COP: India to focus on pre-2020 climate vows

New Delhi, November 27

The Cabinet today approved the stand India will take at the upcoming 25th Conference of Parties (COP 25) on climate change beginning next week in Spain.

India will stress upon the need for fulfilling pre-2020 commitments by developed countries and that pre-2020 implementation gaps should not present an additional burden to developing countries in the post-2020 period, a government statement said.

The COP 25 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) scheduled to be held in Madrid from December 2 to 13. The Indian delegation will be led by Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar. COP 25 holds significance as countries prepare to move from pre-2020 period under Kyoto Protocol to post-2020 period under Paris Agreement.

India’s approach will be guided by provisions of UNFCCC and Paris Agreement, particularly the principles of Equity and Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capability, ministry officials said.

“India has been ambitious in its actions and has emphasised that developed countries should take lead in undertaking ambitious actions and fulfil their climate finance commitments of mobilising $100 billion per annum by 2020 and progressively and substantially scale up their financial support to inform parties for future action through NDCs,” it added. — TNS