India not bound to cut greenhouse gas emission levels: Govt

New Delhi: India is not bound to mandatorily cut greenhouse gas emission levels under Kyoto Protocol but voluntary efforts are being undertaken to reduce them, the government said on Wednesday.

India is a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Kyoto Protocol. "India does not have legally binding emission reduction commitments under Kyoto Protocol...We are not bound for any emission cut," Minister of State for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar told the Lok Sabha during Question Hour. He was responding to queries on effects of climate change and measures to reduce carbon emissions. As part of voluntary domestic actions for mitigation of greenhouse gas, the government has announced reducing emission intensity by 20-25 per cent from 2005 level by 2020, he said. Noting that efforts were on to tackle climate change issues, he said the country also has to ensure growth to address the challenge of poverty. The country`s growth would not be impacted by the efforts that are taken to tackle climate change issues, he said. In 2008, government had launched the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), that includes eight national missions in specific areas such as solar energy, water and sustainable agriculture. According to Javadekar, no specific targets have been set to combat the effects of climate change and contain carbon emissions in various states and Union Territories. "Government has submitted proposals for financial assistance to Global Environment Fund and Adaptation Fund under Kyoto Protocol for implementation of mitigation and adaptation activities," he said.