Climate change deals must be just: Amartya Sen

New Delhi, Dec 18: In the wake of the growing tensions in Copenhagen over the climate change talks, Nobel Laureate Prof Amartya Sen on Thursday, Dec 17 called for 'global climatic justice'.

India can accept a deal on climate change provided that it is just and fair, the nobel laureate said stressing that the social contract justice must also include global climatic justice, while speaking at the inaugural plenary of Ideas India 2009, organized by Aspen Institute India.

Prof Sen said that India is a minor emitter and the country has to establish this fact in the global community.

However, since it may contribute to future emissions, the country should play a leading role in these talks, he added.

He went on to say that, as a global voice for smaller developing countries, India should also take into account their concerns regarding development and the impact its own development will have on emissions in the future.

"By force of idea, we have the opportunity to present to the world what should be done, rather than what should not be done," he stated.

In his book 'The Idea of Justice", Prof Sen writes on the importance of looking at justice as a way of improvement through removal of injustice rather than looking for perfection.

Terming the continued existence of injustices such as undernourishment, subjugation of women, lack of healthcare, illiteracy and other issues as 'intolerable', Harvard Professor of Economics and Philosophy said that India"s voice must have an impact on global thinking on injustice.

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