Prakash Javadekar and US envoy John Kerry discuss climate finance, joint research

Javadekar and Kerry, former Secretary of State in the Barrack Obama administration, discussed a range of issues including climate finance, joint research and collaboration.

"Had an engaging and fruitful discussion with Mr.@JohnKerry, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. We discussed a range of issues including #ClimateFinance, joint research and collaboration etc," Javadekar said in a tweet.

Kerry is in India ahead of President Joe Biden’s virtual ‘Leaders Summit on Climate’ to be held with 40 world leaders later this month.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the Summit and the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate to be held on April 22 and 23.

MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi earlier said during his April 5-8 India visit Kerry would discuss climate issues in general in the context of the UN climate change summit COP26, which is to be held later this year.

Bagchi said Kerry would be interacting with several ministers, including the external affairs minister as well as ministers of finance, petroleum and natural gas, power and new and renewable energy.

During the day, Kerry also had a short meeting with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

The meeting took place in the lobby of a hotel where both diplomats are staying, Russia's Sputnik news service reported, quoting a source.

The envoys focused on the climate agenda, the source said.

In February, Lavrov and Kerry held a phone call on the implementation of the Paris Climate Accord.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov disclosed that Moscow has received the invitation the Climate Summit and that the details are now being worked out through diplomatic channels.

Besides, Kerry also met Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and discussed global climate.

"Good to see US @ClimateEnvoy John Kerry again. Discussed issues of global climate action. As always, passionate and interesting on this subject," Jaishankar tweeted.