The US President, speaking at a town hall-like meeting at the Siri Fort auditorium here this morning, touched on the need for America and India to partner in confronting the challenge of climate change and its impacts such as rising sea levels, melting glaciers and stronger cyclones.

"The United States recognises our part in creating this problem, so we're leading the global effort to combat it," Obama said. "And today, I can say that America's carbon emissions are near its lowest level in almost two decades."

"I know the argument made by some that it is unfair for countries like the United States to ask developing countries and emerging economies, like India, to reduce your dependence on the same fossil fuels that have powered our growth for more than a century," the President said, speaking to an audience of college and university students and other members of the public invited by the US embassy in New Delhi.

India is the third largest greenhouse gas emitter, behind China and the US, but an average Indian released only two tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere compared to 20 tonnes by an average American and eight tonnes by an average Chinese.

"But here is the truth," Obama went on in his address. "Even if countries like the United States curb our emissions, countries growing rapidly like India, with soaring energy needs, if they don't also embrace cleaner fuels, then we don't stand a chance against climate change."

He said the US welcomed India's ambitious targets for clean energy, iterating a key element of the joint statement issued on Sunday in which the US had pledged both financial and technical support to help India in these efforts.

"America wants to be a partner as you protect the health of your people," Obama said. "As we deliver more energy and more electricity, let's do it with clean, renewable energy, like solar and wind, and let's put cleaner vehicles on the road."

The Narendra Modi government had last year announced a plan to increase the solar energy target five fold to 100,000MW by 2022. The joint statement suggests the US may consider providing finance for this plan.

Obama said the US would continue to help India deal with the impacts of climate change. "You should not bear that burden alone," he said and emphasised the need for both countries to work towards an agreement on climate change the world hopes to conclude later this year.

The global pact is intended to avert global temperatures from rising above 2 degrees Celsius. In the joint statement, the US also pledged technical assistance to monitor air quality over Indian cities.

"The joint initiative on cities will help India cut air pollution and protect public health," said Manish Bapna, executive vice-president and managing director of the World Resources Institute, a US-based think tank monitoring global progress on curbing greenhouse gas emissions.