India Rejects Limits On Greenhouse Gas Emissions

While environmental advocates hailed the passage of the Waxman-Markey Energy Bill ("American Clean Energy and Security Act") by Congress on June 26 by a mere 7 votes, developments in India foretell the difficulties ahead in passing domestic legislation to tackle a global problem.

"India said it will reject any new treaty to limit global warming that makes the country reduce greenhouse-gas emissions because that will undermine its energy consumption, transportation and food security. However, it offered to contain CO2 emissions per capita below those of developed nations.

India, the second-most populous nation, only emits 4.6 percent of the global carbon-dioxide emissions, while the U.S. produces 20.9 percent, he said. Asia’s third-biggest economy in June unveiled a plan to form eight commissions to improve energy efficiency and mitigate the impact of climate change."