New Delhi, Dec 17 (IANS) Amid reports of the collapse of the UN climate summit, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday left for Copenhagen to push for “an equitable outcome”, but said India would not accept a treaty that would hamper its drive to lift millions out of poverty.
The prime minister’s flight was delayed by nearly three hours due to a technical snag. The flight was scheduled to take off at 2.45 p.m.

The prime minister said he looked forward to “constructive deliberations”, but stressed that the developed world needed to address the concerns of the poorer nations over the impact of any deal on their economic growth.

“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,” he said in a departure statement.

The prime minister said global warming had its impact 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 Copenhagen summit collapsed Thursday as host Denmark insisted on pushing its own “political declaration”, ignoring the pleas of the poor nations.

India’s Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh, who is in the Danish capital, said: “The blame game will now start, but the developing countries are not to be blamed.”

The prime minister also listed a slew of 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;

-Willingness to do more if there are credible arrangements for additional financial support and technological transfers from rich nations.

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Climate Change Shyam Saran are among senior officials accompanying the prime minister to Copenhagen on the two-day visit.

Rao on Wednesday emphasised that India is not “a naysayer” and will play a “constructive role” in the climate change negotiations at Copenhagen, but laid down red lines over “non-negotiable issues” over which India will not budge despite pressure from developed countries.

Rao said that India will not accept legally binding emission cuts, a peaking period for emissions and will not allow domestic climate change actions financed by domestic funds to be brought under international scrutiny.