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As COP27 inches closer and governments around the world gear up to share their climate goals and talk about climate crisis, here's a look at India's agenda at previous COPs (Conference of Parties on climate change).
As with each COP, India seems to have one particular agenda on the table for this COP as well: Climate finance.
The debate has been going on since the promise for climate finance was first made during COP15 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
(Photo: The Quint)
(Photo: The Quint)
(Photo: The Quint)
(Photo: The Quint)
(Photo: The Quint)
(Photo: The Quint)
(Photo: The Quint)
(Photo: The Quint)
(Photo: The Quint)
(Photo: The Quint)
(Photo: The Quint)
The 26th Conference of Parties was attended personally by Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi in Glasgow which he attended right after the G7 Summit in Rome. A quick look at India's initiative during last year's conference:
India pledges to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070
Launch of One World, One Solar, One Grid
Promotion of LiFE-- Lifestyle for Environment
'Panchamrit': Five Elixers for Climate
India and China unlikely allies against the clause for 'phasing out coal'
India made some statements that other countries at the conference found to be controversial and questionable. In 2020, the conference was attended by the former Union Minister of Environment, Prakash Javadekar.
A quick recap of India's role during COP25:
Emphasis on transition of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) credits from Kyoto Protocol to Paris Agreement
Demanded that Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) could be sold for climate funding
Questioned the 'credibility' of the UNFCCC's process
Pushed for developing countries to join the Warsaw International Mechanism of Loss and Damage (WIM)
Argued for a stocktaking exercise on the fulfillment of pre-2020 commitments
India stated that the Paris Agreement was non-negotiable
Stood firm against the dilution of Common But Differentiated Responsibility Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC)
Urged countries to stand with those who are most vulnerable to climate change to show WE CARE
Emphasised the importance of the UN scientific report, when it was blocked by US, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Kuwait
India's theme at COP23 was 'Conserving now, Preserving Future'
Aligned with the Like Minded Developing Countries (LMDC)
Pushed for pre-2020 commitments to be included on the agenda
Stated that US needs to be held accountable for emissions, in context to former-President Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement
Importance of India's 'traditional knowledge' as 'beacon of light'
At COP22 former Environment Minister, Anil Yadav advocated for an adherence to the principle of Climate Justice. That world leaders must consider the more vulnerable and poorer communities when deciding the path of climate action. Aside from this major standpoint let's take a look at the rest of India's agenda:
India and other LMDCs were unhappy with Adhoc Working Group on Paris Agreement (APA)
India was concerned about the mitigation-centric approach
Spoke against developed countries not respecting the equity aspect of the Paris Agreement in the APA
COP21 commenced the historic document ratified by 196 parties in Paris, France. A quick glance at India's agenda:
India was on board with the outcome text of COP21
India was happy with the concessions made towards developing countries
However, expected developed countries to take more responsibility
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