PM Modi bats for UN Security Council reforms

UNITED NATIONS: India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched aggressively for reforming the UN Security Council to maintain its relevance and credibility as an international body. He also pitched for equal representation so that countries can strive to reach their goals more effectively. “We must reform the United Nations including its Security Council so that it carries greater credibility and legitimacy,” Mr Modi said in his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

On September 25, the United Nations officially adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets aimed at resolving global social, economic and environmental problems. Emphasising on poverty Mr Modi said, “poverty eradication is on top of our agenda.” Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, Mr Modi said, “One must care about the world one will not see.”

Speaking about the importance of international partnership Mr Modi said, “We are here today at the UN, because we believe that international partnership must be at the centre of our efforts.” He also outlined India’s goals for fighting climate change and said he hoped developed countries would make separate provisions for fighting climate change.

Speaking about the need for reducing dependence on energy so that the world can strive towards ‘sustainable consumption’, Mr Modi hoped that developed countries will fulfill their financial commitments towards development and climate change without, in any way, putting the two under the same head. He outlined India’s climate change goals saying he represents a culture that calls the earth ‘mother’ and that India over the next seven years will create 175 GW of renewable energy capacity.

As the UNGA session would discuss climate change ahead of the COP-21 to be held in Paris in a few weeks, the session would have an important discussion on reforming the UNSC. Mr Modi is also scheduled to host the G-4 summit on the sidelines of the UNGA session where the agenda would be discussing UN reforms. The G-4 comprises India, Germany, Japan and Brazil. Ahead of the 70^th anniversary celebrations the UNGA members approved, by consensus, on having text based negotiations for reforming the UNSC. The negotiations are scheduled to start in November.

Mr Modi also said international cooperation should be at the centre of sustainable development and to fight climate change. “The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities is the bedrock of our enterprise for a sustainable world,” he stressed. He also spoke about other issues such as need to change our lifestyle in order to reduce energy dependency, making farmers less vulnerable to nature, women empowerment and development, insurance benefits to poor, education, skill development and financial inclusion.

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