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Remarks by PM at the Informal Plenary of
HOS/Gs
at the 15th COP at Copenhagen
18/12/2009
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to thank Prime Minister Rasmussen for his efforts in trying
to build a global consensus on highly complex issues, involved in
climate change, attempting to balance divergent and varied interests.
We have all worked hard to reconcile our different points of view. The
outcome may well fall short of expectations. Nevertheless, it can become
a significant milestone. I therefore support calls for subsequent
negotiations towards building a truly global and genuinely collaborative
response to climate change being concluded during 2010.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As we embark on future negotiations, we would do well to take stock of
what we have learnt from our efforts over the past two years. I draw
three lessons, which should guide us in the task ahead.
Firstly, the vast majority of countries do not support any renegotiation
or dilution of the principles and provisions of the UNFCCC, in
particular the principle of equity and common but differentiated
responsibilities and respective capabilities.
Further, the need for action on our part is more and not less than what
was envisaged at the time of the Rio Convention or the Kyoto Protocol.
That is why the Bali Action Plan commits us to enhancing the
implementation of the UNFCCC.
To settle for something that would be seen as diminished expectations
and diminished implementation would be the wrong message to emerge from
this Conference. We should therefore reaffirm categorically that our
negotiations will continue on the basis of the Bali mandate.
Secondly, the Kyoto Protocol should continue to stand as a valid legal
instrument. Parties to the Protocol should deliver on their solemn
commitments under the Protocol. It would go against international public
opinion if we acquiesce in its replacement by a new and weaker set of
commitments.
Finally, it is clear that any agreement on climate change should respect
the need for development and growth in developing countries. Equitable
burden sharing should underlie any effective global climate change
regime. Any new regime will have moral authority and credibility only if
it acknowledges that every citizen of the globe has an equal entitlement
to the global atmospheric space.
India has a vital stake in the success of the negotiations as we are
among the countries most likely to be severely impacted by climate
change.
We have therefore adopted and started to implement a major National
Action Plan on Climate Change, relying upon our own resources. Our
targets include installation of 20,000 MW of solar energy capacity by
2022, improving energy efficiency by 20% by 2020 and adding an
additional 6 million hectares of forests over the next several years.
Excellencies, each one of us gathered here today acknowledges that those
worst affected by climate change are the least responsible for it.
Whatever emerges from our negotiations must address this glaring
injustice, injustice to countries of Africa, injustice to the Least
Developed Countries, and injustice to the Small Developing States whose
very survival as viable nation states is in jeopardy. We in India, too,
are vulnerable, but nevertheless as responsible citizens of the globe,
we have agreed to take on a voluntary target of reducing the emission
intensity of our GDP growth by around 20% by 2020 in comparison to 2005.
We will deliver on this goal regardless of the outcome of this
Conference. We can do even more if a supportive global climate change
regime is put in place.
Excellencies, we have a difficult task ahead of us. I hope we will all
play a positive and constructive role so that we can bridge differences
and come up with a balanced and also an equitable outcome during the
coming year. India will not be found wanting in this regard.
Thank you.
Copenhagen
December 18, 2009
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