Advanced Technologies must for low carbon economy:President

New Delhi, Jun 5 (UNI) Giving a call for moving towards a low carbon economy on World Environment Day today, President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil today said developing countries needed transfer of technology and financial support from developed nations to help them reduce their carbon footprints.

''As we look at this issue today, there can be no doubt that new and advanced technologies will play a key role in achieving this objective,'' the Preisdent said at a function organised on the occasion here.

She also gave away the Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puruskar to two individuals and one organisation, and the Young Environmentalist Award.

The President said that as a developing country, even though India had no international obligation to reduce emissions, but as a responsible member of the world community, it was taking action domestically to contribute to the global efforts.

''Climate change is receiving high level and focused attention in India. Prime Minister's Climate Change Council is comprehensively examining India's response to this global challenge,'' she said.

Mrs Patil said though all countries contribute, to some extent, to the emission of greenhouse gases, the contribution of developing countries like India was vastly different and far lower than that of developed countries.

Historically it is the developed nations that have been responsible for emission of Greenhouse gases, but it was also a fact that the climate change was going to affect all, and in fact the harshest impact was being felt by the poorest in the world who have had hardly any share in causing this problem, she said.

''Global discussions on climate change must,therefore, bear in mind that the process of burden sharing should be fair and in line with the principle of common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities,'' said Mrs Patil.

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