"The present state of greenhouse gases concentration in the atmosphere is the result of over a century and half of unabated emissions by the developed countries," Indian UN Ambassador Nirupam Sen told the General Assembly's special session convened to discuss the issue of climate change.
Giving figures to buttress his argument, Sen said India with 17 per cent of the population has only 4 per cent of global GHG.
Stating a more important measure is per capita emission, he told the delegates that India's per capita CHG emission is one ton per annum against global average of four tons per annum.
Despite that India has taken to further steps to cut down these emissions, he said, pointing out that the primary energy consumption growth rate is 3.4 per cent per year against GDP growth rate exceeding 9 per cent.
"It is worth noting that this is in contrast to the developed countries, and even a few developing countries, where higher growth rates have followed the traditional pattern of increased use of energy," Sen said.
The developed nations have accepted the responsibility for excessive emission, he said, asking the industrialised world to now show leadership in controlling the polluting gases.
Strict equity, the Indian Ambassador said, would mean that till the excessive amounts of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere are soaked up, the developed countries ought to be held down to less than per capita equal share.
"However, an equal per capita basis can be accepted as a fair distribution. Major polluters most certainly do not include developing countries such as India with small carbon footprint in per capita terms," he emphasized.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he told the delegates, has made clear that India's per capita GHG emissions will at no stage exceed those of developed countries even while pursuing policies of development and economic growth.
But environmental concern should not become additional conditions on growth in developing countries, he warned.
A scientific approach, he said, would require to address not just the symptoms but the causes, he said." It is the production and consumption patterns of the developed countries that have created the metabolic rift through dumping ecological wastes into atmosphere sustainable development requires sustainable production and consumption and this is where we need to concentrate our efforts."
Invigorated negotiations encompassing GHG mitigation at a significant level in developed countries along with their "real cooperation" with developing countries on adaptation and technology development and cost effective technology transfer can result in "pragmatic, practical solutions which are to the benefit of all humanity," Sen emphasised.
Sen said in all major energy intensive sectors -- steel, aluminum, fertiliser, paper, cement -- levels of energy efficiency in India are at global levels. He said the country has developed an Energy Efficiency Code for Buildings and is launching one of the biggest effort worldwide for CLFs to replace bulbs at affordable prices for consumers.
