PARIS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India will “go above and beyond” to protect climate as he termed the Paris climate agreement as a shared legacy of the world, a day after the US president walked out of the deal.
Speaking after holding wide-ranging talks with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace, Modi said the Paris Agreement reflects “our duty towards protecting the Earth and our natural resources. For us, this is an article of faith”. “Paris climate agreement is a shared legacy of the world. It will benefit the future generations as well,” said Modi, addressing a joint press meet with Macron.
His remarks came after US President Donald Trump announced plans to withdraw from the Paris climate change deal on curbing carbon emissions, which had been agreed by more than 190 nations. Trump said the agreement unfairly benefited countries like India and China.
India would “continue working on this…above and beyond the Paris accord,” the PM said. “We have natural resources because our previous generations protected these resources. We must do the same for our future generations,” Modi said. Earlier, Modi and Macron discussed issues of international and mutual interests, including counter terrorism and climate change.
Meanwhile, the US on Saturday praised Modi’s emphasis on having freedom of navigation and adhering to the international norms for peace and economic growth, amid China flexing its muscles in the disputed South China Sea. Modi has termed sea lanes passing through the strategic South China Sea as the “main arteries” of global trade.
Source:PTI
