India and the US failed to hammer out a comprehensive climate deal as Prime Minister Narendra Modi dismissed talk of pressure to ink a pact on climate change similar to a US-China agreement on emission cuts, but the two countries agreed to work together for a successful climate conference in Paris this year.
Modi said pressure from any country or person does not affect India: “Global warming was itself a pressure. It is the responsibility of those, who are concerned about the future generation to become conscious about climate change and adopt policies so that we are able to give a good future and good environment to the next generation,” he said.
A joint statement after a meeting between Modi and US President Barack Obama emphasised on the two countries working together to conclude an ambitious climate agreement in Paris in 2015.
Obama said the two leaders had made a “personal commitment” to work together and pursue a strong global climate agreement at the event and added that India’s voice was important for a strong agreement.
But there was no concrete climate deal as the United States had asked India to make a commitment for reducing emissions. No emission deal with India could stonewall the Paris climate conference slated for December this year but officials are confident about achieving some breakthrough as the two countries have decided to talk on the issue in the coming months.
{{/usCountry}}But there was no concrete climate deal as the United States had asked India to make a commitment for reducing emissions. No emission deal with India could stonewall the Paris climate conference slated for December this year but officials are confident about achieving some breakthrough as the two countries have decided to talk on the issue in the coming months.
{{/usCountry}}Obama also said the two countries have agreed to make “concrete progress” in phasing out major greenhouse gases like refrigerating coolant HFC apart from expanding solar energy initiatives and launching joint projects to improve air quality in Indian cities.
The statement outlined the areas of bilateral cooperation, especially in the area of adaptation to climate change, joint research and technology innovation, and energy efficiency solutions.
The two countries also decided to take forward an existing clean energy pact, called Partnership to Advance Clean Energy (PACE), for research and deployment and increasing the potential of foreign investment in India’s clean energy sector.