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Mr. Chairman It has been argued in some quarters that the reference in the Declaration to a scientific view that global temperature increase should not exceed two degrees centigrade, represents a significant shift in India position on climate change, and that it may oblige us to accept emission reduction targets. This is a one-sided and misleading interpretation of the contents of the Declaration. It is India's view, which has been consistently voiced in all world fora, that global warming is taking place and taking place and talking place here and now and that its adverse consequences will impact most heavily on developing countries like India. The reference to a two degree centigrade increase as a threshold reflects a prevalent scientific opinion internationally and only reinforces what India has been saying about the dangers from global warming. True, this is the first time that India has accepted a reference to two degree centigrade in a document as a possible threshold guiding global action, but this is entirely in line with our stated position on global warming.
Drawing attention to the seriousness of global warming does not automatically translate into a compulsion on the part of India or other developing countries, represented in the Major Economies Forum, to accept emission reduction obligations. I should like to mention in this matter that our position and the Chinese position are nearly identical, and we have been coordinating our position with that country on this important issue.
Quite to the contrary, the greater the threat from global warming, the greater the responsibility of developed countries to take on ambitious emission reduction targets. That is why, 37 developing countries, including India, China, Brazil, South Africa, and Indonesia.