New Delhi, Nov 24 (IANS) India has taken a credible and consistent position in international negotiations on climate change, Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh said here Tuesday.
In reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Ramesh told the parliament’s upper house: “India’s position is anchored in the principle of equity and the ‘common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities’ of parties as enshrined in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol.”

The minister pointed out that India has “consistently argued that developed countries must take deep and ambitious emission reduction commitments in the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol while the developing countries will take nationally appropriate mitigation actions on voluntary basis as supported and enabled by finance and technology provided by developed countries”.

Laying to rest much disquiet on one point, Ramesh said: “Voluntary actions of developing countries will be subject to international monitoring, report and verification (MRV) as per agreed procedures to the extent that these actions receive international support.”

The minister also pointed out: “India has also consistently stated that the developed countries must fulfil their commitments under the convention to provide resources to developing countries to enable them to undertake actions for adaptation to and mitigation of climate change.”