India committed to UNFCCC, says PM

Keeping up pressure on rich nations to take legally binding emission cuts, India today made clear that it was committed to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which is based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.

Addressing the Brazil-Russia-India-China Summit here, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the BRIC Approach to the Cancun Conference, to be held in Mexico in December, should be anchored within the UNFCCC, the Kyoto Protocol and the Bali Roadmap.

"Technology will be a key element in our strategy to meet the challenge of climate change. Each of us has our own strengths in climate-friendly technologies."

"If we pool our best scientific and technological resources, BRIC nations can set a fine example in promoting collaborative development, deployment and dissemination of clean energy and renewable technologies," he said in his first speech on climate change at the international fora after the Copenhagen Summit last year.

The Prime Minister's comments come close on heels of the developed countries threatening to cut vital aid to the developing nations if they do not back the deal agreed at the UN climate summit in Copenhagen.

It has also reflected the rich nations' reluctance to keep their promises of providing financial, technological and capacity-building support to developing countries to help them counter climate change.

India along with other developing nations have argued that developed countries should create a global mechanism whereby existing technologies that can make a significant change in meeting challenges be diffused as rapidly and widely as possible.

At the 194-nation summit in Copenhagen, India along with three other countries Brazil, South Africa and China brokered a non-binding agreement with the US which is now "endorsed" by more than 112 countries.

They include 14 African countries that depend on aid from the EU, UK and France.