Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has sparked a debate over climate change and the responsibilities of wealthy nations after questioning Europe’s record on climate finance at an international event in Germany. Speaking at a roundtable during the Berlin Global Dialogue, Goyal challenged developed countries to explain why their financial commitments to developing nations had not translated into the support promised. His remarks, that is going viral, focused on a long-standing dispute in international climate negotiations: countries that industrialised early contributed substantially to historical greenhouse gas emissions, while developing economies continue to face pressure to cut emissions as they pursue growth. Goyal argued that the burden of tackling climate change can't be separated from the financial and technological assistance promised to countries in the Global South. A video of the exchange has drawn attention online.
