India’s environmental targets fulfilled at Paris: Javadekar

“The draft agreement further weakens differentiation between developed and developing countries”.

After two weeks of intense negotiations at Paris climate change talks, Paris is now all set to announce a deal that would usher in a new era of Renewable energy. Praising Prime Minister Modi for showing leadership on the issue of climate change, Javadekar said the International Solar Alliance which was mooted by India and launched by Modi and French President Hollande on the first day of the conference is a great success.

He says the disagreements are focused on “differentiation” – how to define the responsibilities of countries in different stages of economic development. “In the case of Brazil we have a good text and we can accept it”.

He said that India was happy that the agreement has “unequivocally” acknowledged the imperative of climate justice, which reflects common sentiment and has based itself on the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities.

Negotiators from almost 200 nations are due to convene a formal plenary session at 5:30 Paris time (1630 GMT) to discuss the proposed accord, which is widely expected to be approved.

“LMDC has very serious objections, but to the weather conditions outside, not the agreement”, the Malaysian negotiator and LMDC spokesman said on the sidelines of the United Nations conference, clearly in high spirits despite many sleepless nights of tough haggling. Future generations have got a promise that they will get a much better earth.

“Today I hope that the commitments made are fulfilled”. Paris has succeeded. It was under terror attack last month.

These issues have caused many a fallout over the years. “We have done everything to maintain that thrust”.

The draft talks about first stock taking exercise n 2018 and countries which have submitted targets under INDCs (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions) for 2025 have been asked to come back in 2020 with a new target and those with 2030 targets are invited to communicate or update them.

All had been considered hard to win over in the years-long battle between rich and developing countries for a pact binding all the world’s nations to curbs of climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions.

The final climate accord released Saturday managed to limit the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels but watering down obligations on part of developed nations when it comes to providing finance to poor countries to take measures to meet challenge posed by climate change and taking liability for any loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change.

To reach these ambitious and important goals, appropriate financial flows will be put in place, thus making stronger action by developing countries and the most vulnerable possible, in line with their own national objectives, it said.