'We should not expect much from Copenhagen summit'

Asking Indians not to expect much from the climate change conference in Copenhagen, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh today said the government would follow a "twin track" approach of not binding itself to any global agreement but at the same time putting in place "ruthless" measures to cut emissions on the domestic front.

"You should not have too much expectations from the Copenhagen summit. It looks like the negotiations would continue," he said here releasing a United Nations report on population.

"It seems there is a long haul before we arrive at an international commitment," Ramesh added.

According to the minister, though climate change is a fundamental issue for India, the country has to look at it from a development perspective.

"I think there is an abundance of evidence to show that climate change is not related in any way to population growth," he said, adding rather it is more a lifestyle issue.

Ramesh said this was evident from the fact that though China was recording negative population growth during the 1990s, its emissions kept on increasing.

"Emissions are caused by consumption patterns. There is no iron law to say that India with its growing population has chances of increasing emissions," he said.

He added that in fact India through its growth model can set alternative patters for growth without leaving carbon footprints.

Ramesh said climate change was in fact a domestic issue for India and the country should be prepared for ruthless measures to tackle it.

"India is very vulnerable on the climate front. Nobody is more vulnerable than India. It is really a domestic issue for us," he said.

The response to this is that we act independent of what happens in the international scene, he said, adding, "while we reject legally binding emission cuts, on domestic front we have to be very careful".

"Low carbon growth will be a part of the new five-year plan," he added.

Listing out some of the measures India needs to take, he said, "We need to have mandatory fuel efficiency standards, a prospective water legislation and renewable energy sources."

This twin track approach will help strengthen India's position globally.