New Delhi will take less time than Beijing to improve air quality: Prakash Javadekar

NEW DELHI: Environment minister Prakash Javadekar told the Lok Sabha on Friday that the Narendra Modi government was determined to take all steps to fight the menace of air pollution. India’s resolve was to be part of the global efforts to find solutions to climate issues and carbon emission, he said, adding New Delhi will take less time than Beijing to improve its air quality.
Replying to the three-day debate on air pollution, the minister said India’s track record was much better the US, Europe and China in checking the per person carbon emission.

“India is not responsible for climate change because per person carbon production of the country is not more than two tonnes, which is 16 tonnes in the US, 13 tonnes in Europe and 12 tonnes in China,” Javadekar said.

Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, Javadekar said: “The nature can take care of the needs of everybody but not the greed of everybody.”

Javadekar said the society should find ways for sustainable development. He also explained various steps the Centre has taken, including planting of trees on a massive scale, to preserve nature and climate.