india

Updated: Oct 09, 2015 20:47 IST

Fight over the Paris agreement on climate change has started with India firing the first salvo, terming the draft of the proposed deal released on Monday as lopsided and in favour of rich nations.

The 196 countries that are part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are expected to agree to a universal deal in Paris this December.

Of them, 147 countries have submitted their climate action plan, called Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC), which is expected to be part of the new pact.

The review of INDCs is one of the most contentious issues to be settled before the deal and its mention in the draft released by the UN has not left the developing world happy. The draft speaks of the review once in five years and seeks a regular communication to the UN Secretariat with enhancement of the nationally determined climate action plan.

Officials say another area of concern was reference to a year when global emissions will peak or the world attains carbon neutrality. This means, intention to decide in Paris by when global emissions should peak, thereby indirectly imposing growth restrictions on developing countries such as India.

The draft fails to clearly state that the developed world should provide $100 billion by 2020 and keeps the text on climate finance ambiguous.

The demand of developing countries on $100 billion to be public funded has not been addressed and its reference is only with regard to communication to the parties.

“The Paris agreement is lopsided and does not contain concerns of the developing countries,” environment secretary Ashok Lavasa said during a discussion on India’s climate action plan 2030 at the Centre for Policy Research. “We are studying the text and will oppose it at next negotiation round in Bonn.”