Climate change: "I am not an astrologer", says PM

Saying that he was not an "astrologer", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said he cannot predict whether countries could seal a deal on climate change before the Copenhagen meet but acknowledged that "difficulties" remain in the path of negotiations.

Saying that he was not an "astrologer", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said he cannot predict whether countries could seal a deal on climate change before the Copenhagen meet but acknowledged that "difficulties" remain in the path of negotiations.

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"I am not an astrologer," Singh said when asked about if a December conference in the Danish capital Copenhagen would succeed in sealing a successor framework to the Kyoto protocol.

However, he noted that there was a broader agreement on the climate change among key world economies, he said while acknowledging that difficulties remain in the path of successful negotiations on this issue.

"There are difficulties in climate change. Now there is a broad agreement, but how to bring about the adjustment in emission is a competitive matter, which requires an exercise in burden sharing," he observed at a press conference held at the conclusion of the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh.

Singh said there is no agreement on the rules of the game as to how this burden sharing needs to be brought about. The developed countries should carry out credible commitment, credible action in order to control, emission, Singh said.

"The developing countries are required taking national action for that resources should be provided, energy resources as well as technological support," he said.