Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav delivers statement on behalf of BASIC countries at COP26
Union Minister for
Environment, Forest and Climate Change, delivered the statement on behalf of
the BASIC group of countries, comprising Brazil, South Africa, India and China
at the UN Climate Change Conference underway at Glasgow.
He highlighted that
even though COP 26 has been delayed by a year, Parties have already commenced
implementation of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and
therefore, it is crucial that Paris Agreement Rulebook is concluded at COP 26.
“In doing so, full
effect must be given to implementation of the principles of Equity and Common
but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) and,
recognition of the very different national circumstances of Parties”, stated
Yadav and underlined that developing countries must be accorded time, policy
space and support to transition towards a low emissions future.
The Indian Environment
Minister mentioned that COP 26 must aim for higher global ambition on climate
finance and adaptation as well, along with recognition of Parties’ differing
historical responsibilities and the developmental challenges faced by
developing countries, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the statement, Yadav
recalled the bottom-up nature of the Paris Agreement and the freedom of Parties
to determine their NDCs and progressively update them based on the outcomes of
the Global Stocktake cycle and as per national circumstances and call of
science.
With regard to the
long-term temperature goal, he affirmed that the latest available science makes
it clear that all Parties need to immediately contribute their fair share, and
achieving this would require developed countries to rapidly reduce their
emissions and dramatically scale-up their financial support to developing
countries.
“Developed countries
have not only failed to meet the $100 billion goal per year of support to
developing countries each and every year since 2009, they continue to present
the 2009 goal as the ceiling of their ambition all the way to 2025. In a
context where developing countries, including BASIC countries, have massively
stepped up their climate actions since 2009, it is unacceptable that there is
still no matching ambition from developed countries on the enabling means of implementation
on climate finance support.”, said the Environment Minister.
He further added that
COP 26 needs to be remembered as the COP where a step-change in financial
support for developing countries from developed countries was initiated.
He said that along with
finance, technology development and transfer and capacity-building are critical
enablers of climate actions in developing countries.
“Decisions particularly
on climate finance and Article 6 can significantly help enhance climate
ambition. A market mechanism that facilitates private sector engagement in
carbon markets could help further raise climate ambition, in addition to what
is being achieved under the NDCs.”, said the Minister
Yadav highlighted that
the success of multilateralism lies in transparent, inclusive, Party-driven and
consensus-based nature of the UNFCCC process and the group expects that all
agenda items shall proceed in an inclusive and balanced manner, and the outcome
should reflect the views of all Parties.
At the end, on behalf of the
BASIC group, he reaffirmed full commitment to fighting climate change and work
constructively and progressively with the Presidency and all other Parties in
ensuring that a successful outcome is reached at COP 26.