8/30/2014 Print Release

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Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Environment and Forests
08-August-2014 13:18 IST
Text of Shri Prakash Javadekars Welcome Address at the 18th BASIC Ministerial Meeting on Climate
Change



It gives me immense pleasure to welcome my BASIC colleagues here. Its rare
that all four BASIC Ministers are able to get together I thank all of you for joining
us here today.

We are at a very critical stage in our efforts to combat climate change. While
science prompts us towards greater action, we find that response of countries is
not adequate. We must incentivise action- the first step in this regard is enhanced
action by developing countries.

1. In India, a democratic transition has occurred very recently. As the world's
largest democracy, we will play an active role in tackling the Climate Change.
We are committed to sustainable development and efficient use and
development of all resources including energy.
2. In our Union Budget for the financial year 2014-15, some important
initiatives relevant to climate change have been taken such as:

Clean Energy Cess on coal has been increased form Rs.50/ton to
Rs.100/ton, to raise more revenue for Clean energy and cross-
subsidizing solar and other renewable energy and research in the
field of clean energy technologies.
Rs 100 crores has been allocated for the "National Adaptation Fund" for
climate change.
Rs. 500 crores has been allocated for Setting-up of Ultra Mega Solar
Projects in Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and
Laddakh to promote the Renewable energy.
Allocation Rs.100 crores for new scheme Ultra-Modern Super Critical
Coal Based Thermal Power Technology.
Allocation of Rs. 500 crores for strengthening of transmission and
distribution infrastructure in rural areas under the Deendayal
Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojna.
Allocation of Rs. 400 Crore for launching a scheme for solar power
driven agricultural pump sets and water pumping stations.
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Allocation of Rs. 100 crore for the development of 1 MW Solar Parks on
the banks of canals.
3. We have also encouraged states to prepare their own State Action Plan on
Climate Change (SAPCC) to take the fight against climate change to local
level. 27 states and 4 Union Territories have already done it.

4. We firmly believe that the issue of climate change and global warming is not
country-specific but is inter-dependent in nature and requires cooperation
among nations. India has already taken a number of actions on a
voluntary basis with its own resources in pursuance of a sustainable
development strategy. India has announced a voluntary 2020 mitigation
goal of reducing emissions intensity of its GDP by 20-25% over 2005
levels by 2020. Towards this, India has formulated its National Climate
change Action Plan with eight missions, which are being strengthened. We
have designed a low carbon strategy for growth and have set up ambitious
renewable energy targets.


CP/GV