PM-LD COPENHAGEN 2 LAST

Ahead of the Copenhagen conference, India said it would
be "flexible" at the climate meet while ensuring that its
national interests are not affected.

Ramesh made clear India's intentions to do its bit to
fight climate change when he announced on Thursday that the
country would voluntarily reduce carbon emission intensity by
20-25 per cent by 2020 from the 2005 levels.
Carbon intensity is the volume of emission proportionate
to the GDP. By reducing the intensity, government intends to
maintain high GDP growth while ensuring lesser emission.
Ramesh said the government would undertake a series of
policy measures including mandatory fuel efficiency standards
for all vehicles by December 2011, model green building code
and amendment of Energy Conservation Act to make it necessary
for industries to have energy efficiency certificates.
He said if the Copenhagen Summit is successful in
reaching a "comprehensive and equitable agreement", India
would be willing to do more but only through voluntary
measures.
At the same time, Ramesh asserted that there is no
question of accepting any legally binding emission cuts and
agreeing on any "peaking year" for its emissions.
Rejecting the Opposition charge that government was
preparing for a "sell-out" in the Copenhagen summit by giving
up on its long-held positions, he said, "I am not buying a
ticket to Copenhagen to drown India's interests there." PTI
AKK
ANU