Thaindian News

New Delhi, Oct 20 (IANS) Terming union Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh’s reported letter to the prime minister on climate change as “deeply disturbing”, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Tuesday demanded that the Indian parliament lay down “the basic principles of the climate change negotiating positions”.
Any change in the Indian position should be done only by the parliament, the CPI-M politburo said in a statement here Tuesday.

“The climate change negotiations once again show that measures critical to the country are being negotiated away without any discussion within the country or in parliament.”

The party termed as “deeply disturbing” media reports and the publication of Jairam Ramesh’s letter to the prime minister calling for an about turn on India’s long held climate change negotiating position.

“The minister’s letter is a complete move away from these basic positions and seems only to focus on strategically aligning India with the US on climate policy and breaking ranks with the entire bloc of developing countries,” the CPI-M said.

There has been a national consensus on the major elements of India’s climate change policy, the party said.

“These include convergence of per capita emissions by developed and developing nations, the principles of common but differentiated responsibility in tackling global warming, immediate and sharp cuts in Green House Gas (GHG) emissions to be undertaken by the rich industrialised countries that today have contributed to the bulk of GHG stock in the atmosphere and the provision, by the developed countries, of technology and adaptation financing for the developing countries as a small measure for repayment of this carbon debt,” the statement said.