Differentiation in Paris agreement essential, says PM

PARIS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised at the Paris climate summit that environmental protection and economic growth must go “hand in hand”, as his tough stand and slew of meetings with world leaders underscored that the next nine days will see India emerge as a key player in the negotiations.

Modi made it clear that India will not budge from its position and will stand up for the poor across the globe even as he held talks with leaders of rich nations like US President Barack Obama and British PM David Cameron.

And the stage has been set with the biggest group of the developing world, G 77 plus China, agreeing to India’s views on what the Paris agreement should look like.

Modi sought space from the developed world for the less-privileged countries to emit carbon to meet the “aspiration” of billions of people living there, arguing that any agreement without differentiation would be “morally wrong”.

“World’s billions are at the bottom of the ladder and are seeking a place to grow,” he said in a crisp and short speech in the high-level segment of the conference. “India needs to grow as still 300 million people are without access to energy. We are determined to do so.”

Unlike many other world leaders who spoke in generic terms, Modi stated explicitly that India will not agree to a deal without a clear differentiation in responsibilities and action between the rich and the developing nations in all aspects, such as mitigation, adaptation and transparency.

Rich nations are keen on diluting differentiation in the Paris agreement and, instead, have a universal agreement for all 196 nations who are party to the climate convention. Modi spoke on all elements of the proposed deal – from mitigation to adaptation to technology transfer to proposed transparency mechanism— putting forth India’s point of view.

In all, he made India’s stand clear and it may not ring pleasant to the ears of negotiators from affluent countries.