New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently signed a declaration at the Major Economies Forum (MEF) in Italy, committing India to curbing its carbon emissions. But the question is did India compromise its development agenda?
“It is not pressure tactics on one country. India, China, Brazil, all have signed. So, I don't know what kind of pressure tactics were used for each country or for all together,” Associate Director of Centre for Science and Environment Pradeep Saha said.
Under the MEF document, India and other developing countries have for the first time agreed to curb rise in global temperatures at 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels by limiting their carbon emissions.
It is something India had so far refused to commit to despite pressure from the US and UK as it is likely to put checks on its growth. But the Prime Minister's Special envoy Shyam Saran denies that India's signing the MEF declaration changes its position on climate change in any way.
“As far as India's position is concerned we have said that we will do whatever we can do within the limitations of our resources but that we need a supportive regime if we are to take an additional action. And that position has not been compromised in any way,” Saran said.
But cynics say that in international negotiations it is the posturing that is important and that in a way, by signing the MEF document, India's stand on climate change has now been diluted.
Comments
0 comment