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President Obama called Prime Minister Modi Dec. 16, to express his thanks for the success of the Paris Climate Change summit and the resulting deal.
The White House released a readout of the phone conversation saying Obama called the Indian leader “to thank him for his vision and leadership in achieving the historic climate agreement in Paris on December 12, noting that it continued their close and strong partnership on a range of issues that are important to both the United States and India.”
Both leaders underscored the importance of implementing the agreement and working together in the future on climate change, including through the Mission Innovation initiative announced in Paris on November 30, the White House said. The Mission Innovation initiative was signed by 20 nations including India, where they pledged to double their investment in developing clean technology over five years.
The climate talks culminated with an agreement among 190 nations to work to restrict heating of the earth beyond 2 degrees centigrade from pre-industrial levels of the 19th century, by gradually cutting down greenhouse gasses through phasing out carbon emissions. Countries also agreed that “developed” countries would help “developing” countries with some $100 billion in annual assistance to gradually shift to cleaner technologies.
The goals are not legally binding and would remain flexible especially as they apply to developing countries. The agreement also noted that the 1997 Kyoto Protocol goals would cease to exist in 2020 to be replaced by those agreed to on Dec. 12.
According to a Press Trust of India report, Modi raised Indian concerns over potential legislation before the U.S. Congress relating to H-1B and L1 visas that if passed would require Indian IT companies in this country to pay a special $2,000 fee for each visa to fund the 9/11 healthcare initiative, the James Zadroga Act that funds treatment of first responders affected during the rescue operations on 9/11. “The Prime Minister shared with President Obama the concerns of the Indian IT industry and professionals on the proposed legislation in the US Congress relating to H1B and L1 visas,” the PMO is quoted in the report.
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