Don't blame us: India to developed nations

Rejecting the contention that it is among the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, India has charged the developed nations with externalising the problem they had created and trying to pass on the cost of the solution to the developing nations.

'The present state of greenhouse gases (GHG) concentration in the atmosphere is the result of over a century and half of unabated emissions by the developed countries,' Indian UN Ambassador Nirupam Sen told the General Assembly's special session convened to discuss the issue of climate change.

Giving figures to buttress his argument, Sen said India with 17 per cent of the population has only 4 per cent of global GHG.

Stating a more important measure is per capita emission, he told the delegates that India's per capita CHG emission is one ton per annum against global average of four tons per annum.

Despite that India has taken to further steps to cut down these emissions, he said, pointing out that the primary energy consumption growth rate is 3.4 per cent per year against GDP growth rate exceeding 9 per cent.

'It is worth noting that this is in contrast to the developed countries, and even a few developing countries, where higher growth rates have followed the traditional pattern of increased use of energy,' Sen said.

The developed nations have accepted the responsibility for excessive emission, he said, asking the industrialised world to now show leadership in controlling the polluting gases.