Post AUKUS, France looks to India as Indo-Pacific ally
After a snub by AUKUS (a military pact among the US, UK and Australia), France is learnt to have intensified its efforts to cement deeper ties in the Indo-Pacific region by reaching out to countries “with similar interests”, in what is being seen in diplomatic circles as Paris’ bid to form an informal group. French Minister for Armed Forces, Florence Parly’s visit to India for the Annual Defence Dialogue is being seen by many in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in that perspective as well. During her interactions with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several diplomats, the French minister emphasised on how New Delhi was an important strategic ally of Paris in the Indo-Pacific region. She also apprised the Indian leadership of her government’s future plans to deal with China in the same region, sources told The Sunday Guardian. Top MEA sources told The Sunday Guardian that Parly went to the extent of explaining a detailed plan to expand France’s strategic footprints in the Indo-Pacific region to contain China with India’s greater participation. “Definitely, France’s leadership knows how Chinese belligerence is baffling India, no matter where it is,” said an MEA official. Moreover, after being snubbed by AUKUS, France is considering India more valuable as New Delhi is part of the Quad which is also an important formation for the Indo-Pacific.
India targets net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, says Modi
India’s economy will become carbon neutral by the year 2070, the country’s prime minster has announced at the COP26 climate crisis summit in Glasgow. The target date is two decades beyond what scientists say is needed to avert catastrophic climate impacts. India is the last of the world’s major carbon polluters to announce a net-zero target, with China saying it would reach that goal in 2060, and the United States and the European Union aiming for 2050.
COP26: What climate summit means for one woman in Bangladesh
China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, dwarfing those of other countries. Experts agree that without big reductions in China's emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. In 2020, China's President Xi Jinping said his country would aim for its emissions to reach their highest point before 2030 and for carbon neutrality before 2060. His statement has now been confirmed as China's official position ahead of the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. But China has not said exactly how these goals will be achieved.
Why China's climate policy matters to us all
China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, dwarfing those of other countries. Experts agree that without big reductions in China's emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. In 2020, China's President Xi Jinping said his country would aim for its emissions to reach their highest point before 2030 and for carbon neutrality before 2060. His statement has now been confirmed as China's official position ahead of the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. But China has not said exactly how these goals will be achieved.
Deliver on promises, developing world tells rich at climate talks
A crucial U.N. conference heard calls on its first day for the world's major economies to keep their promises of financial help to address the climate crisis, while big polluters India and Brazil made new commitments to cut emissions. World leaders, environmental experts and activists all pleaded for decisive action to halt the global warming which threatens the future of the planet at the start of the two-week COP26 summit in the Scottish city of Glasgow on Monday. The task facing negotiators was made even more daunting by the failure of the Group of 20 major industrial nations to agree ambitious new commitments at the weekend.