EU’s CBAM, deforestation norms unilateral, arbitrary: FM
The Hindu
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman criticizes EU's CBAM and Deforestation rules as harmful to India's economic growth and green energy goals.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday called out the European Union’s initiatives such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and Deforestation rules as ‘unilateral’ and ‘arbitrary’ measures that will hurt countries like India and stifle economic growth as well as green energy transition goals.
Terming the CBAM plan a trade barrier, Ms. Sitharaman said more such challenges are likely to be thrown up by the developed countries, posing unforeseeable risks for countries like India that are working towards their ‘net zero’ commitments to cope with climate change.
“There can be many [measures like this] but they are unilateral, and not helpful for countries like India,” she said at the Financial Times Energy Transition Summit.
Asked if India may take up these issues in parleys related to the Free Trade Agreement with the EU, the Minister said, “I am sure it won’t be escalated to the level of hurting the FTA talks as the trade act is an important component of wanting better trade relations, but our concerns will definitely be voiced, We have voiced this this several times, and we will be doing it again.”
Ms. Sitharaman also asserted that the Haryana Assembly poll outcomes, where the BJP emerged with a majority, should dispel any perceptions that the present central government is weaker “inspite of coming back to power for the third time”.
“Yesterday [Tuesday] has dispelled that myth, and therefore, I don’t see the opposition behaving in [a manner] less than what constructive opposition should behave like,” she underlined.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu bats for simultaneous elections. One Nation, One Election needed to focus on development, he avers. Centre exploring options to stop privatisation of Vizag steel plant; he says. The Chief Minister lauds BJP leadership for scoring a hat-trick win in Haryana and garnering a higher vote share than the NC in Jammu & Kashmir.
A heronry survey conducted in Nooranad, widely known as bird village, has recorded 400 nests of five waterbird species. The count was organised under the aegis of the Gramasree Prakrithi Samrakshana Samithi recently. Waterbirds nest in the region between June and October. Birders found 240 nests of Indian cormorant, followed by Little cormorant (75 nests), Great egret (35), Median egret (28) and Darter (22).