War within government on climate change
TACTIC Environment minister calls G-20 sherpa’s comment on China as ‘personal’ view
A day after G-20 sherpa Suresh Prabhu said India should not align with China on climate issues, the government distanced itself from his view with environment minister Prakash Javadekar calling it his “personal” opinion.
NEW DELHI: A day after G-20 sherpa Suresh Prabhu said India should not align with China on climate issues, the government distanced itself from his view with environment minister Prakash Javadekar calling it his “personal” opinion.
Prabhu comments had led to speculation that India may break away from the Basic group that has India, China, South Africa and Brazil. Javadekar refused to either confirm or deny reiterating that what Prabhu said was his personal view. Moving away from China can help India in isolating itself from taking emission mitigation cuts, which appears to be imminent for China. With 22% of Indians poor as against less than 10% for China, India may also get more financial aid from the rich nations to fight climate change. China is world’s largest carbon emitter followed by United States and India is fourth with Russia.
“Standing with China does not help India,” Prabhu had said. He also added that India should have a more open climate stand for the talks that is expected to conclude in Paris in 2015 with an agreement on a new climate deal to be effective from 2020 onwards.
Government sources said the Prime Minister’s Office was readying the text on India’s climate stand and first glimpse of it will be visible at the G-20 summit in Australia in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be participating.
“The tricky issue of climate change cannot be dealt without being discussion at the highest geo-political platforms. One should not forget that climate change is closely linked with economy and therefore, it should be discussed at G-20,” a senior government official said.