Economic Survey 2014-15. ‘Global climate pact should address needs of developing nations’

The new global climate pact, which is due to be signed in Paris this year, should address the developing nations’ needs including access to financial resources and clean technologies, according to the Economic Survey.

Noting that 2015 is likely to be momentous with the world set to witness a new climate agreement, the Survey said, “As we put our acts together towards a post-2015 agreement on climate change, it is absolutely critical to ensure that the new agreement is comprehensive, balanced, equitable and pragmatic.”

The agreement should address the genuine requirements of developing countries like India by providing them equitable carbon and development space to achieve sustainable development and eradicate poverty, it said.

To achieve this, the Survey said that adherence to the principles and provisions of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is critical.

“Importantly, global climate action rests heavily on the means of implementation, especially finance and technology, and the agreement should adequately address this,” it said.

Noting that political awareness on the issue of climate change and sustainable development both in the international arena and on the domestic front has risen considerably, the Survey said, “Many developing countries including India have made considerable progress in tackling climate change issues.”

In India, several measures have been taken to address climate change. Most importantly, India’s national solar mission is being scaled up fivefold from 20,000 megawatts (MW) to 100,000 MW and the clean energy cess on coal has been doubled to ₹100 per tonne in 2014, it said.

Noting that India is one of the early adopters of a national climate change plan (NAPCC), the Survey said the country is now revisiting the National Missions under the NAPCC in the light of new scientific information and technological advances.

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