Around the World: India

Carbon cut: voluntary

India said yesterday that it is voluntarily willing to reduce carbon emission by 20 to 25 percent by 2020, but it is not going to sign any legally binding agreement at the Copenhagen climate summit.

Indian Minister of State for Environment and Forest Jairam Ramesh said at the Lok Sabha, or Lower House of Parliament, that " India will never accept a legally binding emission reduction agreement".

"We are telling the world that India is voluntarily ready to reduce emission intensity by 20 to 25 percent in 15 years from 2005," he said.

"There is no question on compromising on these two issues although it depends on concessions," He said, adding "we get from the international community."

(China Daily 12/04/2009 page12)