New Delhi, Dec 22 (Inditop.com) Global warming took over the last day of the winter session in India’s parliament, with Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh stoutly defending the government’s actions at the Copenhagen climate summit while the opposition charged that India’s interests had been compromised.
Already facing criticism because in the Copenhagen Accord India had agreed to international “consultations and
analysis” of the actions it took to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, Ramesh read out a seven-page statement in
the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of parliament, where he held that he had defended national sovereignty.
The accord was finalised at a meeting between the heads of India, the US, China, South Africa and Brazil in Copenhagen
last Friday.
Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley of the Bharatiya Janata Party charged that the accord was a “betrayal” of not only
India’s national interests but “of all poor nations”.
Ramesh explained later at a press conference: “The US president came to us with four words – review or scrutiny or
verification or assessment. Our answer was consultation and analysis, within clearly defined guidelines that would not
affect national sovereignty.”
He referred to media reports quoting senior Obama administration official David Axelrod, who had said the US could now
ensure that China and India now reduced their emissions.
Describing Axelrod as the “spin doctor of the US president”, Ramesh said: “Obama has not said it. He has not threatened
us. Maybe Axelrod’s statement is due to domestic pressure. We needn’t worry about it.”
But the minister had sent an e-mail to Axelrod Tuesday, mentioning that his statement went against those of Obama and
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
In parliament, Jaitley said: “We have a lot of concerns. We should not be seen as the fall guy, but still we should not
let our interests fall,”
According to the opposition leader: “The accord says one thing and the government’s understanding is another. The
government has been outwitted in the drafting of the document.” Jaitley contended that the accord had left the door
open for an attack on India’s sovereignty.
Climate change is already affecting farm output, making droughts, floods and storms more frequent and more severe and
raising the sea level, with India among the most vulnerable countries.
Excess greenhouse gases (GHG) – mainly carbon dioxide – in the atmosphere cause climate change, and the fight is over
which country should control how much GHG emissions.
In his statement, Ramesh said the close coordination between India, China, Brazil and South Africa-the so-called BASIC
countries-at the negotiations was another big plus to emerge out of the conference.
“BASIC ministers met virtually on an hourly basis right through the conference; India and China worked very closely
together. I believe the BASIC group has emerged as a powerful group in climate negotiations. ”
At the press conference later, Ramesh said: “I had gone to Copenhagen not to save the world but to protect India’s
right to development.”
Asked to comment on widespread unhappiness among other members of the Group of 77 countries at India’s stand in
Copenhagen, Ramesh said: “We’re in the G77 and in the BASIC group and in talks with industrialised countries. Many of
our gods have three feet. We should do the same.”
Later on he said: “We should be like Nataraj. Doesn’t he have four feet?”
He admitted that some G77 countries – especially those in the 43-member Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) – blame
India and China for not doing enough to tackle climate change.
“Bangladesh and Nepal also want us to reduce emissions more strongly; some African countries. In G77, there is not the
100 percent same point of view over everything.” Later he said: “It is unfair to say India abandoned G77. It’s simply
not true.”
The group, which actually has 135 countries, combines with China to negotiate climate treaties as a bloc.
Ramesh was happy that India had not emerged as a deal-breaker in Copenhagen and had “played a constructive role”, while
admitting that many European countries were very unhappy because the BASIC countries and the US had stitched the accord
together, leaving the Europeans out.
In his turn, Ramesh was critical of the role played by host country Denmark. “From Day One it appeared that the whole
process was not transparent. There were communication gaps all around. The Danish presidency (of the conference) did
not take the larger international group into confidence.”
The minister admitted that India was not likely to get much of $30 billion promised over the next three years to help
poorest and vulnerable countries adapt to climate change effects. “India should not be beggars,” he said. “We’ll
mobilise money when necessary.”
