Germany agrees with India on equal use use of GCF for adaptation & mitigation

 Germany today agreed with India's position that the funds in the Green Climate Fund (GCF) should be equally utilized for both mitigation and adaptation, a view which it were "opposed" to earlier.

New Delhi: Germany today agreed with India's position that the funds in the Green Climate Fund (GCF) should be equally utilized for both mitigation and adaptation, a view which it were "opposed" to earlier.

Barbara Hendricks, German Minister for Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety who held a bilateral meeting with her counterpart Prakash Javadekar, said that it is useful for India to use 50 per cent of the money for adaptation and the other 50 per cent for mitigation.

"Around 10 billion dollars have been paid into the GCF. It's in the use of India to use 50 per cent of that money for adaptation and the other 50 per cent for mitigation.

"First we were opposed to that idea but then we have been convinced because we realize that adaptation is an important issue as well and we agree with Indian position. Different countries have different needs and different circumstances," she said.

Hendricks told reporters after the meeting that the per-capita emissions in India "are very low. It is difficult to impose mitigation obligation in such circumstances."

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) was established last year and 10 billion dollars were pledged by developed countries in order to assist developing countries with climate-related projects.

Hailing the agreement, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said that it was "goodwill" from Germany's side and both the nations will work together.

"Earlier, they (Germany) had a opinion that it has to be all mitigation-centric. But once they were convinced and the world decided that adaptation and all other elements also will be the part, now they have decided that 50:50 funds will be for mitigation centric activities and adaption. It is a goodwill from Germany side. We will work together," he said.

The German minister said that there should be an opportunity to adapt as well which includes expanding renewables and enhancing energy efficiency.

"How exactly will the funds from the green climate fund be used, that's too early to say and that's upto the board to decide. India and Germany are both members of the board and we both agree that we will cooperate closely on the board," the Minister said.

Javadekar meanwhile said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Germany in April and there are many other events throughout the year which were lined up.

"We will actively cooperate. We want that the Paris arrangment is a successful outcome of 2015 so that world goes and achieves the targets it wants for the future generation," he said.

Asked whether India should also contribute to GCF, the German minister said the old differentiation between industrialised countries and emerging economies does not work any longer and each country should contribute as per its capacity.

"Things have to move on. We have to continue. That's not applicable to just India but other countries as well. The old division and differentiation between industrialised countries, emerging economies, developing countries no longer works.

The German minister said that her country was not concerned with India's increased use of coal for generating energy, and said India needs to base it energy supply on as many pillars as possible.

"For growth, you will need energy production from coal. But I would like to point out in that context that scientists of IPCC have said that it's useful to combine coal use with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). That might be a good option for India as well because if you use coal in that way, it's not that climate damaging," she said.

She said that Germany is already supporting India in a big way and there are a number of projects which are funded under the international climate initiatives.

"Germany is one of the largest donors in India and I think I can say that even after US President Barack Obama's visit to your country," she said.

To a question, she said that nuclear energy is the more expensive form of energy than other forms because there is the issue of nuclear waste management, an issue which no country has solved so far. 

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