INDIA’S COP 25 STAND OKAYED BY CABINET

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the stand India will take at the United Nation’s upcoming 25th Conference of Parties (COP 25) on climate change commencing next week in Spain.

India will stress the need for fulfilling pre-2020 commitments by developed countries and that pre-2020 implementation gaps should not present an additional burden to developing countries in the post-2020 period.

The COP 25 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is scheduled to be held in Madrid, Spain (under the Presidency of Chile) from December 2-13, 2019.

The Indian delegation will be led by Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar.

COP 25 holds significance as countries prepare to move from pre-2020 period under Kyoto Protocol to post-2020 period under Paris Agreement.

“India’s leadership on climate change has been evident and well recognised across the globe. Government of India has been undertaking several initiatives to address climate change concerns under the leadership of the Prime Minister and these initiatives reflect India’s commitment and ambition towards climate action,” the ministry said in a statement.

The Cabinet also accorded post-facto approval to an agreement India signed with Saudi Arabia last month to set up a strategic partnership council.

The agreement will enable the leadership at the highestlevel in both countries to meet regularly and monitor progress in the ongoing initiatives and projects under the strategic partnership, a government statement said. PTI