Earth Day Webinar: “Impact of Covid-19 on Climate Action (SDG13)"

22nd April 2020

At the Climate Dialogue held on Earth Day, April 22, India's Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar presented India's stand on mitigating Climate Change through his interaction with nearly 350 climate experts, students and enthusiasts. He interacted with the participants through webinar organised by TERRE Policy Centre, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and MIT World Peace University of Pune.

In his 20-minute keynote speech, Minister Javadekar highlighted the positive environmental changes globally during the current lockdown. He said the messages are clear from COVID-19. Firstly, having experienced blue skies, clean rivers and a massive reduction in emissions it is proven beyond doubt that it is our lifestyle that is responsible for unsustainable and indiscriminate consumption. Secondly, we are simply not willing to work together as evident from the broken promises at the United Nations Climate Negotiations on finances and technology transfer. He reminded that it was because of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative the preamble of Paris Climate Agreement introduced lifestyle change and climate justice as two levers that can help in the climate negotiations.

During the interaction that lasted for another 20 minutes, participants asked if COVID 19 would impact on India's commitment to Paris climate agreement. Javadekar stated that India is on track to fulfil the pledges given in the Paris climate agreement (called as Nationally Determined Contribution-NDCs) . But pledges given by the developed world are far from being met, including financial commitment which now has accumulated to USD 1 trillion. The negotiating principle of common but differentiated responsibility (CBDR) has not been respected.

In reply to a question, he said he would not romanticise the blue skies and clean earth as a result of the lockdown. After all, we are a nation of 130 crore (1.3 billion) people and we need industry and business. But balanced and holistic approaches are a must to move towards sustainable development, he said. 

For accessing the full video of the webinar click on the following link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gpqgmC5r01A7Z6wintCaCK5042jrLcr7/view?usp=sharing