Developed World must take Enhanced Targets for 2016-2020; There Cannot Be ‘Action Holiday’: Javadekar
Environment Minister’s Speech at the High-Level Signing Ceremony of Paris Agreement at un General Assembly for Signing
Environment Minister’s Speech at the High-Level Signing Ceremony of Paris Agreement at un General Assembly for Signing
The Paris Agreement has been signed by 171
countries in New York yesterday. Speaking at the High-Level Signing ceremony
at UN General Assembly, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Environment,
Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar said that the ratification of
IInd commitment period of Kyoto is urgent and needs to be done immediately. He
urged the developed world to take enhanced targets for 2016-2020. “There cannot
be ‘Action Holiday”, Shri Javadekar said. The Minister reiterated that if the
world follows India on taxing the production of coal, the $100 billion easily.
He also highlighted that the government has taxed polluting vehicles and is
providing subsidy for electric and hybrid vehicles.
He said that the agreement highlights the benefits
of ‘Sustainable Lifestyle’. He pointed out that India will reduce emission
intensity by 35%, build 40% capacity for power generation from non-fossil
fuels, create additional carbon sink of 2.5 billion tonnes and invest in
reducing vulnerability and enhancing adaptation to Climate Change.
The
following is the text of Shri Javadekar’s speech on the occasion:
“On this Earth Day, we have made History. 171
countries have signed the Paris agreement. It is the triumph of collective
wisdom.
I congratulate Secretary General, the French
Presidency, and World Leaders.
The Agreement explicitly highlights the benefits
of ‘Sustainable Lifestyle’. We have to stop extravagant consumption. If we
continue in the same way, we will require 3 planets, and we have, only 1.
This
is an impetus for operationalising our vision of ‘Climate Justice’, enshrined
in the Preamble of the Paris Agreement. Full application will ensure that
developing world and poor people get justice under the current climate regime.
We reiterate that India will:
Ø
Reduce
Emission Intensity by 35%.;
Ø
Build
40% capacity for Power Generation from non-fossil fuels;
Ø
Create
additional carbon sink of 2.5 billion tonnes;
Ø
Invest
in reducing our vulnerability and enhancing adaptation to Climate Change.
India has already started on the road to
achieve.
In a revolutionary measure we have taxed coal at
the rate of $6 per tonne, and we will invest the monies in Clean Environment.
If the World follows India on this, it will
generate the elusive $100 billion much early, and more easily.
We have undertaken a huge Renewable energy
programme of 175 GW. I am happy to announce that we have already achieved 40
GW.
We
have blended 1 billion litres of Ethanol, and intend to double it next year,
without changing the Land use.
We have taxed polluting vehicles and are
providing subsidy for Electric and Hybrid Vehicles.
We have distributed 100 million LED bulbs. We
have made them cheaper by 80% from $4.7 to $ 0.8
We will save 80 Million tonnes of Carbon
equivalent per annum, when we will complete LED programme of one billion lights
Urban Public Transport which is presently 300 KM
and 2 million passengers, will increase to 1300 KM and 10 million passengers in
3 years.
For afforestation we are providing $ 10 billion
in next 5 years.
We are replacing energy inefficient pumps with
efficient pumps, and we will give it free to our farmers.
Ratification of Paris will happen quickly. But
ratification of IInd commitment period of Kyoto is urgent and needs to be done
immediately. Developed world must take enhanced targets for 2016-2020. There
cannot be ‘Action Holiday.’
