India refuses to set emissions reduction target despite US "pressure"

The Indian government has insisted that it is under no obligation to set an emission reduction target, despite "pressure" to do so from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a visit to the subcontinent over the weekend.

Indian environment minister Jairam Ramesh told Clinton that "there is simply no case for the pressure that we, who have among the lowest emissions per capita, face to actually reduce emissions".

During an hour-long private meeting with Clinton, Ramesh also accused the US of threatening to impose carbon tariffs on Indian exports if it failed to sign up to international emission redcuction targets.

He provided local media with printed copies of his statements from the discussion.

The US has been stepping up efforts to get developing nations to agree on measures to combat global warming prior to the UN climate change talks in Copenhagen in December.

Earlier this year, the US held secret talks with China and speculation is mounting that the Chinese government could support a deal in Copenhagen. However, reaching an accord with India is proving more difficult with the government maintaining that while it has introduced measures to address climate change it is not willing to sign up to any targets it views as detrimental to economic growth.

While visiting the country, Clinton noted that "India's greenhouse gas pollution is projected to grow by about 50 per cent between now and 2030", and told local officials that curbing carbon dioxide emissions would not dampen India's economic growth.

During her visit, India announced that land had been allotted for two nuclear power stations to be built by US companies, which Clinton said would help the country to meet its growing energy needs.

Japan's Nikkei newspaper, citing unnamed sources, today reported that Westinghouse Electric and a venture between General Electric and Hitachi will likely be awarded orders for the nuclear plants.

In a written statement to India's upper house of the Parliament yesterday, Ramesh clarified his stance from the meeting with Clinton. He noted that under the terms of the Kyoto Protocol, India does not need to set a carbon reduction target.

Ramesh added that the government was committed to implementing the National Action Plan on Climate Change – a set of initiatives covering such areas as solar power, energy efficiency and climate change – which would help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Documents for the plan "are at various stages of finalisation", he said, but did not give a timeframe for implementing the scheme.