In a massage on the occasion of World Environment day, Singh said that India was committed to pursuing environmentally sustainable development.

"While we have a long way to go in meeting the aspirations of our people and while we must rid our county of the scourge of poverty, ignorance and disease, we should do so in a manner that is environmentally sustainable," he said.

Singh said it was incumbent on all to think of future generations and the very future of the planet each time they "undertake an act of consumption".

"The threat of climate change is real and unless we alter our lifestyles and pursue a sustainable model of development, our future will be in peril," he said.

The Prime Minister has set up a committee to coordinate national action plans for assessment, adaptation and mitigation of climate change. The Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister will be its convener.

The committee, comprising 14 Government representatives and eight non-Government representatives, will advise the Union Government on pro-active measures that can be taken to deal with the challenge of climate change. The committee will also facilitate inter-ministerial coordination and guide policy making in relevant areas.

Those in the committee include External Affairs Minister, Finance Minister, Agriculture Minister, Minister for Water resources and Minister for Environment & Forests. The non-Government members include RK Pachauri, chairperson of The Energy Research Institute (TERI); Prodipto Ghosh, former Secretary of Environment & Forests Ministry, Sunita Narain, head of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE); and Ratan Tata, Chairman, Investment Commission.