Clinton to discuss climate change with Indian leaders

Given the US standpoint that a global solution to climate change would require significant participation by developing countries like India and China, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will discuss the issue in detail in New Delhi.

"One of the areas that I know will be discussed in detail is the area of climate change," Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Philip J. Crowley told reporters Friday as Clinton arrived in India.

"Clearly, from a US standpoint, we recognise that finding a global solution to climate change will have to involve significant action by the United States and other developed countries, and also significant participation by developing countries, whether it's India on the one hand, or China on the other."

Saying that a new UN climate treaty is due to be agreed in December at Copenhagen, Crowley said: "...We want to make sure that we are doing everything possible so that we arrive at a meaningful negotiation and agreement later this year."

India has pointed out that there is no new treaty to negotiate. Instead, it wants developed countries to further reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases that are heating up the atmosphere, by the strengthening the existing UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol.

"Clearly, from the standpoint of India, energy is vitally important," Crowley said. "The two (issues) are obviously linked in the sense that how countries develop in the future and the energy consumption, access to energy on the one hand and consumption on the other hand."

US saw a tremendous opportunity for the development of clear sources of energy. And that can be an important stimulus in terms of and a catalyst for research, development, and job creation, he said. "I think that same opportunity exists for India as well."

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)

Last updated on Jul 18^th, 2009 at 10:01 am IST--IANS