Mitigation actions conveyed to UNFCCC voluntary: Govt

New Delhi, Apr 19 (PTI) The mitigation actions
communicated to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) are voluntary in nature and not part of any legally
binding agreement, the Indian government told the Upper House
of Parliament Monday.

Replying to a question, India's Environment Minister
Jairam Ramesh said that India and China have communicated to
the UNFCCC their voluntary mitigation actions proposed to be
undertaken by 2020.
India has stated that it will endeavour to reduce the
emissions intensity of its GDP by 20-25 per cent by 2020 in
comparison to 2005 level, he said.
"The government is committed to safeguarding the
interests of the people and industry. To this end, government
regularly consults people through interactions with civil
society and non-governmental organisations as well as industry
representatives," the Minister added.
To another question, Ramesh said that following the
Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change, many industrialised
countries have announced emission reduction targets for the
period beyond 2012.
"However, the targets as announced are yet to be
negotiated and agreed upon by the Parties (UN members) under
the multilateral negotiations.
"Discussions on these issues is underway in the Adhoc
Working Group on Long-Term Cooperative Action and the Adhoc
Working Group on Kyoto Protocol with a view to reach agreed
outcomes at the XVIth Conference of Parties at Cancun in
Mexico in December 2010," the Minister added.
He said that proposals under negotiations include setting
up a technology mechanism to accelerate technology development
and transfer to developing countries.
"The setting up of climate Innovation Centres is
different countries is a part of such proposals," he said.
To yet another question, Ramesh said that there was no
plan to check greenhouse gas emission from crops and their
waste. PTI AJ
RDM