Will India Be Criticised In Paris Climate Conference ?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President François Hollande today announced the widely anticipated initiative during the first day of the global climate summit, inviting over 100 solar-rich countries to facilitate widespread implementation of solar projects and infrastructure.

The article came ahead of the Conference of Parties (CoP) 21 at Paris where over 190 countries will try to negotiate a new global climate regime under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The News International said that the two leaders “warmly” shook hands as “Narendra Modi pleasantly approached Nawaz Sharif and had a brief meeting with him”. “It’s not just a question of historical responsibility – they also have the most room to make the cuts and make the strongest impact”, Modi told the gathering of world leaders. Modi also talked about the solar alliance initiative, saying it would help in fulfilling the dreams which had brought the countries together here.

India has launched a global alliance with France to boost solar power generation across countries, especially in developing ones that have ample solar energy resources but insufficient capital.

The Prime Minister said the governments will collaborate on research and innovation, share knowledge and exchange best practices as well as discuss regulatory issues, in order to attract investment in solar, encourage joint ventures and develop innovative finance mechanisms.

Modi observed that there should be an worldwide network of 30-40 universities and labs focusing for next ten years on renewable energy and said innovation must be backed by means to make it affordable and ensure adoption.

To ensure that we decrease the load on our world “I will even require a change in routines”.

Monday’s “pull aside” meeting comes days after Sharif said his country is ready for talks with India without pre-conditions.

“This alliance brings in many other countries with vast solar potential, including many from Africa”. We will have 175GW of renewables by 2022 and have imposed levies on coal and rationalized subsidies on petroleum products. “By the end of next year, we will have added another 12 GW”, Modi said.

Earlier, France’s climate change ambassador Laurence Tubiana had called the group “a true game changer”.

Since then, fast-growing China and India have become the world’s No. 1 and four carbon emitters, however, and other erstwhile “developing” countries have scaled the economic ladder.

He also warned developed nations that it would be “morally wrong” if they shift the burden of reducing emissions on developing countries like India, observing that poor nations had a right to burn carbon to grow their economies.