Green protectionism not acceptable: India to developed nations

New Delhi, May 14 (PTI) India Thursday asked the BRIC
members to unitedly oppose the developed countries' move to
impose environmental taxes on the developing nations in the
name of "green protectionism" to tackle climate change.

Ahead of the first BRIC summit next month in Russia,
Shyam Saran, special envoy to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on
climate change, warned that "green should not become a label
for 'protection' (for the developed nations)".

"We are concerned that green is becoming a new label for
protection. We are now seeing on the grounds of level-playing
field and maintaining competitiveness, the developing nations
will be forced to take up binding commitment on emissions
reduction or pay tariff," he said.

"If this is what they (developed countries) insist on,
we need to send them a clear message that green protectionism
is not acceptable," Saran said at pre-BRIC summit preparatory
meeting here.

Observing that despite diversity among all the four BRIC
countries -- Brazil, Russia, China and India, he suggested
common areas of cooperations in terms of energy security and
climate change.

"One very important platform for cooperation among all
the member nations really could be the enhancing energy
efficiency," he added.

At the meeting, which was attended by the think-tanks
from four member nations, Saran said, "Enhancing energy
efficiency is the goal of the India's National Action Plan on
Climate Change as well.

"Also, there is a need for a strategic shift from
dependence on conventional sources of energy, which are
depleting, to renewable source of energy like solar and wind
power."

Science and technology is another area where the
countries can further their bilateral cooperation to deal with
climate change.

Saran also stressed on greater discussions with Russia on
climate change which can become an active partner on the issue
considering its success in lowering the emissions when many
have failed. PTI AJ
DEP
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