India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi today in a special address to the Twelfth Parliament of Guyana, called for urgent action to address the disproportionate burden of climate change borne by countries in the Global South.
“India firmly stands for global development India stands for peace, and it is in this spirit today India has become the voice of the global south,” PM Modi declared. He underscored that while India has been able to progress while safeguarding the environment, as it is an integral part of their character and culture, other countries have profited from harming the environment.
The PM added, “Today countries of the global south are being forced to pay the highest price for climate change, it is absolutely imperative to correct this imbalance in the world.”
Modi urged developing nations to unite in their efforts to address shared challenges. He underscored, “We dream of a better life for our people and that is why it is of utmost importance that the global south speaks in one voice, this is a moment of awakening for countries of the global south.”
He called for the creation of a new global framework and noted that there is an opportunity now for the global south to work together to create a new world order. PM Modi added, “I see a big role for Guyana and for all of the people represented here today.”
Guyana’s Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has consistently highlighted the harsh reality faced by developing countries, which are disproportionately burdened by the impacts of climate change despite contributing the least to its causes.
He has pointed out that while developed nations reaped significant economic benefits from activities that drive global warming, smaller and less-resilient nations are left grappling with rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and costly adaptation measures.
During a previous climate change event, Dr Jagdeo had said, “There is a great deal of worry, in fact stress in the developing world that in spite of all the progress that we are making towards a zero-emissions future, that the issues that affect us and the help that was promised to us, are not adequate, and the threat is becoming even more existential for us.”
He too has urged for the Global South to be given proper funding from the Global North to address climate adaptation.
