Climate talks: India makes emotional plea for basis development

Asserting that equity has to be centrepiece of climate talks, India today slammed developed nations for not doing enough to combat global warming as it made an "emotional" appeal for space for basic development for its 1.2 billion people and poverty eradication.

In the midst of growing criticism, Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan told delegates from 194 countries that India -- which is being seen as "deal-breaker" for not agreeing to a legally binding treaty -- was not holding up the climate talks.

India along with US and China is under pressure to accept a legally binding treaty proposed by the EU, which would be signed by 2015 and come into force by 2020.

"I was astonished and disturbed by the comments of my colleague from Canada who was pointing at us as to why we are against the roadmap," she said. "I am disturbed to find that a legally binding protocol to the Convention, negotiated just 14 years ago is now being junked in a cavalier manner."

"Countries which had signed and ratified it are walking away without even a polite goodbye," she said. "And yet, pointing at others."

Natarajan's strong words received huge applause and a standing ovation on a day when India was described as a stumbling block to the talks here.

"It is a factual statement, it is an emotional statement," the minister told reporters later.

Natarajan, during her speech, asserted that India was not a major emitter."I am from India and I represent 1.2 billion people," she said. "My country has a tiny per capita carbon footprint of 1.7 tonne and our per capita GDP is even lower."

As a developing country, "the principles of equity and CBDR (common but differentiated responsibility) are central for us," the minister said.