Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has stressed that sustainable development includes environmental protection. "However, it was crucial to achieve this goal in an equitable manner considering countries’ varied economic development levels," he said at the 10th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Birla, who led an Indian Parliamentary Delegation, said this while addressing the plenary session on 'The role of parliaments in countering the fragmentation of the multilateral trade system and overcoming threats related to the consequences of global crisis'.
Adding a word of caution, he stated that the trend of undertaking unilateral measures was justified as environmental actions were impacting trade, violating WTO rules, and undermining international law, equity, and the principles of the UNFCCC and NDCs.
Climate change mitigation requires substantial resources, which developing countries need for their development and thus adaptation remains a priority for India, which is committed to achieving its NDCs, he explained.
Emphasising fostering mutual understanding and sharing best practices among democratic institutions, Birla noted that parliaments play a crucial role in enacting legislation to protect financial and economic sovereignty and support the implementation of international recommendations.
In the Indian context, he pointed out that Parliament has actively participated in inter-parliamentary activities, advocating a rules-based, non-discriminatory, fair, and transparent multilateral trading system centered on the WTO.
He reiterated that the Indian Parliament remains committed to deepening engagement with parliamentarians from other countries. Mentioning about India’s commitment to sustainable development, Birla noted that with its low per capita energy usage and minimal contribution of just 4 per cent to global cumulative emissions between 1850 and 2019, India has prioritised climate change adaptation over mitigation due to its vulnerability to climate effects. He highlighted that India fully endorses sustainable development and embraces its responsibilities, drawing from a rich tradition of conservation and moderation.
Through its NDC, or Nationally Determined Contribution, India promotes a sustainable lifestyle via the LiFE initiative ("Life Style for Environment") to combat climate changr, he said, adding that India has surpassed its targets for reducing emissions intensity, increasing non-fossil fuel power capacity, and creating additional carbon sinks, as pledged to the UNFCCC. NDC is a climate action plan to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts.
