Terming his India visit ‘constructive’ and ‘productive’, US special climate envoy John Kerry added a new element to the ‘net zero’ target debate by saying that it is not an absolute requirement as far as India is concerned, as the country’s renewable energy target could be just as impactful.
“It would be great if India wanted to say that (net zero pledge) but I don’t think it’s an absolute requirement, in the sense that India is doing all the things it needs to do. India right now has a plan for 450 GW. If 450 GW renewable power can be put in place and made operable, India would be one of the few nations helping the keep the 1.5 degree (goal) as alive”, Kerry said to a question on the feasibility of a net zero expectation from a growing economy like India.
“What is more important is real action now from 2020 to 2030. If a nation is not taking real actions right now, you are not making 2050 net zero in any way and that’s our challenge in next few months to get more people engaged on 2020 to 2030,” he said.
Several countries including China and the US have announced a net zero/carbon neutrality target by 2050 and there has been considerable pressure on India including from the US on the same.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi as he wrapped up his India visit with a round of meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the external affairs minister, ministers of environment and finance, Kerry termed the 450 GW a ‘powerful goal’ and added the US and India will be working closely on both technology and finance components with a plan coming up within next few weeks itself.
“We need to do some working through the details with the Modi government which has already started but we will continue to roll this out very quickly over the course of next few weeks. The reason is that the clock is ticking, ticking to Glasgow, ticking on 2030. 2020-2030 is the operative moment. If we don’t do enough then, other goals are impossible…PM Modi understands that and is committed, so is President Biden,” Kerry.
While acknowledging that a small set of countries have contributed 80% of earth’s emissions and they must bear greater responsibility, Kerry underlined that “no one can use that as an excuse not to do things”.
“China is the biggest emitter, we are the second biggest emitter and India is the third biggest emitter, Russia, Indonesia and a bunch of countries are there too and we all need to therefore join together. Even if one of those countries went to zero tomorrow, it’s not going to make the difference that we need…. I have no doubt that we will get to a zero carbon economy but what I am not sure of- yet, because of the lack of will power- is whether we will get there fast enough. That’s the challenge”, he said to a question.
Conceding that the Trump administration’s decision to leave the Paris agreement was a setback to the global cause, he pointed out that Americans have chosen to stay back in the agreement and President Biden has taken a series of actions since to renew the US commitment to the issue of climate change.
“The US comes back to the table with humility and understanding of this obligation, the understanding that last four years were a disappointment to people but we also know governments, mayors and citizens worked hard to stay within Paris agreements. In addition President Biden has kept his promises…Trump has lost the race, President Biden was part of Obama administration that made Paris happen and now we are trying to help to make Glagsow happen”, he said.
Asked about his views on young climate activists and the arrest of Disha Ravi in India over a toolkit on a protest, while he refrained from specifics, Kerry said that he had great ‘admiration’ for young activists as they are key to pushing adults to do the right thing.
“Human rights are always a critical issue to USA and something we pride ourselves on. We obviously have had our own challenges in the last few years and historically even but young people have been the key to pushing a lot of adults in the world, to do what adults are supposed to do, get the job done. I have great admiration for the activists who fly into the future,… I personally welcome that kind of activism and I think its critical that it translates into votes, where people are allowed to vote. And in America in the last election it did translate into votes”, Kerry said pointing to the Biden victory in the 2020 election.
