India reiterates carbon goals for climate accord

India has reiterated a goal of slowing the rise of its carbon emissions by 2020 as part of pledges due by Sunday under a "Copenhagen Accord" to fight climate change, an official statement said.

Many other nations have also reiterated existing goals for slowing global warming before a Sunday deadline for making commitments under the "Copenhagen Accord", which sets an overriding goal of limiting a rise in world temperatures to less than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 F). The statement said India will "endeavour" to reduce its carbon emission intensity by 20 to 25 percent by 2020 in comparison to the 2005 level.

Carbon emissions intensity refers to the amount of carbon dioxide emitted for each unit of gross domestic product. The statement said India's actions will be legally non-binding and its carbon intensity cut target will not include emission from the agriculture sector.

Last week, China reiterated a voluntary domestic target to lower its carbon emissions intensity by 40 to 45 percent by 2020 from 2005 level while also stepping up the use of renewable energy and planting more trees.

The non-binding accord was described by many as a failure because it fell far short of the Copenhagen conference's original goal of a more ambitious commitment to prevent more heat waves, droughts and crop failures.

So the more top emitters such as China and India there are committing numbers to the accord, the better its chances of survival.

China, India, South Africa and Brazil met in the Indian capital on Jan. 24 and expressed support for the "Copenhagen Accord", while urging donors to keep promises of aid.

REUTERS