France warns it may block EU climate funds to India

PARIS: France warned on Monday that it could block the disbursement of climate funds to India under a recent trade agreement with the European Union if New Delhi fails to strengthen its efforts to combat global warming.

France’s Ecological Transition Minister Monique Barbut said the EU should adopt a firmer stance against climate inaction and pursue a more transactional approach when negotiating with emerging economies.

Speaking to AFP, Barbut cited India as an example, noting that the country signed a major trade deal with the EU in January under which Brussels is expected to provide around €500 million ($574 million) to support India’s green transition.

However, she said she opposed releasing the funds until India submits an updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) aligned with its commitments and adopts what she described as a more constructive approach in climate negotiations with the European Union.

NDCs are national plans outlining how countries intend to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which signatories to the Paris Agreement are required to submit every five years.

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More than 60 countries — including India, Egypt and Philippines — have yet to submit their latest plans after missing a United Nations deadline last year.

India is currently the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, behind China and the United States.

Barbut said the EU needed to adopt a more strategic and conditional approach in climate diplomacy, stressing that financial support should be tied to credible climate commitments.

“Europe should only provide financial support to countries that themselves make credible commitments within the framework of the Paris Agreement,” she said.

EU climate ministers are scheduled to discuss the 27-nation bloc’s climate diplomacy during a meeting in Brussels on Tuesday.