We are taking responsibility

"We, no matter India, China or any other developing countries, have made it very clear that the main responsibility for the emissions is that of the developed countries, because they have historical responsibility," the envoy said.

The climate change is not taking place because of the current emissions, but because of the accumulated greenhouse gas emissions during many, many years of industrial activities in the developed countries, who have, in the UNFCCC, acknowledged their responsibilities, he said.

"The first unusual business is they (developed countries) must take the lead in reducing their emissions," said Shyam.

This, however, definitely does not mean that developing countries, just like India and China, don't have their own responsibilities, he said.

"Of course we have, but that's because we are the ones that will be most affected by climate change. So we are quite clear about our responsibility to pursue sustainable development. China is doing that; India is doing that."

The man reminded the reporter that the developing countries have already been making a contribution, with their own resources. "We are already spending a very large part of our national resources for adapting to climate change, for which we are not responsible."

"So if anybody says we are not taking responsibility, it's simply not correct," he said.

US should take the lead

Talking about the news on the unlikeliness of a climate bill sailing through US Senate this year, the Indian delegate seems not so pessimistic on the superpower's possible contribution.

"Given the fact that there seems to be less promising now about the legislation going through the Senate, is there some other way in which US government will come up with commitments at the negotiations, that we will have to wait and see. Of course, it would be better if the US could pass the climate change bill in its senate."

In a seminar Sunday in Washington, Barack Obama's main energy adviser Carol Browner said that the administration did not expect the Senate to vote on a climate change bill before an international meeting in Copenhagen in December, which is scheduled to reach an international agreement to avoid catastrophic global warming.

Shyam said, "US, as the largest economy in the world, must take the lead. President Obama has said that he would like US to take the lead, so all of us hope very much US will in fact rise to its responsibilities, and help a big success of the Copenhagen Conference."

(Xinhua News Agency October 7, 2009)