Developed world must lead by example, India on eve of climate summit

Says developed world is responsible for more than 70% of carbon emissions and a historical responsibility cannot be wished away

On the eve of the crucial climate change summit, India today said developed nations must "lead by example" and walk the talk on cuts in carbon emissions and hoped for a "just and equitable" agreement to limit global warming.

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, who arrived here to take part in the summit starting tomorrow and reviewed the India pavilion, said that developed world is responsible for more than 70 per cent of carbon emissions and they have a historical responsibility which cannot be "wished away".

As nearly 150 world leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi gather to try to craft a long-term deal to limit carbon emissions, Javadekar said India will strive for a balanced, just and equitable agreement.

"Today if there is a climate change of 0.8 degree celsius, this is happening because of emissions over 150 years. We are just three percent of that historical emissions. Developed world is 75-80 per cent responsible for it. They have special historical responsibility that cannot be wished away," he said.

He, however, said that developed countries must come forward to "lead by example" on emission savings and taking up more targets (emission cuts) in pre-2020 period as there cannot be a "five year action holiday" periods.

The statement by Javadekar came amid media reports that US has shared a non-paper' with select countries, in which it has said that the wall of differentiation between developed and developing countries should be done away with consequently doing away with any notion of historical responsibility.

Along with it, it wants developing countries to also contribute to the climate funds in future and not just the developed countries as is required for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, according to media reports.

Asked if there is pressure on India, Javadekar said that "there is no pressure and we are not in a habit of taking pressure".

Stating that developed world is using two-third of carbon space available, Javadekar said providing carbon space to developing countries is in favour of earth, developing countries and developed world itself. Developed world should walk the talk, he said.

The Paris Climate Conference, which starts tomorrow will, for the first time in over 20 years of UN negotiations, aim to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius.