Global South not responsible for climate damage, Goyal says

The Global South is not responsible for the climate damage caused by developed nations “who enjoyed the benefit of low-cost energy,” commerce minister Piyush Goyal said at an event on Monday.

Goyal made the remarks while addressing his counterparts from Italy, Israel, Bhutan, Bahrain, Algeria, Nepal, Senegal, South Africa, Myanmar, and Qatar and Cambodia.

“Each of the partner countries have shared responsibilities towards environment and sustainability, but countries present at the summit are not responsible for the damage to the environment,” Goyal said, adding that the responsibilities towards shared supply chains and sustainability will have to be met through common but differentiated responsibility.

While all have to work together, everybody needs to be given responsibility based on their contribution to the environmental problem, he added.

Goyal’s remarks, made at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Partnership Summit 2024 in New Delhi this week, align with India’s official stance.

Addressing the participants at the CII summit, Goyal said India offers a trusted hand of friendship and partnership to countries of the Global South.

The summit primarily focused on the themes: stability, space, satellites, and sustainability, with Goyal stressing that “the world today needs these discussions.”