Baku (Azerbaijan):
India on Tuesday said the new climate finance target to support climate action in the ‘Global South’ should be set based on the principle of climate justice. India also said that rich countries should take the lead in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and provide adequate ‘carbon space’ to developing countries.
Delivering the national address at the UN Climate Conference in Baku, Union Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh said restrictive unilateral trade measures by some developed countries are hindering climate action in developing countries.
“Whatever decisions we take here on the NCQG (new climate finance targets) should be based on the principle of climate justice,” he said. “Decisions should be ambitious and clear, taking into account the evolving needs and priorities of developing countries and their commitment to sustainable development and poverty alleviation.”
The Minister said that free access to green technologies and finance is essential to enhance climate ambition in the ‘Global South’. The ‘Global South’ refers to countries that are often referred to as developing, least developed or underdeveloped and are Mainly located in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
“In contrast, some developed countries have resorted to unilateral measures, making climate action more difficult for the Global South,” he said. “In the emerging situation we find ourselves in, there is no alternative but to break down all barriers to the flow of technology, finance and capacity into the ‘Global South’.”
Singh said the world may breach the carbon budget to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and hence, developed countries need to do more by not only pursuing their ‘net zero’ targets but also by “supporting the development of developing countries like us”. Must demonstrate leadership in reducing emissions by providing adequate carbon space.
