General Assembly General Assembly

High-Level Meeting convened by the President of the 76th UNGA

 

Delivering Climate Action – for People, Planet & Prosperity

 

India Statement

by

H.E. Mr. Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change


Tuesday 26 October, 2021

 

A warm greeting from India, the country which values the notion of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam –the world is one family.

 

Let me first thank the President of the General Assembly for hosting this Virtual Climate Event just ahead of the UNFCCC 26th Climate change conference to be held in Glasgow from 31st October to 12th November 2021.

 

Science has time and again clearly stated the urgency of accelerated climate action. Recent incidents of extreme weather events across the world corroborate what science is telling us.

 

The current stock of greenhouse gases is a result of the economic growth in the industrialised countries in the past which demanded increasing amounts of energy in the form of fossil fuels and they became today’s prosperous countries with capital stock and infrastructure. In contrast, the adverse impacts of climate change falls disproportionately on developing countries who contributed little to the stock of greenhouse gases.

 

When the developed world is exhibiting shortfall in actions with just 14.8 percent emission reduction against the target of 18% reduction in the pre-2020 period, India is overachieving its voluntary target of emission reduction.

 

We have reduced our emission intensity of GDP by 24% between 2005 and 2016, thereby achieving our pre-2020 voluntary target. Our 2030 targets under the Paris Agreement are considered ambitious and compatible with the Paris Agreement goals. We are on the path to achieving those targets.

 

India has also set out an ambitious target of 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030. It may be noted that currently we have 389 GW total installed capacity. We have already achieved 155 GW of non-fossil fuel installed capacity as of now. We are accelerating action and we are confident to achieve this ambitious target by 2030.

 

We are also taking ambitious actions in energy efficiency measures, biofuels, sustainable transport, e-vehicles, enhancing green cover, sustainable agriculture, etc. We have also taken an ambitious initiative of National Hydrogen Mission for generation and export of green hydrogen.

 

The world needs rapid, sustained, and deep emission cuts in this decade rather than distant targets. However, the current discourse on climate ambition seems to be shifting the goalposts.

 

As a global community, we need to ensure that everyone has the right to sustainable development and growth. Combating climate change is a shared global challenge. The global climate action must be guided by the principles and values of climate justice, equity, and common but differentiated responsibilities in the light of national circumstances, as enshrined in the UN Framework Convention and its Paris Agreement.

 

It is already late. It is time for all to take accelerated action. Those who are historically responsible for climate change and have benefited in the past through a carbon intensive development must step up their action and take lead in providing timely and adequate finance and technology to support developing countries to accelerate their actions.

 

The trust and confidence of the world in the UN processes and forums must be safeguarded by all. Let COP26 be a COP of actions in finance and technology support and not just promises and pledges.

 

Let us all work together to protect the planet, people, and our shared future to achieve the true meaning of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

 

Thank you to all of you. Thanks.