The concern is that pressure to show success as the host country could prompt Brazil to break the deadlock by bringing a surprise text accepting "thematic sustainable development goals". India is opposed to thematic SDGs, while the European Union is pushing for their acceptance in the "outcome document".

If it happens, negotiators should push for the inclusion of "thematic areas" in which it would be easier for India to achieve the targets. The Union Cabinet is likely to clear the negotiation line for Rio conference on sustainable development.

Having barely rebuffed the developed world's pressure on climate change, the Rio conference is seen as another opening for rich countries to introduce uniform targets and timelines on poor countries without the adequate compensation in the form of technology or funds.

The SDGs have emerged as bone of contention in Rio discussions with developing countries arguing that imposing standard global targets while jettisoning the existing Rio principle of 'common but differentiated responsibility' would put an unfair burden on poor countries. The developing world seeks to focus on themes like poverty eradication, preserving livelihoods and improving access to basic services by the poor and not giving primacy to environmental targets. It wants SDGs to be "aspirational, voluntary and non-binding".

The fears echo the concerns over climate change talks since attaining environment goals would mean shifting to costlier technologies at the cost of growth and only provide a ready market for goods and services from the West. India and like-minded countries argue that their developmental imperatives should give them longer periods for use of non-renewable energy. The government is set to assert the principle of 'common but differentiated responsibility' at Rio. It would seek assurance that Green Economy principle, a pillar of Rio conference, would not lead to conditionalities or green protectionism, in turn, intruding into national policy sphere. The government has already raised a red flag to protectionist measures like EU emission trading scheme on civil aviation.

While prescriptive SDGs united the developing bloc which includes the G-77 plus China, the tricky issue of Brazil breaking ranks due to its responsibility as the host country would have to be dealt by negotiators on the spot.

The concerns about the developed world using the Rio conference to slip in responsibilities that it failed in climate change talks looms large as India prepares to reiterate its position in the Brazilian city. India would also oppose the elevation United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to a specialized agency status as is being pushed by the EU.

The apprehension is that turning UNEP into a global agency in the context of sustainable development would strengthen its environmental dimension without taking care of urgent needs of socio-economic development. A global agency is feared because it can become an intrusive monitoring body on environment.