Allaying fears of the Opposition that India could give concessions to developed countries in the Copenhagen summit,the government said on Tuesday that developing countries,including India,have no obligation to reduce green house gas emissions. "As per the principles of equity and common,but differentiated,responsibilities and respective capabilities of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),developing countries including India have no obligation to reduce green house gas emissions," Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh said in the Rajya Sabha. The minister said this in response to a Calling attention by Brinda Karat (CPI-M) and N K Singh (JDU) on 'Government's changing position on climate change'. Ramesh said the UNFCCC recognises that the economic and social development and poverty eradication are the first and overriding priorities of the developing counties. "In course of meeting the developmental needs,the emissions of developing countries are bound to rise," he added. Noting that India's position on the on-going climate change agreement negotiations is "clear,credible and consistent",he said the country's approach to these negotiations is fully anchored in the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol. "India has argued in the international negotiating for a that the developed country parties must take actions in accordance with the principles of equity and common,but differentiated,responsibilities and respective capabilities in order to achieve the objectives of the convention," he said.
