GURGAON, India — The stage was set for a demonstration of how India and the United States could work together to reduce the impact of climate change: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton touring an environmentally friendly “green” office building on the outskirts of the sprawling capital of New Delhi.
But the clash between developed and developing countries over climate change intruded on the high-profile photo opportunity midway through Clinton’s three-day tour of India. Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh complained about U.S. pressure to cut a worldwide deal, and Clinton countered that the Obama administration’s push for a binding deal would not sacrifice India’s economy.
As dozens of cameras recorded the scene, Ramesh declared that India would not commit to a deal that would require it to meet targets to reduce emissions.
“It is not true that India is running away from mitigation,” he said. But “India’s position, let me be clear, is that we are simply not in the position to take legally binding emissions targets.”
“No one wants to in any way stall or undermine the economic growth that is necessary to lift millions more out of poverty,” Clinton responded. “We also believe that there is a way to eradicate poverty and develop sustainability that will lower significantly the carbon footprint.”
Both sides appearing to be playing to the Indian audience, with Ramesh taking the opportunity to reinforce India’s bottom line.
Before the visit, U.S. officials were acutely aware that the Indian government has faced criticism at home for making what they considered relatively modest concessions this month on reducing greenhouse emissions at a meeting of major economies.
Clinton was prepared to argue that countering climate change could actually lift India’s economy, not undermine it.
The tone of the nearly one-hour meeting appeared to become less strained as Clinton acknowledged some of Ramesh’s points and repeatedly stressed the United States was not trying to limit India’s growth.
“We want an international agreement,” Ramesh said, but whether one can be reached at a major climate summit scheduled for December in Copenhagen will depend on being creative and leveraging international technology, and “international capital is going to be key.”
