Paris COP 21: Testing time for nations on cutting emissions, says Prakash Javadekar

The historic Paris climate change agreement at United Nations (UN) is all set to be signed by more than 150 nations on Friday. Ahead of the landmark signing of the agreement, India has said that it will be a test for the developing and developed nations on how they “walk the talk” on cutting emissions and eradicate poverty.

“Developed world will be tested whether it is adopting sustainable consumption in their own countries and provide means of implementation to developing countries or not,” Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said at a session on sustainable development here yesterday.

It will be a test for the developing countries on how comprehensively they plan to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and how they utilize properly  the funds provided to them by the developed world.

“Both groupings will be tested on how they walk the talk and eradicate poverty,” he said.Javadekar added that as mandated by the 2030 Agenda, the processes for follow up and review must remain voluntary, country-led and should reinforce mutual learning and exchange of best practices.

“The purpose of the review mechanism must be to enhance the implementation of the agenda on the ground and to this extent ensure the provision of enhanced level of financial and technological support to developing countries,” he said.

He stressed that the SDGs will have “very significant” resource implications and the world will require a total investment of USD 5-7 trillion per year while the developing countries’ need alone could be around 3-9 trillion per year.

He said according to preliminary estimates for India, the country’s financial requirement is pegged at USD 500 billion per annum for the next 15 years for food security, infrastructure, climate change, mitigation, adaption, health and education.

(With PTI inputs)