Copenhagen outcome falls short of expectations: PM

Amid no signs of a breakthrough, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the outcome of the Copenhagen climate summit may fall short of expectations and warned against any dilution of the principles of UNFCCC, particularly of "common but differentiated" responsibilities. Don't abandon Kyoto protocol, Manmohan urges world leadersRead confidential UN report | Full coverage | Listen to podcastProposed political statement at COP 15

Amid no signs of a breakthrough, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday said the outcome of the Copenhagen climate summit may fall short of expectations and warned against any dilution of the principles of UNFCCC, particularly of "common but differentiated" responsibilities.

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Addressing the crucial final day of the summit, the prime minister emphasised that India will deliver on its voluntary
target of reducing the emission intensity of GDP growth by around 20 per cent by 2020 as compared to 2005 regardless of the outcome of the conference.

"We can do even more if a supporting global climate regime is in place," he told a galaxy of world leaders who
have gathered to seal a climate deal in the Danish capital.

"The outcome (of the summit) may well fall short of our expectations," 77-year-old Singh said and favoured "subsequent
negotiations towards building a truly global and genuinely collaborative response to climate change being concluded
during the year 2010."

"We have a difficult task ahead of us. I hope we will play a positive and constructive role so that we bridge our
differences and come out with a balanced and an equitable outcome in the coming years. India will not be found wanting
in this," he said.

Singh also pointed out that majority of the countries do not support any renegotiation or dilution of the principles of
UNFCCC, particularly common but differentiated responsibilities.