of the world is behind this treaty including India. 

S: If Trump does not change his views on the climate deal, how much of a setback that will be? 

A: Of course we would prefer the US remain in the treaty, but we are also very satisfied with the strong support that has been demonstrated by major actors in the world including major emerging countries like China and India.The support we got from India, just two days after the decision announced by Donald Trump, in Paris on 3rd June when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited France was very positive and highly appreciated. 

S: France co-sponsored the proposal to ban Masood Azhar that has been blocked by China again. What is the way forward? Is France talking to China?  

A: We are supporting the proposal. We co-sponsored the draft resolution. We want to engage to find positive solution so that Azhar can be listed. Our view is he should be listed. France is in talks with every actor so that we ensure that he is listed. 

S: Is President Macron expected to visit Delhi in January 2018 now instead of this year?

A: Decision that has been taken is that this bilateral visit will coincide with International Solar Alliance summit. We have decided together that this summit should be organised in early 2018.The bilateral visit will coincide with it in early 2018. We should be in a position to set a date as early possible. 

S: What will be the top agenda during the French Foreign Minister’s visit next week?  

A: It will be his first visit in this capacity to Delhi. As you know he is a strong friend of India. He has visited India already ten times in his previous capacity as Defence Minister under the previous government. So it will be his first visit as Foreign Minister in Delhi very much focusing on the Presidential visit early next year. It will address all aspects of the bilateral relation, diplomatic, strategic and also economic and people to people exchange, which is one of our top priorities. He will also launch our Bonjour India season which is going to start on November 18th expanding across 33 cities in 20 states till February 2018.More than 300 events have been lined up for this festival.

S: Could you share an update on the progress on the Rafael deal?

A: We are very honoured and satisfied that we have been chosen to deliver 36 Rafael’s to Indian Air Force and we are working on the contract so that the first aircraft can be delivered in due time to the Indian Air Force in 2019.