India, Africa ask developed nations to carry out mitigation steps

NEW DELHI: Ahead of the crucial climate change summit in Paris, India and Africa today urged developed nations to undertake "ambitious" mitigation measures to reduce carbon emissions and "honor" their commitment of providing financial resources and technology to developing countries.

"Excess of few cannot become the burden of many", asserted Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had earlier invited African countries to join an alliance of solar-rich nations that he would announce on November 30 at crucial climate Summit in Paris.

Modi asserted no one has done less to contribute to global warming than India and Africa and no one can be more conscious of climate change than Indians and Africans.

Both India and Africa also decided to enhance cooperation and coordination in finalizing an "ambitious and comprehensive" climate change agreement during the forthcoming Conference of Parties (COP21) negotiations in Paris even as it stressed that developing countries need to be "assisted" to mitigate climate change.

"Urge the developed countries to undertake ambitious mitigation commitments to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and honor their commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)...

"...to provide financial resources as well as transfer of technology and capacity building support to developing countries to enable them to effectively address the impacts of climate change," the joint Delhi Declaration 2015 adopted during the 3rd India Africa Forum Summit said.

The declaration also said that the United Nations should function in a "transparent, efficient and effective" manner while the composition of the central organs must reflect "contemporary realities" in order to work towards the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and tackle challenges and threats ranging from security environment to climate change.

"Enhance cooperation and coordination in finalizing an ambitious and comprehensive climate change agreement during the forthcoming COP 21 negotiations, which will be held in Paris," the declaration said.

Noting that both India and Africa look forward to finalizing an "ambitious and comprehensive" climate change agreement based on the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibility, the declaration said that the challenge of global warming can be tackled through technological solutions.