Forests declaration: India reads fine print, chooses to stay away

What is the News?

India has not signed the Glasgow Leaders Declaration on Forests and Land Use.

What is Glasgow Leaders Declaration on Forests and Land Use?

It is an ambitious declaration initiated by the United Kingdom to “halt deforestation” and land degradation by 2030.

The declaration has been signed by over 105 countries including the UK, US, Russia and China.

India, Argentina, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and South Africa are the only G20 countries that did not sign the declaration.

Why has India not signed the Glasgow Leaders Declaration on Forests and Land Use?

1. Declaration interlinks trade to climate change and forest issues. But India has objected that trade falls under the WTO, and it should not be brought under climate change declarations. 

Hence, India had asked the word “trade” to be removed. But the other countries did not agree. So, India has not signed the declaration.

What are the other declarations signed at COP 26?

Congo Basin pledge: The UK also presented the Congo Basin Pledge. It has been signed by over 10 countries, the Bezos Earth Fund and the European Union.

The pledge aims to mobilize a 1.5 billion dollar fund to protect the Congo Basin –home to the second-largest tropical rainforest in the world.

Source: This post is based on the article “Forests declaration: India reads fine print, chooses to stay away” published in “Indian Express” on 3rd November 2021.