France has warned it may block the release of climate funding to India under a recent trade agreement with the European Union if New Delhi does not strengthen its commitments to tackling global warming.
France’s ecological transition minister, Monique Barbut, said the EU should adopt a tougher and more transactional approach when negotiating climate commitments with emerging economies. Speaking to Agence France-Presse (AFP), Barbut cited India as a key example following a major trade deal signed between India and the EU earlier this year.
Under the agreement, the EU plans to provide 500 million euros ($574 million) to support India’s transition toward greener energy and climate initiatives. However, Barbut said the funding should be withheld unless India strengthens its climate commitments.
She said: “I am not in favour of such funding until India submits a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in accordance with its commitments and it adopts a slightly different approach towards the European Union in climate negotiations.”
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are national climate action plans submitted by countries under the Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Under the agreement, participating countries are required to update their NDC plans every five years.
However, more than 60 countries, including major climate finance recipients such as India, Egypt and Philippines, have yet to submit their latest climate plans after missing a United Nations deadline last year.
India is currently the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, behind China and the United States. Barbut said the EU should adopt a firmer strategy in climate negotiations. She explained: “This clearly means: ‘We only pay if you act’.”
According to her, financial support from Europe should only go to countries that demonstrate credible commitments under the Paris Agreement. Barbut said she had already communicated her concerns to the European Commission.
She added: “Europe should only provide financial support to countries that themselves make credible commitments within the framework of the Paris Agreement.” The issue is expected to be discussed when EU climate ministers meet in Brussels to review the bloc’s climate diplomacy strategy.