Paris: Addressing the Leaders Event at the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Modi turned the focus of the climate conference to the high carbon emissions of rich countries and asked them to ratify the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol which major emitters have not done.

Modi's reference to the Protocol stood out at the COP21 conference, where the discussions were largely future-focussed, for the post-2020 era. The first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol ended in 2012 and many developed countries have hesitated at engaging in mitigation actions, looking at domestic political compulsions.

Apparently referring to the pressure that countries such as India might face under a Paris deal, the Prime Minister welcomed stock-taking that was done in a transparent manner, where it covered both support and commitment based on the principle of differentiation. The U.N.'s principles of equity and Common But Differentiated Responsibilities should firmly underpin any formulation.

Modi delineated the major voluntary pledges, which will be made by India, for the post-2020 period for the heads of state, with particular mention of the plan to produce 175 GW of renewable power by 2022, reduce carbon intensity of growth by 33-35 per cent over 2005 levels and raise the share of non-fossil fuel power to 40 per cent by 2030.

He further added that forest cover would be expanded to absorb 2.5 billion tonnes worth of carbon dioxide and fossil fuel dependence would be reduced by levying taxes and cutting subsidies. Cities would be transformed through improvements to their efficiency and improving public transport.