New Delhi, Sep 11 (Inditop.com) Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, whose country is a pioneer in promoting green technologies, Friday virtually endorsed India’s stand on climate change but hoped that all countries will come to an agreement by the year-end.
“The Indian approach is very ambitious. It goes hand in hand with fighting poverty,” Rasmussen told a meeting organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here.
“We cannot ask you in developing countries to take on the responsibilities. You have your obligations,” he said as Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh listened intently. “Developed countries must act now.”
Both Rasumssen and Ramesh hoped there would be progress during the 15th meeting of the Conference of Parties under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change that will meet in Copenhagen in December.
India’s stand, articulated by Ramesh, has been: Developing countries cannot be asked to cut their emission levels at the same level as that required by rich nations since the current environmental woes were the result of unchecked practices of the industrialised world.
“Any agreement, which starts with a recognition that India and China are part of the problem, will not succeed,” said Ramesh.
India also maintains that as per the framework convention, reducing emissions is largely the responsibility of industrialised countries but they were not even adhering to the legally binding regulations.
Developing countries have demanded a 40 percent cut in carbon emissions by rich countries taking 1990 as the base year even as some developed nations, which continued to emit more green house gases want the base year to shift to 2005.
India has said this will bring down carbon emissions by a mere 15 percent by 2020.
The Indian minister also set to dispel any anxiety over India’s commitment for a resolution at the upcoming talks in Copenhagen.
“We may not have been part of the problem, but we definitely will be part of the solution. It may not be possible to have a perfect agreement but let us have a good agreement,” said Ramesh.
