Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh and the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Climate Change Shyam Saran continue to work in different directions. While Ramesh has gone and volunteered emission cuts in response to what the US and China have offered, Saran has said that there is no question of India taking on any Kyoto-plus kind of commitments.
The problem with Ramesh’s statements is that he does not realise the US and China offers conceal more than they reveal. As has been pointed out by the Centre for Science and Environment, the US offer translates into just a 3 per cent reduction over the 1990 emission levels. Developed countries, however, need to cut their emission levels to 40 per cent below those in 1990.
As for the Chinese offer, it still translates into a 150 per cent hike in emission levels above what they were in 2005. It is not clear as to who will have the final word on the matter — Saran or Ramesh?
Sanjeev Sharma, New Delhi
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