Ministry objects to Plan panel’s climate draft,funds proposal

According to ministry officials,the draft sets goals for the country’s emission reduction,whose levels are not in accordance with India’s international negotiations and also the national missions on climate change. The ministry has also communicated that the draft does not take into account recommendations of the inter-ministerial steering committee which was set up to shape up the contents of the chapter on climate change.

In one of the major differences,the draft stresses internal budgetary support and domestic funds generation for the country’s climate change mitigation actions and access to clean technologies,whereas India has been pitching hard for international funding from developed countries. This is in accordance with India’s known stand that developed countries have an obligation towards developing countries’ efforts at managing climate change. Sources said the draft had also suggested taxes among other things to part-fund India’s climate change actions.

The ministry has said that altering climate change goals and key policies around them are to be done through the PM’s Council on Climate Change. “The draft in effect fails to capture the principle of equity,which is the key element in India’s climate change negotiations at international fora,” said an official.