India along with 12 other likeminded developing countries (lMDC) grouping has called for text-based negotiations with a focus on equity as well as differentiation to achieve a sustainable Climate change agreement in Paris.
The two-day meeting of lMDC that concluded here on Tuesday witnessed the participation of 26 delegates from countries including China, Malaysia , Argentina, Bolivia, Cuba, El Salvador, Ecuador, Iran, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Vietnam, Switzerland and Saudi Arabia.
A statement issued at the end of the meeting by the members of lMDCs stressed that as per their historical responsibilities, the developed nations must provide additional, predictable and sustained climate finance to developing countries for enhanced climate actions both for pre and post-2020. The statement further asserted that a clear roadmap should be provided by developed nations to fulfill their commitment on 100 billion USD per year by 2020.
The lMDCs also expressed concern over the shifting of financial burden to developing countries and the attempt to expand the list of countries with obligations to provide climate finance while at the same time, shrink the list of countries eligible for receiving climate finance. later, lMDC delegates also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Interacting with them, the PM called upon the developed world to be convinced that developing nations are not enemies of environment and pressed for changing the mindset that development and growth are inimical to ecology.
He suggested that there should be a common school syllabus on environmental subjects across the world, both in developed and developing countries, so that the younger generation grows up with common goals in the battle against climate change.
Asserting that India stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the lMDCs on climate issues, he said the world, which is now well aware of the challenge of climate change, needs to be made aware about the principle of climate justice. Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar later said that he hoped that the next session of climate talks in Bonn in October must produce a text that is equitable, pragmatic and not lopsided favouring only the rich countries.
All countries of the lMDC, including India, would be finalising their goals for arresting climate change through the intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) but these should not be criticised by others, the Minister said.