Govt to hold online discussion on climate change

New Delhi: The government will hold an online panel discussion seeking views from people and experts on climate change and various proposals which India has recently submitted to cut green house gases ahead of crucial UN climate change conference in Paris later this year.

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar will hold a 45 minute discussion "MyGov Talk" on October 26 which will be conducted in collaboration with Google.

The discussion will seek views on how the country should go ahead with sustainable lifestyle, cleaner economic development, reduction of emission intensity, enhancing forests and adaptation which has been laid down in India's climate action plan or INDCs.

"Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar will hold a 'MyGov Talk' on October 26. The talk will focus on climate change in the run-up to the Conference of Parties (CoP21) in Paris from November 30 to December 11 this year," an official statement said.

Contributors from MyGov, climate change experts, senior journalists and social media influencers will join the online panel discussion with the Minister.

With India's Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) or voluntary emission cuts, the country is keen to attempt to work towards a low carbon emission pathway while simultaneously endeavouring to meet all developmental challenges that it faces today, the statement said.

"The INDC aims at promoting clean energy, especially renewable energy, enhancement of energy efficiency, development of less carbon intensive and resilient urban centres...

"...Promotion of waste to wealth, safe, smart and sustainable green transportation network, abatement of pollution and India's efforts to enhance carbon sink through creation of forest and tree cover," it said.

People have also been invited to share their ideas and inputs on India's role in CoP-21 and on proposals laid down in the country's INDC including sustainable lifestyles, cleaner economic development, reduction of emission intensity of GDP, increase the share of non-fossil fuel-based electricity, enhancing forests, adaptation, mobilising finance and technology transfer.

Javadekar will also mention the names and ideas which will be selected during the talk. INDCs are voluntary pledges that countries are making to cut carbon pollution ahead of the UN climate meet.

India has pledged to curb its greenhouse gas emissions by up to 35 per cent from the 2005 level. COP21 will, for the first time in over 20 years of UN negotiations, aim to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2°C.