NEW DELHI: Nine countries including Australia, United Kingdom, Italy and Sri Lanka have decided to join India’s global initiative on building disaster resilient infrastructure as a key adaptation measure to fight the disastrous consequences of climate change.
These countries have conveyed their willingness to join this global platform – Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) – ahead of the UN climate change conference (COP25) which is to begin in Madrid on Monday.
The other five countries in the list include Afghanistan, Bhutan, Fiji, Mauritius and Mongolia. India has already shared its charter with 38 potential member countries including G20 nations.
“More countries are expected to join this initiative during COP25 whose high-level segment will be attended by the Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar next week,” said an official of environment ministry.
Launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York in September, the CDRI will create a mechanism to assist countries for upgrading their infrastructure as per their vulnerability, disaster risk and economic needs.
After making International Solar Alliance (ISA) a reality, the CDRI is India’s second major initiative of global scale to face the challenge of climate change. India has earmarked Rs 480 crore (approx. $70 million) for setting up the CDRI’s secretariat in New Delhi and covering its recurring expenditure over a period of five years till 2023-24.
Besides providing access to knowledge, technology and capacity development for infra developers, the Coalition will create opportunities for Indian infrastructure & technology firms to expand services abroad – mainly in Africa, Asia and small island developing countries.
India is expected to pitch the CDRI during COP25, flagging vulnerability of many countries when the world is already 1.1 degree Celsius warmer than the pre-industrial (1850-1900 level) period.
The COP25 is the final such UN climate change conference before 2020, when countries are expected to submit their new respective climate action plans. Many scientific reports have already highlighted that the current pledges of all countries together are not enough to meet the most important climate goal of stabilizing global temperature rise at 1.5 degree Celsius by the end of the century. The UN conference in Madrid is also important for finalising rules on how countries can reduce their emissions using international carbon markets. The various aspects of carbon markets/trading are covered under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
“I expect a clear demonstration of increased climate action ambition and commitment out of COP25. Leaders of all countries need to show accountability and responsibility. Anything less would be a betrayal of our entire human family and all generations to come,” tweeted Antonio Guterres, secretary-general of the UN, on Sunday.