Make adaptation the focus of climate protection: PM Modi to Glasgow Climate Summit

New Delhi: Urging countries to make adaptation the focus of climate protection, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday presented three solutions to tackle climate change.
Speaking at COP-26 Glasgow, Prime Minister Modi said that mitigation has got more importance than adaptation, which was “injustice” with developing nations that are more affected with climate change. “Climate is a big challenge for farmers of developing nations, including India. Changes are taking place in the cropping pattern and events related to excess rains, floods and storms are destroying the food crops,” the prime minister said.
Stating that from potable water to affordable housing, everything needs to be made climate resilient, the prime minister presented three solutions to deal with the climate change. The prime minister said adaptation should be made the focus of development policies and schemes.
“We have to make adaptation the main part of our development policies and schemes. In India, schemes like ‘Nal Se Jal’, ‘Swachch Bharat’ (Clean India Mission) and Ujjawala Yojna have not only given adaption benefits to the people but also improved the quality of their lives,” he said. The PM said several communities have the traditional knowledge of living with nature and these should get proper place in adaptation policies.
“Many traditional communities have knowledge of living in harmony with nature. This knowledge should also flow to the new generation therefore school syllabus also should include it,” he said. The third and the most important part revolved around the financing aspect. According to the prime minister, even if adaptation methods are local, developing nations should get full global support in terms of finance. He also quoted the example of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, asking all countries to be a part of it.