India will increase climate aspirations but not under pressure: Prakash Javadekar

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said that India will increase its climate-related aspirations but will not do so under pressure. Javadekar said that India would continue to ask developed countries about finance and assistance and their climate actions.

Javadekar made this remark in his speech after meeting French Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian at the French Embassy. He said that India is the only G20 country that did what it said on the Paris Climate Agreement and we have done more than we promised. Javadekar said that many countries have forgotten the commitments before 2020 and they are now talking about 2050. He said, ‘Many countries are now saying not to use coal, but the alternative should be much cheaper than coal, only then India will stop using coal.’

The minister said that India is suffering due to the steps of others. He said that the United States, Europe and China emit greenhouse gas, which the world suffers. Javadekar said that one of the main things in the Julavay debate is historical responsibility. We should also keep climate justice in mind for poor countries. They have the right to develop. They should be given capital for what the developed countries have done.