ID :
71139
Mon, 07/20/2009 - 14:59
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/71139
The shortlink copeid
Would not accept any legally binding emission reductions: Min
Gurgaon, July 19 (PTI) Refusing to be pushed by the US on
putting a cap on emissions, India on Sunday said it would not
accept any "legally binding" reductions but assured that its
carbon footprint would never exceed that of developed nations.
India's Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh asserted that
New Delhi was "simply not in a position" to accept any legally
binding emission reductions and made it clear that India was
not running away from responsibilities on the issue.
The minister's comments came at a joint press conference
with US secretary of State Hillary Clinton after she toured
the ITC Green Building here which showcases environment-
friendly practices in India.
The US wants India to agree to limit its carbon emissions
ahead of the signing of a new UN climate treaty in Copenhagen
in December.
Giving a suggestion in this regard, Clinton pointed out
that India's green house gas pollution was projected to grow
by about 50 per cent between now and 2030 and the country was
vulnerable to climate change.
However, she said that the US does not and will not do
anything that would limit India's economic progress.
Ramesh underlined India's stand that its Green House Gas
(GHG) emissions would never exceed those of the developed
nations. He said India was firmly anchored in the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change and the Bali Action Plan.
"You can take a look at the track record of India. Once
we have adopted an international obligation, we have never
reneged on an international obligation," Ramesh said.
Clinton said India and the US can jointly devise a
breakthrough plan for fighting climate change that will
generate massive new investments and millions of jobs.
She said she was upbeat after her discussion with Indian
officials and believed that there were paths forward that
would get the two countries on a sustainable approach globally
to mitigate and decrease GHG emissions.
"I am very confident that the US and India can devise a
plan that will dramatically change the way we produce, consume
and conserve energy and in the process spark an explosion of
new investment and millions of jobs," Clinton said.
The Secretary of State admitted that the tasks to achieve
global goals will "very likely differ".
"That is what we are going to be working out in the
months leading up to Copenhagen," she added.
Clinton said the challenge was to create a global
framework that recognises the different needs and
responsibilities of developed and developing countries alike.
She acknowledged that the US had made mistakes in its own
industrial advance and defended the right of emerging
countries to improve their living standards.
Ramesh agreed with Clinton that it was possible for the
developing and developed countries to narrow their positions
on climate change.
"It is possible for us to have an international agreement
that recognises common but differentiated responsibilities and
which also involves credible actions by countries like India
and China to mitigate the GHG emissions in future," he added.
Regarding the bilateral agreements between the US and
India to tackle global warming, Ramesh said the two nations
have agreed on "concrete partnerships" in the area of energy
efficiency during his discussions with Clinton.
"I want to say that both sides have agreed on the need of
partnerships, concrete partnerships, on projects in various
fields like energy efficiency, solar energy, biomass,
energy-efficient buildings of the type that you are seeing
here today," he said.
Ramesh sought US support for India's proposals to the
UNFCCC and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest
Degradation in Developing Countries (REDD).
"The developed nations must acknowledge and reward
countries who are in the business of actually expanding forest
cover. On our part, we are embarking on a close to $ 3 billion
programme to regenerate our natural forests that already cover
some 165 million acres –roughly the size of Texas," he said.
Earlier, Clinton heaped praise on the ITC Green Centre,
equating the building with monuments like the Taj Mahal and
India Gate.
"We know that there are wonderful monuments throughout
India from the India Gate to the Taj Mahal. The ITC green
building may not be a regular stop on the tourist calendar but
it is a monument in its own right, she said.
The Green Centre is one of the 11 buildings in India that
have earned a LEED Partner designation, the highest
designation by the US Green Building Council for Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design. PTI SKU
RAI
putting a cap on emissions, India on Sunday said it would not
accept any "legally binding" reductions but assured that its
carbon footprint would never exceed that of developed nations.
India's Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh asserted that
New Delhi was "simply not in a position" to accept any legally
binding emission reductions and made it clear that India was
not running away from responsibilities on the issue.
The minister's comments came at a joint press conference
with US secretary of State Hillary Clinton after she toured
the ITC Green Building here which showcases environment-
friendly practices in India.
The US wants India to agree to limit its carbon emissions
ahead of the signing of a new UN climate treaty in Copenhagen
in December.
Giving a suggestion in this regard, Clinton pointed out
that India's green house gas pollution was projected to grow
by about 50 per cent between now and 2030 and the country was
vulnerable to climate change.
However, she said that the US does not and will not do
anything that would limit India's economic progress.
Ramesh underlined India's stand that its Green House Gas
(GHG) emissions would never exceed those of the developed
nations. He said India was firmly anchored in the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change and the Bali Action Plan.
"You can take a look at the track record of India. Once
we have adopted an international obligation, we have never
reneged on an international obligation," Ramesh said.
Clinton said India and the US can jointly devise a
breakthrough plan for fighting climate change that will
generate massive new investments and millions of jobs.
She said she was upbeat after her discussion with Indian
officials and believed that there were paths forward that
would get the two countries on a sustainable approach globally
to mitigate and decrease GHG emissions.
"I am very confident that the US and India can devise a
plan that will dramatically change the way we produce, consume
and conserve energy and in the process spark an explosion of
new investment and millions of jobs," Clinton said.
The Secretary of State admitted that the tasks to achieve
global goals will "very likely differ".
"That is what we are going to be working out in the
months leading up to Copenhagen," she added.
Clinton said the challenge was to create a global
framework that recognises the different needs and
responsibilities of developed and developing countries alike.
She acknowledged that the US had made mistakes in its own
industrial advance and defended the right of emerging
countries to improve their living standards.
Ramesh agreed with Clinton that it was possible for the
developing and developed countries to narrow their positions
on climate change.
"It is possible for us to have an international agreement
that recognises common but differentiated responsibilities and
which also involves credible actions by countries like India
and China to mitigate the GHG emissions in future," he added.
Regarding the bilateral agreements between the US and
India to tackle global warming, Ramesh said the two nations
have agreed on "concrete partnerships" in the area of energy
efficiency during his discussions with Clinton.
"I want to say that both sides have agreed on the need of
partnerships, concrete partnerships, on projects in various
fields like energy efficiency, solar energy, biomass,
energy-efficient buildings of the type that you are seeing
here today," he said.
Ramesh sought US support for India's proposals to the
UNFCCC and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest
Degradation in Developing Countries (REDD).
"The developed nations must acknowledge and reward
countries who are in the business of actually expanding forest
cover. On our part, we are embarking on a close to $ 3 billion
programme to regenerate our natural forests that already cover
some 165 million acres –roughly the size of Texas," he said.
Earlier, Clinton heaped praise on the ITC Green Centre,
equating the building with monuments like the Taj Mahal and
India Gate.
"We know that there are wonderful monuments throughout
India from the India Gate to the Taj Mahal. The ITC green
building may not be a regular stop on the tourist calendar but
it is a monument in its own right, she said.
The Green Centre is one of the 11 buildings in India that
have earned a LEED Partner designation, the highest
designation by the US Green Building Council for Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design. PTI SKU
RAI
