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India obtains guarantees on study of Asian Brown Haze

Environment and Forests Minister T R Baalu obtained the guarantee during talks with UNEP Executive Director Kalus Topfer on the sidelines of the ongoing UN World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg.

Outlining India's perspective, Baalu said the UNEP's conclusions on the impacts of the Asian Brown Haze presented "an alarming picture without adequate substantiation".

The minister also pointed out that only preliminary modelling studies had been done about the impact of the haze on the region's climate and agriculture and that statistical significance of the indicated changes had not been established.

Topfer responded by saying that the UNEP appreciated the Indian point of view with regard to the causes and consequences of the Asian Brown Haze. He said the UNEP was prepared to conduct further studies in this regard.

Baalu, who is the head of the Indian delegation to the summit, is due to hold talks with ministers from several other countries before returning to New Delhi on Friday night.

The Minister of External Affairs, Yashwant Sinha, will take over from Baalu on Friday.

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