India has reminded rich nations of the pre-2020 climate goals. Business leaders and ministers from different countries are meeting in New Delhi to discuss how private business can work hand-in-hand with governments to achieve the goals set in the Paris Climate Pact. The goal is to extend beyond 2020. India’s consistent stand on the issue was reaffirmed by Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan. He said that though India was fully committed to its climate actions under the Paris Agreement, it was critical and necessary that equal focus is given to pre-2020 actions by developed countries under the Kyoto Protocol. Speaking to a Global business and climate summit, Vardhan reminded rich nations of their commitment of providing effective finance, technology, transfer and capacity-building to support developing countries. The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in 1997 and laid down binding targets for emissions reduction only for 38 developed countries.
The second commitment period extends from 2013 to 2020. Unlike the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement is more comprehensive because of its universal application to all countries. The Paris commitments will be effective from January, 2021. Vardhan also made it abundantly clear that an agreement should be made on a timeline for early ratification of the second commitment period ( 2013-2020) of the Kyoto Protocol. Vardhan has also said that the private sector played an integral part in India’s actions on climate change. He was happy that Indian industry had participated in voluntary carbon disclosure programs. However, success of the climate deal depended on developed countries. President Trump’s attitude that the US had been conned was a speed-breaker.
