Amartya Sen wants India to accept some obligations at Copenhagen

New Delhi, Dec 17 (ANI): Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen hinted on the fact that India should accept some mandatory obligations at Copenhagen although it is a minor polluter.

Addressing the inaugural session of 'Ideas India-2009' hosted by Aspen Institute India here on Thursday, Sen suggested that the country needs to push for a fairer deal in terms of climate change.

He pointed out that China is one of the major emitters in the world but it is thought that India is a major emitter.

He said that we should be realistic and effective in terms of the global Nyaya (justice).

The major feature of the Kyoto Protocol is that it sets binding targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The protocol obliges nearly 40 industrialized nations to limit emissions by at least 5.2 percent below 1990 levels by 2008-12. It does not impose curbs on poorer nations.

Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh left for Copenhagen to take part in the climate talks.

In Copenhagen, Dr. Singh is expected to push for a balanced and equitable outcome.

Dr. Singh is expected to make an intervention at the plenary of the 15th Conference of Parties on Friday which would be addressed by Denmark Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen and UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon. (ANI)