M A I N   N E W S

Team India in place on Copenhagen summit eve
Key negotiators back on Ramesh’s assurances

New Delhi, December 6
The two key Indian negotiators, who had refused to join the delegation to the crucial Copenhagen meet, are back on board after assurances from Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh.

Former IFS officer Chandrashekhar Dasgupta and ex-Environment Secretary Pradipto Gosh, who discussed with Ramesh on the issue, told PTI that on the basis of certain “assurances” offered by the minister they now plan to assist the delegation at Copenhagen.

They pointed that they delayed their departure as they had some reservation over the issues such as the country’s basic position on per capita emission principles, transfer of technology, verification and domestically financed programmes.

“I delayed my departure for Copenhagen in order to consult with the Environment Minister on some issues arising in some media reports, which seem to water down the Prime Minister’s per capita approach, his position on technology transfer and International Property Rights,” Dasgupta said.

While he claimed that he did not have any problem with the emission intensity forecast of cutting down it voluntarily by 20-25 per cent by 2020 over 2005 levels, he said, “in fact, my main concern is that we have been offering unilateral concessions, without obtaining any reciprocity.”

The negotiator also wanted to be clarified on the government’s stand on international verification or review of our domestically funded mitigation actions (recently re-iterated in Parliament as a non-negotiable element that cannot be “modulated”, except under two specific conditions).

The last is important because, unlike many other international agreements, the climate change convention does not require reviews or any other type of consultations for domestic actions of developing countries, he said.

The negotiators were also concerned whether the last minute announcement of India to have “flexibility” meant changing stand on the equitable per capita emissions taken by it all along at the international forum.

Ghosh, who will also attend the summit, too said “we had some doubts, on the which air has been cleared by Ramesh.”

“We are now on the same page. We will join the delegation soon.” Other negotiators have already left for Copenhagen last evening The negotiating team —- comprising Shyam Saran, Prime Ministers’ Special Envoy on climate change, Ajai Mathur, head of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Vijai Sharma, Environment Secretary —- has left for Copenhagen.

Regarding the two negotiators who were apprehensive of joining the Indian delegation, Ramesh said, “There were no differences and the two negotiators were very much part of the Indian climate team for Copenhagen. They will be leaving either tomorrow night or Tuesday morning.”

Meanwhile, the 12-day jamboree opens in Copenhagen tomorrow to chalk out a new plan to tackle global warming and its impact beyond 2012 when the Kyoto Protocol expires.

With PM Manmohan Singh deciding to join leaders of some 100 countries, including the US and China, at the crucial climate talks, signs of a likely pact are emerging but concerns remain over the contentious Danish proposal that sets 2025 as deadline for all nations to cap their emission.

Analysts say the draft proposal prepared by the host nation removes the distinction between the developed and the developing countries and would be disastrous for India and other developing countries.

Developing countries have maintained that given the fact that emissions from industrialising developed nations over the last century have been the primary cause of global warming, they should shoulder greater responsibility for carbon cuts.

Encouraged by the voluntary declarations by China and India, US President Barack Obama has rescheduled his visit to Copenhagen to the crunch December 18 finale. — PTI