Copenhagen: PM assures support

New Delhi: India remains committed towards protecting the environment and willing to do more to fight climate change but cannot do so at the cost of perpetuating poverty among developing nations, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Thursday.

In a statement ahead of his visit to Copenhagen for the climate change summit, the Prime Minister said India looked forward to working with the rest of the world to preserve and protect our environment.

"This is our common heritage and this is what we must bequeath to our succeeding generations. At the same time, climate change cannot be addressed by perpetuating the poverty of the developing countries," he said.

The Prime Minister said global warming was impacting most heavily on developing countries like India and, as a responsible member of the international community, the country will do its bit to protect the environment.

"It is in keeping with this principle that I had earlier announced at Heiligendamm (Germany) in 2007 that we will maintain our per capita emissions at a level lower than the average per capita emissions of developed countries," he said.

"I look forward to constructive deliberations in Copenhagen which meet the collective aspirations of all humankind and enable us to move forward in the global efforts to combat climate change."

The Prime Minister also listed some initiatives taken by the country as a responsible member of the international community:

• Commitment to reduce growth-linked emissions intensity by 20-25 percent over the 2005 levels by 2020
• Comprehensive action plan on climate change
• Eight national missions set up on various facets of climate change and protecting environment

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, along with Prime Minister's Special Envoy on Climate Change Shyam Saran, are among senior officials accompanying the Prime mMnister to Copenhagen on the two-day visit.

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh is already heading the Indian delegation at the summit - formally called the 15th Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change (UNFCCC).