 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| . |  |
. |
India blames Kyoto failure for climate standoff
New Delhi (AFP) Aug 13, 2009 India said Thursday it was committed to fighting climate change but called developed nations' failure to implement the Kyoto Protocol the "single biggest issue" facing multilateral talks. Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh reiterated India's desire to reach a global agreement at the upcoming UN summit in Copenhagen, but said it was "unfair" to blame developing countries for high carbon emissions when rich nations had failed to fulfill their obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. India wants "a meaningful international agreement that all countries will take seriously and implement, unlike Kyoto where countries took on legal obligations and reneged on them," Ramesh told a briefing of foreign media in New Delhi. The government has come under criticism for its consistent opposition, along with fellow emerging market heavyweight China, to binding emission cuts in a new climate treaty. Both countries say developed nations, particularly the United States, should first present sufficient targets of their own. India prides itself on having low per capita emissions -- the average Indian produces one tonne of carbon dioxide per year to the average American's 20 tonnes -- and has pledged not to let those rates exceed those of developed nations. But its huge population puts it among the world's leading emitters, and Ramesh is under pressure ahead of the December conference in Copenhagen, which is meant to seal a new international accord on fighting climate change after the Kyoto Protocol's requirements expire in 2012. Ramesh said India had been "positive and proactive" in tackling climate change and global warming, emphasising forestation and solar power initiatives. He also pointed to plans for an environmental protection agency and said India would launch a satellite to monitor greenhouse gases in the region within the next few years. "Just because we draw attention to the hypocrisy of the West does not mean that we are not conscious of our own responsibility," Ramesh said, adding that India had a right "to be recognised as latecomers and stepchildren of the Industrial Revolution." Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Climate Science News - Modeling, Mitigation Adaptation
Australian Senate votes down emission trading schemeMelbourne (AFP) Aug 13, 2009 The Australian Senate on Thursday rejected an emissions trading scheme that aims to cut carbon pollution by up to 25 percent over the next decade, paving the way for a possible early election. The conservative opposition joined forces with the Greens and independent senators to vote down the planned scheme 42 votes to 30. Climate Change Minister Penny Wong condemned the decision ... read more |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2009 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Google
Facebook