India to support Paris Climate Change Agreement, assures PM Modi to UN chief

Ahead of the climate change summit in Poland, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured the UN chief Antonio Guterres that India will play its due role to fight against the global climate change and to support the Paris Climate Change Agreement, which is taking place from December 3.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Argentina’s Buenos Aires on November 29.

“Secretary-General Guterres and the Indian leader “discussed the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP24) and the importance of the completion of the Paris Agreement Work Programme, its transparency framework and climate finance,” UN chief’s spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

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The main topic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s discussion with the UN chief was the forthcoming COP24 climate change meeting in Poland’s Katowice, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said.

After meeting with PM Modi, Guterres thanked the Indian leader for his commitment to increasing India’s nationally determined contributions to the Paris Agreement.

“Thank you @narendramodi for your commitment to tackle climate change and for your support for the Paris Agreement. It was a pleasure to see you again. #G20,” Guterres said in a tweet.

Thank you @narendramodi for your commitment to tackle climate change and for your support for the Paris Agreement. It was a pleasure to see you again. #G20 https://t.co/2pP13mVeyM

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) November 30, 2018

“Economic growth is entirely compatible with limiting carbon emissions. But we need greater ambition.  We are in a race for our future.  It’s a race we can and simply must win,” the UN chief said.

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As part of the Paris Climate Agreement, India has targeted to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions up to 35 per cent by 2030.

Modi said in a tweet that he had an “excellent meeting” with Guterres and there were wide-ranging deliberations on various global issues.

“We talked about mitigating climate change and India’s efforts in this regard through initiatives like the International Solar Alliance (ISA),” Modi said in the tweet, referring to the global alliance formally launched jointly by India and France.

Excellent meeting with Mr. @antonioguterres, @UN Secretary-General.

There were wide-ranging deliberations on various global issues.

We talked about mitigating climate change and India’s efforts in this regard through initiatives like the International Solar Alliance. pic.twitter.com/NIQZS671gI

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 30, 2018

The ISA is a treaty-based inter-governmental alliance of 121 sunshine-rich countries that lie fully or partially between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.

(With PTI inputs)