India can't be forced on parameters on climate change: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today made it clear that India cannot be forced to "follow" the parameters laid down by the developed world on climate change and instead should lead the world in the fight against it.
India's position came ahead of a crucial UN meet on climate change scheduled to take place in Paris later this year.
Noting India's tradition of protecting and loving environment, Modi said, "India should be a global leader in the fight against climate change. Is it that the world will guide us in climate change and we will follow them?
"The world will lay down the parameters for us and we will follow them, it cannot be. India should lead the world in the fight against climate change," he said while advocating self strategies to tackle the problems of climate change.

The Prime Minister also hit out at the western countries for adopting "dual standards" on the issue, saying there was a need to create pressure on the world. "I believe such pressure will be built in the coming days," he added.
His remarks came barely days after the US submitted its climate action plan to UNFCCC giving its targets to cut emissions by 2025. The targets have been termed as "completely inadequate" by the activists here.

During his speech inaugurating a two-day environment and forest ministers' conference, Modi also noted that India has a legacy of thousands of years in this field and "we can lead the world and we can guide the world".

"India can show the way to the world out of this crisis," he said while adding that Indians have been the protectors and devotees of nature.
He said there is a need to project this fact properly so that the world realises that India cannot be questioned in this regard.
"Indians have always conserved nature, and even today, have among the lowest per-capita carbon emission, globally," he said while observing that the culture of recycle and re-use is not new to India.