The UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon has urged for a trilateral partnership of government and inter-governmental agencies, business houses and civil society organization to combat the impact of climate change.
He noted India had the potential to give leadership in the area of combating the effects of climate change. Many Indian companies have joined the global initiative under the umbrella of World Business Council on Climate Change (WBCCC).
Speaking to the CEOs of TERI-Business Council for Sustainable Development in Capital on Thursday, Ki-moon said, “The current financial crisis may cause credit squeeze and may have a direct impact on public policies. It may reverse some of the initiative made for the poor. High growth rate has helped India and this need to be sustained.”
Voicing concerns for the poor who feel the burnt of climate change, he said, “I am going to be the voice of the voiceless and defence of the defenceless.”
Ki-moon said that government policies should aim at an ambitious sealing on emissions, new technology for the developing world, putting in place right renewable energy targets in key areas and investment in R&D.
He also called for voluntary efforts on the part of corporate houses and a development of a corporate norm for building a green economy compatible with development.
Ki-moon is slated to meet the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh and cabinet ministers and top government officials.
He stressed the need for generating awareness and educating people to change their life styles that have contributed to climate change. The TERI director-general, RK Pachauri stressed the need to lessen consumption of meat.
Ki-moon supported the developing countries position and said that in matters of combating climate change the principle of ?common and differentiated responsibility? should continue.
He stressed the need for transfer of technology and finances from the developed world and urged the industrialized nation to strengthen the Adaptation Fund. These, he said needs to be finalized before the Copenhagen conference on climate change slated by the end of next year.
The CMD of PTC India Ltd, Tantra Narayan Thakur alleged that CMD mechanism was very cumbersome to get the desired benefits. The chairperson of TERI-BCSD India, Nitin Desai said, “The attitude of the developed world towards CMD is not encouraging.” The chairman and vice-president of Mahalaxmi Energy Project Pvt Ltd, Y Harish Chandra Prasad alleged that there were no incentives to coal-based power plants in the country for their efforts to reduce coal consumption.