New Delhi
6 November 2009
The United States (US) and the 27-member European Union (EU) on Friday made
a double-barrelled effort to get India on board a climate deal and pitched for India's
cooperation in forging a consensus at the crucial climate summit in Copenhagen next
month.
Leading the American charge was Maria Otero, Under Secretary of State for Democracy
and Global Affairs. Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, who led the European
delegation to the 10th EU - India Summit here, raised the issue with Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh.
Ms Otero hinted that the US and India can be expected to reach an understanding on
climate change issues but she will not attempt to second guess the likely outcome of the
24 November talks between Prime Minister Singh and US President Barack Obama.
She told reporters here that India needs to take a leadership role on the issue of climate
change, which will be an issue of discussion in the Obama - Manmohan talks in
Washington.
"The answer is yes. India's emission is four per cent and we hope in the future there is
some level of reduction," she said, replying to a question if the US wanted India to bring
down carbon emissions.
She added that the position India takes will have a bearing on other countries in the
region and around the world such as Brazil and Mexico.
Otero met with Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao on Thursday rpt Thursday for talks on a
wide range of issues such as human rights, environment, health and disaster
management.
India maintains that legally-binding emission reduction targets should not be imposed
on developing nations but on Friday, Prime Minister Singh indicated after talks with
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and European Commission President Jose
Manuel Barroso that "so far" India has not reached the stage of quantifying her carbon
emission targets.
Mr Reinfeldt, whose country currently holds rotating presidency of EU, welcomed India's
National Action Plan on Climate Change but he sought more. "We will do our part, but we
cannot do things alone," he said.
Meanwhile, Shyam Saran, Prime Minister's special envoy on climate change, said in
Barcelona Friday that India can do more provided global support was available in the
form of financial and technological resources.
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