India can play a leadership role in crafting the solution to climate change and will have a “constructive and pragmatic view” in the climate change discussions in Copenhagen to be held in December this year, says Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh.
“The world will not find India on the defensive or wanting, because climate change is a matter of day to day reality for us. India’s interests should be paramount in Copenhagen. We will neither be defensive nor offensive,” he said while addressing an event jointly organised by Icrier, Management Development Institute and the London School of Economics here today.
Ramesh emphasised a legally binding treaty was not on the cards and that was non-negotiable. “Climate change and Copenhagen is an opportunity for us to show a new paradigm for green development and to show India’s leadership and a different pattern of economic growth,” he added.
He also said India can make a commitment to the world without taking legally binding emission cuts. “India is willing to take domestic actions accountable to the domestic parliament. These outcomes will be monitorable, reportable and verifiable and quantified to Parliament,” he said.
The minister said India has neglected investing in climate science and research but asserted the country can also be a supplier of technologies and not always a recipient of it. “We will take up the challenge and set goals to influence the international market for technology because we have the capacity and entrepreneurial skills for green technology,” added Ramesh.