Environment

India, US launch mechanism to boost climate response ties

New Delhi, Sep 13 (EFE).- India and the United States Monday launched a bilateral mechanism to strengthen their cooperation for battling the climate crisis.

US special envoy John Kerry inaugurated the Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue (CAFMD) in the Indian capital.

“The launch comes to the truly critical juncture with respect to the challenge of the climate crisis,” Kerry said at the event.

Indian Minister of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav accompanied Kerry at the inauguration.

He said the mechanism would serve as a powerful avenue for US-India collaboration to help New Delhi meet its “ambitious” goal of producing 450 gigawatts of energy through renewable sources by 2030.

The collaboration between the two countries would also seek to “attract capital, technology and other elements,” said Kerry.

He highlighted the “enormous economic opportunity” derived from the Indian plans on renewable energy.

“The International Energy Agency forecasts that if India seizes the clean energy opportunity, which it is, it could become the world’s largest market for batteries and solar panels.”

The US special envoy for climate crisis expressed his government’s desire to continue the dialog with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the US “in a few days.”

The visit has not been announced yet, but the local media reports indicate that it could happen between September 22 and 27.

Yadav said climate change was one of the biggest challenges facing India.

“It is multidimensional, visible, goes beyond national borders, and so it requires a global response,” he said.

Yadav said India hoped that the dialogue would mobilize and deliver climate finance primarily as grants and concessional finance, as envisaged under the Paris Agreement to strengthen climate action.

“I believe the dialogue will not only strengthen India-US bilateral cooperation on climate and environment but will also help to demonstrate how the world can align swift climate action with inclusive and resilient economic development,” he said.

The US hopes the dialogue will serve to prepare for the Glasgow Climate Summit (COP26).

The summit was to happen at the end of November 2020, but it got postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It is scheduled to take place between Nov.1 and 12 this year. EFE

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