MADRID: India on Tuesday asked the rich nations to "look in the mirror" and first assess whether those who actually developed by emitting carbon in the past have delivered on their promises, instead of merely looking for new goal post and treating disaster as an opportunity to make "profit from it" when it comes to sharing technology by them to deal with the climate crisis.

"It is time for reflection and assessment as we near the end of Pre-2020 period. It is time to look in the mirror. Has developed world delivered on its promises? Unfortunately, annexed countries (developed nations) have not met their Kyoto Protocol targets," said India's environment minister Prakash Javadekar while making 'country statement' at high-level segment of the UN climate conference ( COP25 ) here.

The Kyoto Protocol is earlier version of the global climate deal which sought only the rich countries (annexed as developed nations in the deal) to take climate actions for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) in Pre-2020 period whereas under the new deal - Paris Agreement - all countries are expected to take climate actions - known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) - as per their pledges made in 2015.

Seeking to remind the developed countries of their low targets amid a proposal of giving them extra years to deliver on the Kyoto Protocol commitments, Javadekar said, "Neither their NDCs reflect ambitions nor they have shown willingness to enhance their commitments. I propose that we have three more years to fulfill Pre- 2020 commitments till the global stocktake takes places (in 2023) for bridging emission gaps".

"Let us concentrate on implementation of Paris Agreement and not digress," said Javadekar amid a growing demand of raising ambition for bigger climate action as the collective current target is not enough to avert the climate crisis. India had already made it clear that the country would, at present, concentrate on whatever it promised in 2015 under the Paris Agreement and would consider its new target only in 2023 when the global stocktake of climate actions under the new deal will happen.

Drawing attention of ministers and senior delegates to two key issues of financial assistance and transfer of technology from developed nations to developing countries for supporting them to take up mitigation (emission cut) and adaptation measures, Javadekar said, "Developed world promised one trillion dollar in last 10 years, and not even 2% has materialized. It has to be public finance and there should be no double accounting. The world that benefited from carbon emissions that made them developed, must repay.

"Technology development and transfer at affordable costs is crucial for developing countries. If we are dealing with a disaster, nobody should profit from it. So, my proposal is to have more joint research and collaboration, grant finance made available for meeting the targets".

The minister while delivering his speech also spoke about all the projects, including renewables, clean fuel, afforestation and land restoration, which India is undertaking to meet its Paris deal goal by 2030. He said, "Only six countries are on track to meet their NDCs announced in Paris. We are leading the pack. Sustainable lifestyle is a part of the ethos of India".

"This is the time for ownership and this is the time for responsible action. India has and will continue to do its bit - expecting commensurate multilateral action with developed countries taking the lead," said the minister.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in its latest 'Emission Gap Report' last month noted that only six G20 members - China, India, Mexico , Russia, Turkey and EU28 - are projected to meet their unconditional NDC targets with current policies while others require to make progress on multiple fronts.

The minister in his speech also spoke about political unanimity in India on his government's decision to impose carbon tax on coal production. He said, "We have put carbon tax on coal production at the rate of six dollars per tonne. Even with 36 parties represented in parliament, we could achieve this unanimously".

Referring to carbon market which is one of the key focus areas at COP25 in terms of making rules for it under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, Javadekar said, "We expect that guidelines for Article 6 will ensure transition of 'Clean Development Mechanism' under Kyoto Protocol and provide the incentives and positive signals to private sector, which had invested in it."

He also urged support for the vulnerable communities worldwide with a strong Warsaw International Mechanism for 'loss and damage' with provision for financial support.

As the COP25 is focused on the theme which says "time for action" to save the world from climate crisis, the minister began his statement from Mahatma Gandhi's quote - "The future depends on what we do today" - and signed off by quoting Thoreau, "What is the use of a house, if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on?”

