Cooperation, not confrontation, the way ahead

Yadav explains why the summit was a success, western media criticism notwithstanding

- REKHA DIXIT

UNION ENVIRONMENT MINISTER Bhupender Yadav rose to global prominence on the last day of the climate summit in Glasgow when he famously announced that consensus on the Glasgow Climate Pact remained elusive, and explained just why India cannot sign a document on a phaseout of coal. India forced the hand of the 26th session of the Conference of Parties (COP26) to make last-minute changes in the draft to accommodate this perspective. In an interview with THE WEEK, Yadav explains why the summit was a success, western media criticism notwithstanding.

Q/ The western world sees the outcome of the summit as a failure. How do you see it?

A/ The COP26 was successful in alerting the world to the climate crisis and securing commitments from all towards ‘keeping 1.5 degrees alive’ and accelerated action towards mid-century global net zero.

We are dealing with a complex problem where countries are guided by umpteen factors, from personal interests to economic constraints. My meetings with world leaders reflected immense positivity in bringing about a change and understanding the urgency of the problem.

The west has to, however, realise that it has to work in a collaborative framework where the developed countries have to walk the talk, instead of just setting the agenda and expecting the world to follow. India voiced the developing world’s argument of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR–RC).

It is the west’s responsibility to part with the promised climate finance, even as the developing world is making its attempts at adaptation and mitigation.