Hillary upbeat on climate change talks with India

* Environment minister says New Delhi 'simply not in a position' to take on legally binding carbon emissions targets

GURGAON: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sounded optimistic on Sunday that the United States and India can bridge their differences on reducing greenhouse gases.




However, a senior Indian official repeated his government's view that it cannot accept legally binding targets for cutting carbon emissions that cause climate change.




Speaking at an award-winning "green" building outside New Delhi, Hillary told reporters she had had productive talks with Jairam Rajesh, India's minister of state for environment and forestry. "We had a very fruitful discussion today," Hillary told reporters. "We are not sitting down and writing the framework but we have many more areas of agreement than perhaps had been appreciated." "There are some specific recommendations which he has made today which are very promising," she added. "I am very heartened by our capacity to work (together)."




Carbon emissions targets: Rajesh bristled at a suggestion India was unwilling to find ways to curb its carbon emissions, saying it was doing so but could not commit to mandatory targets. "It is not true that India is running away from mitigation," Rajesh said at a joint news conference. "We are simply not in a position to take on legally binding emissions (reduction) targets."




The United States wants India to agree to limit its carbon emissions ahead of the signing of a new UN climate treaty in Copenhagen in December. There, more than 190 nations will try to set emission cuts targets to 2020.




India says rich nations are most to blame for climate change and should make deeper cuts before asking others to do so. It is reluctant to put any brakes on industry, to ensure its economy keeps up growth estimated at 7 percent this year with an eye to returning to 9 percent.




While Hillary's official talks today (Monday) will cover such issues as defence sales, nonproliferation and civil nuclear power, she made climate change her first priority in the Indian capital. The top US diplomat drove straight from the airport to an office building built by India's ITC conglomerate, which has been granted an award for energy efficiency and environmental design.




The red brick building maximises natural light and its glass lets in light but not heat, which respectively reduce the need for artificial light and air-conditioning. reuters