India to cut emission intensity 20-25 per cent by 2020: Ramesh

Minister of Environment and Forests, Jairam Ramesh outlined India's position on climate change which had been worked out in concert with other developing nations including China. Ramesh said India was committing to reduce emission intensity - the level of greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GDP in its own interest. He was elaborating on the issue in response to a question in the Lok Saha on India's stance at the 7 - 18 December climate summit in Copenhagen.

Dispelling opposition fears of a 'sellout' at the summit of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) he said India would not accept legally binding emission cuts and it would not accept a peaking date on its emissions.

He said the 20-25 per cent emissions intensity cut had been worked out by the Planning Commission and the 12th Five Year Plan, starting 2012 would be based on a low carbon growth strategy.

Explaining the approach to achieving the planned targets, Ramesh outlined a five-step plan of action:

• Mandatory fuel efficiency standards for all vehicles by 2011
• A building code for energy conservation that would be recommended for mandatory implementation to local governments
• Amending existing laws to cut energy intensity of industrial activities
• Regular monitoring of forest cover that absorbs about 10 per cent of India's current greenhouse gas emissions
• 'Clean coal technology' based power plants -super critical, ultra super critical and coal to comprise 50 per cent of the new coal based plants to be commissioned.

Ramesh said that was India's baseline and if the Copenhagen summit were to deliver a successful outcome that was equitable, and addressed India's concerns, India would be prepared to do even more.

Ramesh said flexibililty did not mean a sellout, it only meant the ability to move in rapidly evolving situations. He added that India was not living in isolation and the Indian contingent was going to Copenhagen to get the best agreement possible for India.