India opposes amendment to Kyoto protocol at Copenhagen meet

New Delhi, Dec 13, IRNA - India opposed any amendment to the Kyoto protocol at the Copenhagen meet, even as the European Union pushed for an agreement that is broader than the 1997 climate change treaty that puts more obligations on developing countries for cutting emissions.

The tiny Pacific island of Tuvalu once again raised the proposal of adding another protocol to the Kyoto Protocol. Developing nations especially India, China, South Africa and Brazil are sticking to a one protocol approach. India's Environment Secretary Vijay Sharma told the gathered negotiators the spotlight is on existing
commitments.

In other developments, India's Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh with other SAARC members agreed to regularly co-ordinate on tackling the issue of climate change, All India Radio (AIR) reported.

Members of the Indian delegation have been engaged in closed-door negotiations on the draft proposals put forth by the chairpersons of the two working groups, the ad-hoc working group on Long Term Cooperative Action under the Bali Action plan as well as the working group on the Kyoto Protocol. /end