‘Need for an equitable outcome on emission cuts’

Ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Copenhagen visit, India said developed nations’ role for emission cut was disappointing, and called for a comprehensive outcome of the conference.

Ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Copenhagen visit, India said developed nations’ role for emission cut was disappointing, and called for a comprehensive outcome of the conference.

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Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao asserted that India was not a naysayer, but will stand up to protect national interest, and that developing countries were rallying behind New Delhi.

“From the current state of negotiations, it appears that the developed countries are not prepared for a comprehensive outcome at Copenhagen that would bind them to fulfill the commitments for emissions reductions under Kyoto protocol and the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change),” Rao said.

She stressed that the commitments by developed countries for assistance to developing countries in adopting green technology and mitigating climate change have been “disappointing.”

“The numbers put on the table so far are disappointing,” Rao said. “We want an equitable outcome. We will not be able to negotiate on issues that are of concern to us.”