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Not big emitter of greenhouse gases: India

United Nations: India on Thursday rejected the contention that it was among the largest emitters of greenhouse gases saying its per capita emission of polluting gases responsible for global warming was just one-fourth of the world average.

India charged the developed countries with putting the onus on the developing countries to tackle climate change, a “problem” they had created through carbon dioxide emissions for 150 years.

“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,” India’s U.N. Ambassador Nirupam Sen told the General Assembly’s special session convened to discuss climate change.

Stating that per capita emission was a good criteria to judge who were the polluters, he said India’s per capita CHG emission is one tonne per annum as against the global average of four tonnes per annum.

Mr. Sen urged the rich nations to show leadership in tackling the problem even as they were challenged to make deeper cuts in their greenhouse gas emissions.

He also asked them to provide the developing world with funding and technology to help tackle climate change.

Developed countries “have a specific responsibility” to carry out deeper cuts in greenhouse gas emission “in accordance with the commitments made under the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol,” Pakistan Environment Minister told the session. — PTI

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Not big emitter of greenhouse gases: India

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