By EuAsiaNews
Brussels : An official delegation of the European Parliament’s Temporary Committee on Climate Change, visiting New Delhi between 4-5 February, has welcomed India ‘ s readiness to be part of an international climate agreement.
However, Committee Chair Guido Sacconi, said in a statement distributed here Tuesday that India is not prepared to accept any binding emissions targets.
“From our meetings and discussions in New Delhi , we have understood that awareness of the impact and the effects of climate change is taking root in India,” said the Italian Eurodeputy.
“They also indicated their readiness to be part of an international climate agreement, and stressed the paramount importance of technology cooperation and technology transfer. These are certainly extremely positive messages,” he said.
“The critical issue remains, however, that — at this stage — India is not prepared, given its per capita emissions, to accept any binding emissions targets,” added Sacconi.
The EP delegation was the second – after China in November 2007 – that the Committee has dispatched to a non-EU country to develop contacts between parliamentarians and forge strong alliances to address climate change issues.
During their visit to India , the delegation met with – among others – Mr T.K.A. Nair, Principle Secretary to the Prime Minister and Member of the Prime Minister ‘ s Council on Climate Policy, Members of the Indian Parliament, Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri, Director of the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
The EP delegation will now travel to Dhaka, Bangladesh, for meetings with civil society, national and local representatives.