India 'pleased' with climate summit

By Sanjoy Majumder
BBC News, Delhi

Mr Ramesh said that India's interests had been safeguarded

India says it is pleased at the outcome of the recently concluded climate change talks in Copenhagen.

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh told MPs that India had been able to resist pressure from the developed world to sign up to binding emission targets.

The Copenhagen agreement has been criticised in India.

Critics say the country was forced to give up its sovereignty and agree to international checking of its efforts to lower its greenhouse gas emissions.

Facing parliament for the first time since he returned from the talks, Mr Ramesh was upbeat.

He said all of India's concerns had been safeguarded which included resisting signing up to legally binding emission targets and identifying a peak year for carbon emissions.

In fact, he added, the BASIC group of countries which includes Brazil, South Africa, India and China had emerged as a powerful force in climate change negotiations, especially in the face of relentless pressure from richer countries.

But, he said, India's approach had been recognised as constructive.

The Copenhagen agreement has been strongly criticised by environmentalists and opposition parties in India.