New Delhi’s Environment Minister Explains Why India Refused To Commit Suicide

Nov. 14, 2021 (EIRNS)—Intervening into an “informal stocktaking plenary” led by British COP26 President Alok Sharma on Saturday, India’s Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav ripped into the demand that developing countries commit to eliminating the use of coal and immediately stop subsidizing any fossil fuel. His position was “echoed” by China, South Africa, Nigeria, Iran, Venezuela and Cuba, among others, the Times of India reported.

“Fossil fuels and their use have enabled the path for the world to attain a high level of wealth and wellbeing. [UN Framework Convention on Climate Change] The UNFCCC refers to the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from all sources. It has not been directed to any particular source. When we have taken the economy-wise targets, targeting any particular sector is uncalled for.

“Every country will arrive at ‘net zero’ as per their own national circumstances, strength and weaknesses. Developing countries have rights to their fair share of the global carbon budget and are entitled to the responsible use of fossil fuels within this scope.

“How can anyone expect that developing countries can make promises about phasing out fossil fuel subsidies? Developing countries have still to deal with their development agendas and poverty eradication. Towards this end, subsidies provide much needed social security and support,”

Yadav stated.

He cited as example here, India’s program to provide subsidies to low-income households for the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG, such as propane), which he said “has been a great help in almost eliminating biomass burning for cooking, and has improved health of women and in reducing indoor air pollution.”

Yadav did not take on the fraud of the “climate emergency” itself, but the hypocrisy of the whole affair clearly sticks in India’s craw. He pointed out that the draft agreement mandated all kinds of meetings and deadlines by which developing nations have to change their energy policies, but “none of the same urgency, convening high-level meetings or commissioning annual reports or progress in meeting the finance needs, in mentioned in the finance part (of the agreement),” which the “rich” countries are to fund.