April 28, 2020
Shri Prakash Javadekar stressed on the issue of climate finance, raising the need for US$1 trillion in immediate grants for the developing world
He said that like the joint initiatives in a vaccine for Coronavirus, the world should have access to Climate Technology on open source at affordable cost
India’s Nationally Determined Contributions spanning a 10-year time frame are compliant with the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement
Before the Dialogue, an Indo German bilateral meeting discussed climate change, biodiversity conservation, and cooperation in those areas
The 11th session of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue on March 28 saw India along with 30 other countries deliberating over ways to tackle the challenge of reinvigorating economies and societies following the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The participants discussed means to enhance collective resilience while catalysing climate action and supporting, in particular, those most vulnerable. Representing India in the first virtual Petersberg Climate Dialogue, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar stressed on the issue of climate finance, raising the need for US$1 trillion in immediate grants for the developing world.
Mr. Javadekar also said that much like the joint initiatives in finding a vaccine for Coronavirus, the world should have access to Climate Technology on open source at an affordable cost. He also highlighted how COVID-19 has taught the world to survive on less. Coming out of the pandemic, the Minister said that the world must think of adopting more sustainable consumption patterns, as mooted by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during Paris COP. During the meet, Mr. Javadekar mentioned that India’s Nationally Determined Contributions spanning a 10-year time frame are ambitious and are also compliant with the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement.
The Minister also spoke about the current opportunities to accelerate renewable energy deployment, while creating new green jobs and driving economic activities. India has been at the forefront of driving climate change efforts with initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance. The virtual XI Petersberg Climate Dialogue was co-chaired by Germany and the UK, the incoming Presidency of 26th Conference of Parties (COP 26) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It aims to provide a forum for informal high-level political discussions, focusing both on international climate negotiations and the advancement of climate action.
This year’s dialogue came at a key juncture when countries are tackling the COVID-19 pandemic to save lives, overcoming social and economic consequences of the pandemic while also preparing to move into the implementation phase of the Paris Agreement under UNFCCC in the post-2020 period.
The Union Minister also participated in an Indo German bilateral meeting with Ms. Svenja Shulze, the German Minister of Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety. This bilateral meeting was held via video conference just before the Petersberg Climate Dialogue. It covered discussions on a range of issues covering climate change, conservation of biodiversity, and technical cooperation with Germany in these areas. The situation in both countries arising from the COVID 19 pandemic, and recovery efforts, were also discussed.