India, US differences over climate change come to fore

There are some issues over which India and the US clearly don't see eye to eye. Among them is climate change, an issue very close to US President Barack Obama's heart.

And a tour of a 'green' building by the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Gurgaon on Sunday was meant to give an ideal start to the Obama administration's talks with India on climate change. But within minutes of the press conference bitter divisions became apparent.

It began when Obama's special envoy, Todd Stern, insisted that during the recent Italy summit India had agreed to further reduce emissions.

"Developing countries agreed to take action, hence a reduction of what they would otherwise do," Stern said. It drew an immediate sharp response.

"We are simply not in a position to take on legally binding emission reduction," said Jairam Ramesh, MoS Ministry of Environment and Forest.

Hillary, perhaps more aware of the need to get India aboard, intervened but diplomatically reinforced America's demands on India.

"It is essential for major developing countries like India to lead because over 50 per cent of the growth in future emissions will be from developing countries," she said.

The US and the West want India and China to drastically cut emissions. But the two economic giants insist that the West is responsible for 80 of the current greenhouse gases. So it must shoulder most of the burden and transfer clean technologies to developing nations.

Both India and Pakistan did some tough talking at the meeting. But both countries are expected to meet several times over the next few days to discuss climate change.