New Delhi, Oct 24: A UN Conference on Climate Change opened yesterday with host India striving to evolve a consensus among 186 member countries to make a commitment to implement Kyoto Protocol aimed at reducing greenhouse gases emission to 1990 levels for dealing with global warming. Environment Minister T R Baalu, who was elected President of the Conference, told reporters that top priority will be given to move on from resolution to implementation as agreed upon in the last conference at Marrakesh.

"We will make efforts to reach a consensus at this Eighth Session of Conference of Parties to UN Convention Framework on Climate Change so that member countries make a commitment to reduce emission level by 5.2 per cent to prevent climate change (globalwarming)," he said.
When pointed out that United States which is the largest polluter, has not agreed to sign the Protocol, Baalu said all efforts will be made at this conference to bring it to the negotiation table.
Asked about the dangers of Clean Development Mechanism projects for develolping countries, he said CDM was beneficial and would support sustainable development in the host country as well as make contribution to reduce GHG emissions. Bureau Report