India vs Kerry on climate change

High-profile interventions from the likes of Pope Francis, moves by investors away from the most polluting fossil fuels, falling prices of clean technology such as solar panels and countries taking action domestically are all setting a more positive tone than in previous climate talks. “But, developed world needs to vacate climate space”.

Pledges made ahead of the climate conference in Paris are short of what’s needed to address stated climate change goals, analysis finds.

The objective going into Paris will be a universal, binding climate agreement from every nation that will hold the world to a 2°C temperature rise. “Our perspective and our climate action plans have been widely appreciated”, a senior source said.

At the Copenhagen climate conference in 2009, developed countries had promised to raise $100 billion (CHF102 billion) a year until 2020 to finance the climate change policies of developing countries.

The conference in Tbilisi is part of Georgia’s preparations for the 21st Conference of Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris in December 2015. “India has been more cautious, a little more restrained in its embrace of this new paradigm, and it’s a challenge”, Kerry had told Financial Times.

Meanwhile, around the world, momentum is building, he said, pointing out that cities, businesses and investors, faith leaders and citizens are acting to reduce emissions and build resilience.

As are back-door talks to stitch what is arguably one of the most complicated of multilateral economic agreements that 196 countries have ever attempted.

In a simple yet effective way, it shows the problem we face regarding climate change today. Heads of States of around 140 countries, including Narendra Modi, will attend the event. These Intended Nationally Determined Contributions, or INDCs, are the key to keeping the planet’s temperature from rising above the 3.6 degree threshold that many climate scientists believe we can not pass if we hope to avoid the most damaging consequences of global warming. There are 8000 registered carbon-trading projects, which have helped developing countries earn around $10 billion.

“They are coming to sort out the climate challenge and, again, to work and to find the right agreements so that we can limit greenhouse gas emissions and make sure that our children and our grandchildren live better, or simply can live”, Hollande said.