E-Paper
China backs India's stand on climate change
India has refused to accept binding emission cuts that it says could slow its economic growth and has instead harped on voluntary actions to stem emissions.
Ahead of the Copenhagen meet, China on Thursday backed India's stand that developing nations have no obligation to binding emission reduction targets and said it is ready to enhance "cooperation and coordination" between the two countries, which it termed as "victims" of climate change.
"We understand the current situation in India. We should take adaptation and mitigation measures based on our national conditions and capacity," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters in Beijing.
He said China is ready to strengthen "communication, coordination and cooperation" with India on climate change.
"China and India are both developing countries and victims of climate change," he said, noting the two sides have no obligation to undertake binding emission reduction targets.
"The two countries do not have the obligation to binding emission reduction targets on climate change," he said.
India has refused to accept binding emission cuts that it says could slow its economic growth and has instead harped on voluntary actions to stem emissions.
"Voluntary actions of developing nations will be subject to international monitoring, report and verification (MRV) as per agreed procedures to the extent that these actions receive international support," Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said in New Delhi yesterday as world leaders are preparing to gather for talks on climate change in Copenhagen, from December 7 to 18.
