NEW DELHI: Amid growing global concerns over inadequacy of collective climate action targets, India told visiting US presidential envoy for climate change John Kerry that there is a need to assess and enhance financial flows from developed countries for mitigation even as both sides acknowledged a strong convergence of interests.
“... stressed on the need for assessment of the $100 billion commitment per year from developed countries to developing countries. FM underscored the need to enhance financial flows to developing countries beyond $100 bn to strengthen climate action,” finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s office tweeted.
Sitharaman and Kerry agreed on the need for enhanced climate finance, technology transfer and capacitybuilding. Both the FM and environment minister Prakash Javadekar told Kerry that India is on track to meet the Paris Accord goals and had taken several measures to reduce emissions. Though India agreed for collaboration on several climate actions, it did not commit anything on raising its mitigation goals at this juncture.
The meeting assumes significance in view of the upcoming leaders’ summit on climate on April 22-23, called by US President Biden to urge world leaders to come out with stronger climate ambition in the runup to the 26th session of the UN climate conference. Kerry will meet PM Modi on Wednesday. Modi will be among the 40 world leaders to attend the summit.