Embassy of India
Berlin

Press Release on India's Participation in Petersberg Climate Dialogue VII

Shri Prakash Javadekar, Hon'ble Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MOEFCC) visited Berlin from July 3-5, 2016 to participate in the Petersberg Climate Dialogue VII. He was accompanied by a delegation, including Shri Rajani Ranjan Rashmi, Additional Secretary, MOEF&CC. Petersberg Climate Dialogue (PCD) is an informal high-level forum for mobilizing political momentum behind the international climate negotiations. It takes place in Berlin on annual basis since 2010.

Hon'ble Minister affirmed India's commitment towards mitigation of the challenges of climate change and highlighted the various measures taken by the Government in this regard, including Levy of cess on coal production, extra tax on polluting vehicles, migration to Euro-VI norms for vehicles by 2020, many fold increase in the use of LED bulbs and Solar Pumps, blending of ethanol in fuel etc. He said public awareness and participation is very important to mitigate the challenges of climate change and people of India are willing to adapt to the consequential changes. He mentioned about India's 'Clean India-Green India' campaign and said that India is moving steadily in the direction to produce more clean energy and creating more carbon sync.

On the side-lines of PCD VII, Hon'ble Minister had a meeting with Dr. Barabara Hendricks, Federal Minister of Environment, Nature Conservation, Buildings and Nuclear Safety of Germany on ways to further intensifying bilateral cooperation in the ambit of the Joint Statement on Climate Change and Energy Technology Cooperation signed at the 3rd India-Germany Intergovernmental Consultations in New Delhi in October 2015. Both leaders discussed about setting up the Indo-German Joint Working Group on Climate Change. They also recognized the catalytic role of public finance for the shift of investment flows for limiting global warming below 2 degree Celsius. Addressing a joint Press Conference, Honble Minister said India is committed to spend large resources through its planning process on meeting the domestic mitigation goal of reducing the emissions intensity to the acceptable level.

Addressing the Petersberg Climate Dialogue, Federal Chancellor Ms Angela Merkel applauded the steps and plans of India towards climate friendly and sustainable development, particularly the ongoing renewable energy mission which aims to add 175GW of renewable power by 2022.

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