Virtual Flagship G-77 Ministerial Meeting

“Maintaining a Low Carbon Development Path towards the 2030 Agenda in the Era of COVID-19”

[29 October 2020]

India Statement

By H.E. Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti, 

Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations

Mr. Chairman,

We thank the Cooperative Republic of Guyana for organizing this important G-77 event.

2. The title of this session is “Framing the Discourse”.

3. Let me, at the outset, underline that the discourse has already been framed. That is why the Climate Change Convention is called the Framework Convention. The Framework Convention has been called so precisely to frame the discourse, to frame our responsibilities, to frame our actions and to frame the results of our actions.

4. This is precisely the reason why India has consistently underlined the importance of respecting the Framework Convention on Climate Change which all our countries have negotiated and, therefore, collectively own.

5. Therefore, in the era of COVID-19, the most important guarantee we have is for countries to implement faithfully this Framework Convention, the Paris Agreement and the Financing for Development framework to fight climate change and to bring about a low carbon development.  

6. However, during COVID-19, it is a matter of regret that countries are using the pandemic to try to push ideas and decisions which undermine not just the Paris Agreement, but even other Conventions.  COVID-19 should not be an excuse for undermining Conventions but, in fact, should spur countries, particularly developed countries, to implement their obligations to achieve Agenda 2030.

7. Consequently, whatever activity we undertake in the era of COVID-19 and beyond should be “Convention-Plus” and not “Convention-Minus”.  We call on countries to undertake activities to strengthen “Convention-Plus” actions on the path of promoting low carbon development, whether in the area of mitigation, adaptation, finance or technology.

8. India has not only shown its resolve, but it has also undertaken path-breaking initiatives, which I would term as “Convention-Plus”.  I refer here to the International Solar Alliance spearheaded by our Prime Minister, which was a bold initiative for enhanced and innovative climate action. 88 countries have now signed the International Solar Alliance.  India has pledged US$ 1.7 billion so far for solar energy projects.  In a similar direction, we had also pioneered the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and other initiatives, including during COVID, under South-South Cooperation.

Thank you.