New Delhi, Dec 14 (IANS) There will be no change in India’s stance on tackling climate change without taking parliament into confidence, the Rajya Sabha was assured Monday.
“Yes,” Minister of State for Finance Namo Narain Meena said while replying to a supplementary during question hour on whether parliament would be taken into confidence in case of a change in India’s stance, even as he stressed there would be no change of heart.

“India’s stand at (the) Copenhagen (climate change summit) is very clear: We will not accept any legally binding emission cuts and nor will we accept any international scrutiny of our efforts (to reduce emissions),” Meena contended.

“The negotiations are on, let us wait for the outcome. I can assure you, the country’s interests will be protected,” added Meena, who was previously the minister of state for environment and forests and was replying on behalf of the current incumbent, Jairam Ramesh, who is leading the Indian delegation at Copenhagen conmference.

“The minister (Ramesh) will apprise the house (of the Copenhagen outcome) if parliament is in session,” Meena stated. The ongoing winter session of parliament will conclude Dec 21, while the Copenhagen meet will end Dec 18.

Meena, however, dodged a question whether he agreed with a World Bank report suggesting that India would require millions of rupees to enforce a voluntary 25 percent reduction in emission intensity that New Delhi has voluntarily announced.

“There are several estimates. Whatever expenditure is required will be handled domestically,” he said, adding the reduction was “voluntary and not binding internationally”.

Responding to the main question on the steps being taken to counter climate change, the minister said these included energy conservation, improved energy efficiency in various sectors and promoting use of renewable energy.

This apart, the government has effected power sector reforms, was promoting the use of cleaner and lesser carbon intensive fuel for transport and was encouraging afforestation and conservation of forests, as also clean coal technologies.

“India has also developed programmes relating to adaptation to climate variability in the areas of agriculture, water resources, health and sanitation, forests and coastal zone infrastructure,” the minister pointed out.