<span style="color: #222222;">The 24th meeting of Conference of Parties (COP-24) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has begun at Katowice, Poland today. The Conference will continue till 14th of this month. COP-24 is very significant as it is expected to finalise guidelines for implementation of the Paris Agreement adopted in 2016.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Environment Minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan who is leading a delegation, outlined India's expectations from the conference. He said, India expects that COP-24 should be able to frame guidelines, which are pragmatic and gives due consideration to challenges and priorities of developing countries. The minister said, the outcome of COP-24 should be balanced, inclusive, and consistent with the principles and provisions of Convention and its Paris Agreement.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">India strongly supports the objective of the Paris Agreement to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping the global temperature rise well below 2 degrees Celsius from pre- industrial revolution period. India considers it important as it is linked to issue of poverty eradication. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Agreement also focuses on developing countries need to adapt to adverse impacts of climate change, in a manner that it does not put an additional burden on them.During the COP-24, India would like to highlight its concern for climate change and reaffirm its commitments to finalisation of the Paris Agreement Work Programme.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">On the sidelines of COP-24, India will be setting up a Pavilion to create awareness about India's positive climate actions in various sectors of the economy. The theme of Pavilion is 'One World One Sun One Grid' as highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the first assembly of the International Solar Alliance on 2nd October this year.</span><br />