Incentivise action on climate change: Javadekar

New Delhi, Aug 9: Regretting that the responses of countries were not adequate to combat

change issue, Environment Minister

today said time has come to "incentivise" action.

"We are at a very critical stage in our effort to combat climate change. While science prompts towards greater action, we find that response of countries is not adequate. "We must incentivise action - the first step in this regard is enhanced action by developing countries," the Minister said, addressing the 18th BASIC ministerial meeting on climate change here attended by ministers of Brazil, South Africa and China.

Stating that the issue of climate change and global warming is not country-specific but is interdependent in nature and requires cooperation among nations, the Minister said India has taken a number of steps on voluntary basis in pursuance of a sustainable development strategy.

"India has announced a voluntary 2020 mitigation goal of reducing emissions intensity of its GDP BT 20-25 per cent over 2005 level by 2020," he said. India has formulated its national climate change action plan with eight missions which are being strengthened, he added.

Javadekar also said that the country has designed a low carbon strategy for growth and has set up ambitious renewable energy targets.

"We have also encouraged the states to prepare their own state action plan on climate change to take the fight to local level... 27 states and four UTs have already done it," he underlined.

Noting that the government under Narendra Modi is committed to the cause for a clean and green environment, he said the Union Budget this year has underscored initiatives to tackle climate change. Clean energy cess on coal has been increased from Rs 50 per ton to Rs 100 to reduce more revenue for clean energy and cross subsidising solar and other renewable energy. A sum of Rs 100 crore has been allocated for national adaption fund for climate change while Rs 100 crore has been allocated for new ultra modern super critical coal based thermal power technology, he said.

PTI