Indian commentators have, by and large, taken the view that India did not cause the problem of global warming and so it should not be called upon to pay the price for it by taking on emission cut targets, whether voluntary or not.
This is a narrow and moral view. The issue is not of who caused the problem — more so, since the developed world was not aware of the problem of carbon emissions at the time it was developing. The issue is that, in the years to come, the greatest emissions will come from China — India is not in the same league and is, for no reason, getting bracketed with China. If the emissions are going to come from China, why shouldn’t the West ask for China to take on emission targets? It would be a pity if, by aligning with China, India comes to be regarded as a spoiler at Copenhagen.
Samir Gupta, New Delhi
