Paris climate pact must seek ’universal’ but ’not equal’ action: India

New Delhi, February 6: India, seen as a key player in the Paris 2015 UN climate negotiations, on Friday called for a “universal” but “not equal” green action in mitigating the challenges of global warming. “The principle of CBDR (comprehensive but differential responsibility) has been diluted with the demand for a universal action (to combat climate change). Let there be a universal action but it cannot be an equal action,” India’s Additiol Secretary, Environment, Sushil Kumar said at the 15th Delhi Sustaible Development Summit here. Under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the principle of CBDR requires developed countries to recognize their historical responsibility as early industrialisers to ensure greater contribution in meeting the climate change challenge. From the climate agreement at the UN Climate Conference in Paris later this year, “India and other developing countries are looking for retention and reiteration of the principles of CBDR, equity, and respective capabilities of each country... These have to be our guiding principles so that every country is on board,” he said.  (IANS)