By NNN-Bernama,
New Delhi : With questions raised over his reported views on India’s stand on climate change, Indian Environment Minister Ramesh Monday stood by the Kyoto Protocol which seeks deeper emission cuts from developed nations, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.
“The voluntary actions of developing countries could not be equated with the commitments of developed countries,” Ramesh said in a meeting with his Japanese counterpart Sakihito Ozawa who is here to participate in the Climate Change Technology Conference to be held on Wednesday.
Ramesh’s views virtually contradicted reports that he had written India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh suggesting that India should junk the Kyoto Protocol, delink itself from G-77, permit external scrutiny of measures it takes to check greenhouse gas emissions besides taking binding cuts in carbon emissions.
Reacting to the reports, opposition parties Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Monday questioned whether the government was buckling under the pressure of the United States or lobbies but Congress party tried to steer clear of the controversy.
During the meeting with the Japanese Minister, Ramesh stressed the importance of Kyoto Protocol and the fulfillment of the developed countries’ commitments in terms of deep emission reduction targets for post 2012 period (after expiry of Kyoto protocol) as essential for a successful outcome at the UN Summit on climate change in Copenhagen in December.
He also appreciated the announcement by Japan’s new government of 25 per cent emission reduction by 2020.
Developed countries want major developing economies like India, China and Brazil to commit for deep greenhouse gas reduction targets but the latter pitch for “differentiated” responsibility.
Ramesh emphasised the voluntary and nationally appropriate actions of developing countries could not be equated with the commitments of developed countries, according to a statement from Environment Ministry.
Constructive ways of enhancing these actions and increasing international confidence in these actions could be found within the principles of the Convention and its Kyoto Protocol, Ramesh said.
Besides discussing issues of bilateral interest, the two Ministers exchanged views on the current state of international negotiations on climate change and the prospects of an agreed outcome in Copenhagen.
Both sides also discussed the necessity for global initiatives for enhancing the flow of finance and technology cooperation in the context of climate change.
They discussed the possibility of a partnership agreement between India and Japan to enhance and support mutually beneficial cooperation on climate change related technologies which could be signed during a high-level visit on either side.
The Japanese Minister also invited Ramesh to visit Japan next year when the work on International Year of Biodiversity will begin, the statement added.