18 Dec : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday said that vast majorities of countries do not support any negotiations or dilution of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Addressing his counterparts at Copenhagen climate summit, he said that Kyoto protocol should continue to stand as a valid legal instrument.
“The Kyoto Protocol should continue to stand as a valid legal instrument. Parties to the Protocol should deliver on their solemn commitments under the Protocol. It would go against international public opinion if we acquiesce in its replacement by a new and weaker set of commitments,” he said.
He also asserted that any agreement on climate change should respect the need for development and growth in developing countries.
“It is clear that any agreement on climate change should respect the need for development and growth in developing countries. Equitable burden sharing should underlie any effective global climate change regime. Any new regime will have moral authority and credibility only if it acknowledges that every citizen of the globe has an equal entitlement to the global atmospheric space,” he added.
Dr Singh assured the leaders that India will deliver on voluntary emission cut targets irrespective of outcome at Copenhagen and would do more if supportive regime is agreed.
US President Barack Obama also urged the world leaders to act together on an accord to fight climate change and called for mechanism to monitor emission reduction actions, exchange of information and transparency.
Obama, addressing his counterparts at Copenhagen, said that financing to developing nations is a must but asserts that it will be done only if it is part of a broader accord that includes mitigation and transparency.