'Climate fight shouldn't become new NPT'

Times of India , Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Correspondent : Staff Reporter
NEW DELHI: The fight against climate change should not become the new NPT, the prime minister's special envoy on climate change Shyam Saran said on Tuesday. Drawing a parallel between global negotiations to tackle climate change and the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) that divided the world into nuclear haves and have-nots, Sharan said: "There is only a limited carbon space, which the developed countries have already 'occupied', leaving only a tiny portion for developing countries." "If I am going to grow, then my emissions will rise. That's inevitable. But they are basically telling us that since we are late-comers, therefore, we cannot increase our share," he told members of the Indian Women's Press Corps here. India's argument on the global climate change negotiations was an "equity argument", said India's chief negotiator on climate change. Reacting to reports in some developed countries that any country that did not rein in its greenhouse gas emissions may face trade sanctions, Sharan said: "When the Rio summit was held (in 1992), it was dealt as a global challenge. You cannot make certain trade barriers condition to what obligations you have to reach". However, India would tackle climate change in its own interest, Sharan added. "We recognise that if climate change does take place, the worst-hit will be developing countries." "Already it has been calculated that India is spending 2-2.5 per cent of GDP on adaptation to climate change," he said. "The national action plan on climate change will be released next month. On this subject, India has been holding intensive discussions with other countries, like the Chinese, Brazilians, South Africans, small island states and even the LDCs (least developed countries)." Talking about the resurgence of interest in nuclear power around the world, Sharan said the current "nuclear renaissance" was due to climate change.
 
SOURCE : Times of India, Wednesday, May 07, 2008
 


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