US says it has no divide with India on climate change issue

The US on Monday said there was no divide with India on the issue of climate change and it would like to be the nation's "best partner", days after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it clear that the country will not come under pressure of international community in this regard.

Ahead of the UN climate talks in Paris later this year, US said that there are opportunities for Indian businesses to lead the way in climate change as the innovations done here to become smarter, cleaner, productive and more profitable, will be attractive to a global community.

"As Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks to implement Smart Cities, Make in India, the Clean India/Swachh Bharat campaign, and works to deploy his goal of 175 GW of clean, renewable energy by 2022, there will be countless opportunities to utilise cleaner technologies," US Ambassador to India Richard Verma said. He was speaking after the launch of "Climate Partners" programme aimed at highlighting the economic opportunities associated with climate action here.

Welcoming India's recent proposal to phasedown hydrofluorocarbons - a very potent greenhouse gases, the US said that it is "interested" in being India's "best partner" and is working "closely" to find ways to promote the transition to a low carbon and clean energy future.

Stating that the US understands the kind of leadership that India wants it to play in climate talks, Verma said: "I think we are moving out and we need to move out of early 1990s world, which was divided into two camps. We are not in two camps anymore." 

"If we all have to be in the same camp moving forward together again taking into account our national circumstances, we really do that," he said.

He noted that not only the US but the world is watching India which has a significant role to play on climate change.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently said that India cannot be forced to "follow" the parameters laid down by the developed world on climate change and instead should lead the world in the fight against it.

Verma said that the US has already submitted its INDC (intended nationally determined contribution) last month with a commitment to reduce emissions by 28 per cent by 2025.

Stating that the entire world is interested to know India's INDC, Verma said, "India is working hard on its proposed INDC and we are very much looking forward to seeing it when it is ready.

"There is not only interest in the US but the entire world is interested in what India will do owing to its size, economic growth projections and already significant greenhouse gas emissions." 

The UN climate conference, to be held in Paris from November 30 to December 11 this year, is tasked with finalising a global agreement designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions. India is pro-actively engaging with the world to arrive at a fair and equitable climate agreement.