New Delhi (dpa) – India’s environment minister blamed developed countries Saturday for the devastating floods in the southern coastal metropolis of Chennai.
At least 325 people have died in two waves of floods that have swamped large parts of India’s fourth-largest city since November 1.
“What is happening in Chennai is the result of what has happened for 150 years in the developed world,” Prakash Javadekar told the Hindu newspaper.
“That is what has caused 0.8-degrees-Celsius temperature rise. And therefore they must now take action more vigorously”.
Javadekar was due to leave for the climate change conference in Paris on Saturday. The talks in the French capital are aimed at reaching a new global climate agreement.
Negotiators are wrangling over money for developing and countries to adapt to global warming and limit carbon emissions.
Climate experts say India is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, with intensification of cyclones, droughts and floods.
