Environment and Forest Minister Prakash Javadekar today said that India will not succumb to pressure of developed countries on the issue of climate change and it will continue to put forward its interest while addressing the issue.
Mr Javadekar said the developed countries contribute 70 per cent in greenhouse gas emissions, unlike India whose share is only 3 per cent.
The Minister was speaking in the Rajya Sabha on a calling attention motion on the situation arising out of climate change in the country and the steps taken by the government to tackle it.
He said India is guided by its own values and beliefs in sustainable lifestyle which respects nature. Listing out the series of measures taken by the government to address the issue of climate change, Mr Javadekar said, the climate change action programme was launched at an estimated cost of 290 crore rupees which supports State Governments in the establishment of institutions related to climate change activities.
The Minister said that the country is promoting renewable energy besides investing in energy efficiency measures, sustainable cities and transport system.
He added that India has framed six waste management rules which will be implemented strictly to check the carbon emissions.
Earlier, Rewati Raman Singh of Samajwadi Party raised the climate change issue saying the monsoon condition in the country at an alarming stage which is affecting many parts. He said the present steps are not sufficient to address the climate change issue.
Vandana Chavan of NCP advocated to involve local bodies to address the issue. While highlighting the water crisis in Chennai, V Vijila Sathyananth of AIADMK stressed the need to promote the use of bicycle and banning of plastics across the country.
D Raja of CPI highlighted the need to have a proper waste management system . Jairam Ramesh of Congress said, India is more vulnerable to climate change and it has to take more concrete steps in this direction.
BJP MP Bhupendra Yadav asked for coordination among the States action plans on climate change. Tiruchi Siva of DMK drew the attention of the government on E-waste management.
Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav, Manoj Jha of RJD, Ram Nath Thakur of JD(U) and others also expressed their views on the issue.