India to reduce carbon emission by 20-25 % by 2020, says Jairam Ramesh.

New Delhi, Dec.3 (ANI): India on Thursday announced its readiness to cut carbon emission intensity by 20 to 25 percent by 2020 on the 2005 levels through a number of policy measures that will include mandatory fuel efficiency standards on all vehicles.

Union Minister for Environment Jairam Ramesh informed about the Government's decision in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, ahead of the Copenhagen summit on climate change to be held in the Danish capital next week.

"We are telling the world that India is voluntarily ready to reduce emission intensity by 20-25 per cent in 15 years from 2005," Jairam Ramesh said during a debate in the Lok Sabha on impact of climate change.

Ramesh also listed out a series of steps including introducing mandatory fuel efficiency standards on all vehicles by December 2011, model green building code and amendment of Energy Conservation Act to make it necessary for industries to have energy efficiency certificates.

He said greater thrust would be given to generate electricity using clean coal technologies and that 50 per cent of all new capacity additions would be based on such source.

Ramesh, however, said India would not accept legally binding emission cuts and not agree to any "peaking year" for its green house gas emissions.

The Union Minister made it apparent that India was not ready to subject its domestically funded mitigation actions to international review.

India, however, could be agreeable to international review for mitigation actions, which are supported by foreign technology and finances, Ramesh added.

He said the 20-25 per cent emission intensity reduction has been arrived at by the Planning Commission which conducted a variety of exercises.

Besides, Ramesh also announced that the 12th Five Year Plan will focus on low-carbon strategy for economic growth. He noted that between 1990 and 2005 emission intensity in the country has gone down even as the GDP and population have gone up.

"There has been a 17.6 per cent decrease in emission intensity from 1990-2005," he staed.

He informed that the Nationally Accountable Mitigation Actions (NAMA) will be voluntary and the government would report it to Parliament from time-to-time while adding: "We are accountable to Parliament and not to any international organisation." (ANI)