Carbon intensity cuts not under pressure: Saran

Shellfish threatened by rising levels of CO2As climate change talks continued in Copenhagen on the second day of the summit, Indian negotiators again issued a clarification on the country’s recent carbon intensity cuts, saying that India has already taken “domestic action” to reduce the carbon intensity of its economy.

“If our actions outlined in the national action plan on climate change (NAPCC) work, we would be able to reduce our emission intensity as announced,” said Shyam Saran, PM Manmohan Singh’s special envoy on climate change and leader of the Indian delegation.

Critics have said that India announced recent carbon intensity cuts only in response to pressure from developed countries. But Saran, who will be returning to India on Thursday to brief Singh on the latest developments at the conference, said the cuts had nothing to do with international pressure, but were part of India’s larger domestic vision for low-carbon intensity growth.

If India meets the objectives laid out in the NAPCC it will be able to reduce its carbon intensity by 20 to 25 per cent by 2020, Saran said.

Saran ruled out binding emissions cuts. “We cannot allow our growth to be jeopardised. It is a question of providing electricity to 400 million Indians.”