India and China are being targeted for their high carbon emission. Talking on the sidelines of the meet, the minister said, “Equity is central to any debate on climate change."
At the same forum, Sunita Narain of the non-profit Centre for Science & Environment argued that while India and China are being pulled up for their growing emissions, the world was conveniently forgetting about the US emissions, still growing at four per cent.
The rift between developing and developed countries seems to be widening on climate issues at Durban. The rich want the distinction between the past polluters - responsible for climate change impacts currently occurring - and the future polluters, who need ecological space to grow, to be removed. If the distinction remains, they will have to take action first to reduce and create carbon space for the poorer countries to increase their emissions.
On the issue of legally binding commitments, India has indicated that it was “open" to all ideas at the climate talks but wanted more reassurances from the developed world before taking any further commitments. Natarajan stressed she was looking for further reassurances from the developed world. Read the full report here.
Source: BS Reporter, Business Standard, New Delhi.
