Washington, Oct 3 (Inditop.com) With the US showing a better appreciation of India’s position on climate change, New Delhi hopes to have in place an energy partnership when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh comes here on a state visit in November.
The ultimate objective is to “have some articulation and finalisation of institutional partnership in the field of energy, environment and climate change”, Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh said Friday winding up his visit to the US.
“We are hoping that between now and November, we would be in a position to give operational content to many of these ideas. It would be reflected suitably in some statement after the two heads of state meet in November,” he said.
“India is a responsible player wanting a fair and equitable (climate change) agreement and prepared to play a leadership role in this regard, given its unique position in world affairs,” said Ramesh noting that “in the last month and a half, there has been a noticeable shift in narrative as far as India is concerned”.
“We have a long way to go,” he said. But “The fact that the US is saying emission cuts is not the only way for countries like India to reflect their domestic obligations internationally is a big step forward.”
The United States’ readiness to appreciate India’s actions taken unilaterally and voluntarily as part of a domestic legislative agenda is also a better appreciation of that today than may be a couple of months ago, he said.
“We have to take forward this dialogue. We will be in close touch with our American counterparts,” he said adding: “Today we have a better understanding of what the US is doing and certainly the US has a better understanding of what we are doing.”
Ramesh, who met US officials on climate change and several influential lawmakers, said: “The important thing is change in perception of India” in the US.
During his visit to New York and Washington, Ramesh had two rounds of discussions with Todd Stern, special US envoy for climate change. He also met Energy Secretary Steven Chu, besides a number of lawmakers – John Kerry, chairman of Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Congressmen Edward Markey and Jim McDermott.
