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India maintains that major responsibility of curbing emissions rests with developed countries

Finally, the Copenhagen Summit is over. I do not know whether it really could arrive at decisions (or even discussions) that could even start addressing the climate change issue. Projections by the IPCC clearly indicate that if emissions continue to rise at present levels, the Earth will face a disastrous future. Sea-level rise, rapid changes in seasons, damage to biodiversity, heat waves, storms, floods, droughts - the list is long. I do not want to sound pessimistic but I do not want to turn away from reality either.
As far as I could understand, the Copenhagen Summit has actually widenend the differences between the developed and the developing countries. In this context, it is worthwhile to look at a report brought out by Assocham and E&Y on Climate Change. The report reveals that India’s emission levels are 70% below world average and 93% beneath those in United States.

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This is despite India being the 4th largest economy and 5th largest greenhouse gas emitter, accounting for 5% of global emissions, adds the report.
Thus, following the principle of common but differentiated responsibility, India maintains that major responsibility of curbing emissions rests with developed countries, which have accumulated emissions over a long period of time, points out the report.
Developing countries will suffer the worst consequences of climate change because of their high levels of poverty and the limited capacity of their public health systems to respond. While developing countries will and have to take proper mitigation actions to fight climate change, they have a heavier price to pay. I would like to conclude by quoting President Mills of Ghana who spoke at Copenhagen. "...a major concern of developing countries is that these mitigation actions should not divert much needed resources from poverty reduction and economic growth," President Mills said.

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