There is little doubt the problem of global warming has been caused by advanced economies. But there is also little doubt the fastest-growing source of emissions is going to come from countries like China and, to a much lesser extent India. To that extent, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has made a valuable point — if India shows some flexibility in its stance, it becomes difficult for countries like China not to accept curbs on its emission levels as well.
In any case, as Ramesh has said, India is enacting these laws on its own anyway. So if it commits to do what it was going to do anyway, but in return for greater access to technology and/or finance, what is wrong with this?
SK Gupta, Gurgaon
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