India: John Kerry creating divisive climate

Reacting sharply to US secretary of state John Kerry’s remark that New Delhi would be a “challenge” at the upcoming Paris climate change summit, India on Wednesday said the statement was a deliberate attempt to divide developing nations. India will strongly contest any attempt by developed countries to dilute their responsibilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, government sources were cited by news agencies as saying while outlining India’s key strategies at the upcoming summit.

A top government source was cited as saying that the reason for the remark (Mr Kerry’s) was that India’s “proactive” role at the negotiations have started yielding results and the world is appreciating the country’s climate action plans to curb greenhouse gas emissions. This is the third time that India has hit out at Mr Kerry’s remark.

“We are engaging with the world at all possible le-vels. India has never been in such a proactive mode. The second is India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) have been well appreciated world over. The NGO alliance report has mentioned that India is taking up four times the responsibility than their fair share. Our fair share of emissions would have been 17 per cent but we are currently doing five per cent but historically three per cent. We have been on the positive side of the scenario... US wanted to divide and their game plan is already on,” the source was quoted by PTI as saying.

“They have announced $14 billion for the Africa group. This is yet another item to divide G77. They (Africa group) will think it’s a concrete assurance. Whether it is new, additional predictable finance, nobody bothers. It is just the $14 billion that matters. This is how things happen. Sad, but true. India does not quarrel. When he (Kerry) made a comment on India, it was intended,” the source was quoted as saying.

India will also strongly “pursue lack of commitment” of developed countries in providing finance and green technology to developing nations to tackle climate change and adopt clean energy pathways.

“Downplaying of developed countries’ commitments and enhancement of developing countries’ contributions will be contested while lack of commitment of developed countries on finance and technology will be pursued,” the top government source was quoted as saying. India will also challenge attempts to cite its large economy to preclude it from being eligible for climate finance. “Attempts to enlarge the contributor base and shrink recipient base for climate finance will be contested,” the source pointed out.

India made it clear the agreement should be based on the basic principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in which equity and common but differentiated responsibilities will form parts of its elements and historical responsibility will also be factored in. The source said the focus on mitigation goals by developed countries will also be contested by India.

The top source pointed out that there is no “red line”, only “green lines”, for India, and another key issue which will come up is vacating carbon space for developing nations. “There are 3,000 gigatons of carbon space. 2,000 gigatons are already blocked. Therefore the carbon space needs to be vacated for developing nations,” the source said.

Although much has been talked about finance, the source pointed out that little has been done. “A new figure of $62 billion is now being talked about but the pledge is only $10 billion. However, if one sees actually, only $168 million worth of projects have been sanctioned. There is no actual movement on finance. Therefore India will be stressing for $100 billion for the Green Climate Fund. Finance will be a real issue of negotiations,” the source was quoted as saying.