Berlin: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has criticised developed nations and the European Union for failing to adequately fulfil their climate finance commitments to developing countries, questioning the delivery of the promised USD 100 billion annually to support climate action.
Addressing a roundtable at the Berlin Global Dialogue, Goyal said wealthy nations, which historically contributed a substantial share of global carbon emissions, had not provided adequate financial and technological assistance to developing and vulnerable countries as envisaged under the Paris Agreement.
Recalling the 2015 Paris climate conference, Goyal said developed nations had committed to supporting developing countries, including small island nations in the Pacific and the Caribbean, in addressing climate change and pursuing decarbonisation.
The USD 100 billion annual climate finance goal was first agreed upon at the 2009 United Nations climate conference in Copenhagen, with developed countries committing to mobilise the funds by 2020. At the 2015 Paris climate conference, the goal was extended through 2025 after the original commitment remained unmet.
Goyal said developed nations had failed to respond adequately to the requirements of less-developed countries and support their efforts to reduce emissions while meeting their development needs.
Highlighting the disparity between population shares and historical emissions, the minister said India accounts for around 17% of the world’s population but contributes less than 3% of global carbon emissions.
In contrast, he argued, Europe’s historical contribution to emissions has been disproportionately high relative to its population.
Goyal also said Europe’s per capita carbon emissions and environmental impact remained significantly higher than India’s, asserting that developing countries should not be expected to shoulder an unequal burden for a crisis they did not primarily create.
Emphasising India’s development priorities, the minister said the country had to meet the energy and food requirements of 1.4 billion people while safeguarding national security.
Despite these challenges, India was pursuing one of the world’s fastest-growing clean energy programmes, he said.
Goyal’s remarks underscored India’s position that climate action must be accompanied by adequate financial and technological support from developed nations, enabling developing economies to pursue sustainable growth without compromising their essential development needs.
