‘For Covid Recovery, Keep Climate Goals In Mind'

India must be part of a global coalition for net-zero emissions by mid-century, said UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres in an exclusive interview to TOI’s Sunil Warrier and Manka Behl, just before his ‘State of the Planet’ virtual speech on the Paris Climate Agreement’s fifth anniversary.

India is opening more coal mines despite the increase in air pollution. What is your message to India?

By adopting the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) in line with 2-degree increase in temperature at the end of the century, leading the solar alliance and innovation in renewables, India has made remarkable efforts to tackle climate change. My appeal to India now is to join what we are building — a global coalition for net zero emissions by mid-century. Europe, Japan and Korea have announced net zero by 2050, China before 2060 and soon the new American administration will join the coalition. I am hopeful India will soon join the net zero coalition too. I would ask India to increase efforts to promote renewables. Nobody will benefit more in the drastic reduction of pollution — coal a part of it — than the Indian population.

Do you think India’s NDC is sufficient and compatible to move to the 2-degree C or is there scope to review it given announcements by other countries recently?

India has made an important contribution, but it must also improve its NDC. I believe India’s contribution will become increasingly important. That said, I pay tribute to efforts India has already made, and wish it success in becoming a true leader in climate action as it corresponds to the will of the Indian government and people. Full credit to the Indian political will for what it has achieved so far.

Observers doubt the commitment of countries that announced net zero target. What can reassure the global community that the pledge will be kept?