COP 27: India Blames Rich Nations for Climate Crisis & Blocking Pro-Farmer Decisions; Opposes Draft Text on Agriculture

At COP 27-Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt, India claims that developed countries are impeding a pro-poor and pro-farmer decision by insisting on broadening the mitigation scope to agriculture.

At the ongoing United Nations climate summit in Egypt, India has spoken out against the developed world's efforts to broaden the scope of mitigation to agriculture, claiming that rich countries are unable to reduce their emissions domestically through any worthwhile change in their lifestyles. Instead, they are looking for cheaper solutions in other countries," as per sources.

Concerned about the draught decision text on the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture, India stated that developed countries are preventing a pro-poor and pro-farmer decision by insisting on expanding the scope for mitigation to agriculture, thereby jeopardizing the very foundation of global food security, according to an Indian delegation source.

"At each climate summit, developed countries attempt to shift the international climate regime's goalposts by using the diversionary tactics to reduce their responsibilities as a result of historical emissions."

"Annex-I countries owe the world 790 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide (GtCO2), which is worth USD 79 trillion even at the low price of USD 100 per tonne," India stated.

Most agriculture in developing countries is done by small and marginal farmers who toil hard and brave the vagaries of extreme weather and climate variability, as well as the added stress of climate change. Small and marginal farmers dominate the Indian agricultural economy, accounting for 51% of total agricultural output, 70% of high-value crops, and 46% of operational land holdings.

"By attempting to broaden the scope of mitigation to agriculture, developed countries want the world's agriculture, lands, and seascapes to serve as a site of mitigation for their profligate and excessive emissions," India stated.