Need to ensure climate justice : PM Modi says at United Nations

The focus on environment needs a recalibration -- from climate change to climate justice -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, signalling that India will not give in to pressure at the global climate pact in Paris in December.

"When we speak only of climate change, there is a perception of our desire to secure the comforts of our lifestyle," Modi said while addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Friday.

 "When we speak of climate justice, we demonstrate our sensitivity and resolve to secure the future of the poor from the perils of natural disasters," he said.

Modi's assertion is indicative of the tough stand India is likely to take against any pressure at the global climate pact in Paris in December.

The PM pointed out that climate justice is a  "question on equity", its central principle is common but the responsibility is "differentiated".

India has been maintaining that  the responsibility of containing climate change due to carbon-dioxide emissions and and other causes lies largely with the developed nations, not  the developing countries.

Indicating that developed countries need to change, PM Modi said to address climate change, people not only need to generate clean energy, but also effect a change in lifestyle that makes people "less dependent on energy".

 
"I hope that the Developed World will fulfil its financing commitments for development and climate change, without in any way putting both under the same head," PM Modi said in an obvious reference to the UN climate package passed in Doha in 2012, where a commitment was made to scale up funding to help developing countries deal with global warming and convert to planet-friendlier energy sources by 2020.

 "International partnership must be at the centre of our efforts... and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities is the bedrock of our collective enterprise," he added.