India did not replace ‘phase out’ of coal with ‘phase down’ in Glasgow climate pact, criticism unfair: Govt sources

India is not responsible for watering down the global commitment to cut down use of coal in the climate pact adopted at COP26 earlier this month, sources in the government said on Wednesday.

India is not responsible for watering down the global commitment to cut down use of coal in the climate pact adopted at COP26 earlier this month, sources in the government said. The 26th United Nations Climate Change conference (COP26) was held from October 31 to November 12 in Glasgow.

This comes in response to a statement made by COP26 president Alok Sharma. He had said that India and China would have to explain why they pushed for watered down language on efforts to phase out coal in the Glasgow climate pact. In relation to use of coal, the original phrase ‘phase out’ was replaced with ‘phase down’ in the pact.