New Delhi – Union Minister Piyush Goyal expressed hope that credit rating agencies like the IMF, which determine the world’s financial landscape, should not be unduly harsh on developing and least developed countries. He said it is time to be more compassionate, generous and supportive.
The Union Minister said that India has taken several bold steps on clean energy, energy efficiency, afforestation and biodiversity, and that is why India is among the few countries whose NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions) are 2°C consistent. “We have also encouraged the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure,” he said.
Mr. Goyal called for enhancing trade policy and our green goals. He said that trade policy should focus on promoting more inclusive growth across the world. He said that a clean environment and inclusive growth that is sustainable are a priority agenda for India. The Union Minister said, India’s long-standing position is that environmental and sustainability initiatives should not be linked to trade.
Mr. Goyal said the UN and UNFCCC should focus on uniting the world to meet its climate change commitments. Climate change issues need to be discussed within the UNFCCC framework and the Paris Agreement, not as part of trade agreements. Trade agreements are not the first-best option for achieving these goals.