Washington, DC
September 24, 2005
 
I welcome this initiative taken by Mr. Paul Wolfowitz and the Government of the United Kingdom to create a new framework for Clean Energy and Development arising out of the Gleneagles Communiqué. This framework envisages a dialogue in which partnering countries can work together to address the challenge of climate change. Although India was not a party to the negotiations leading to the Gleneagles Plan of Action, we would be happy to remain engaged in the dialogue for exchange of ideas.

This new framework envisages action for Clean Energy and Development, including investment and financing. Climate change is an environmental issue of shared global concern and different countries bear different levels of responsibility for increase in atmospheric Green House Gases (GHGs) concentrations. This is a legacy issue. The adverse impact of climate change will fall disproportionately on those who have the least responsibility for causing the problem in particular the developing countries. When developing countries are now poised to achieve higher levels of economic growth, leading to poverty reduction, meeting their energy needs is critical to growth. Hence, the emphasis in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol is the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.”

I would like to reaffirm India’s commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol. At the same time, we respect the sensitivities of the countries which have not yet ratified the Kyoto Protocol. India would like to see that all countries join hands in climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts based on the above principles. The developed countries should transfer environmentally sound and clean technologies into the limited public domain for use by developing countries for early adoption, diffusion and deployment. It is important that transfer of technology is accompanied by transfer of financial resources, with continued support to conventional technologies including renovation and modernization, energy efficiency in the existing thermal plants and hydel projects.

I am sure the new framework being launched today will address all these issues.