Statement for the India – U.K. Track II Dialogue on Climate Change and Energy

The climate crisis must be addressed with the urgency that it demands. We know from climate science both that global temperature increases above 1.5oC (relative to pre-industrial times) carry severe risks to lives and livelihoods, particularly for poor countries and peoples, and that strong action and investment across the world over the next three decades, especially this decade, will be crucial if we are to achieve this target. Stabilisation of temperatures at 1.5oC will require global emissions to be net-zero by mid-century. Ahead of COP26, it is important to reiterate the essential role that India and the UK play in the world’s efforts to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C. A thriving India-UK partnership on global climate action can be supported through the UK’s presidency of COP26 and the G7, and India’s upcoming presidency of the G20 in 2023. To achieve net-zero emissions by mid-century we will need to enhance existing climate ambitions and innovations. The net-zero aim will only be achievable with individual & practical trajectories for the 2020s, 30s and 40s, consistent with the1.5°C target. India and the UK, through these multilateral summit Presidencies and at the Global Stocktake 2023 should lead the call for countries around the world to develop these detailed trajectories.