US expects India to contribute more to tackle climate change

Washington: India has taken "important steps" in addressing the challenges of climate change, the US said Monday hoping that the country would contribute more to this global effort.

"We certainly would expect that India would contribute to this broader global effort and this is something that is economically challenging for India, as the Indian government would be the first to tell you," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters at his daily news conference.

"But at the same time, we have seen India take important steps in the past, and there was, earlier in the President's administration, a commitment that was made by the Indians to limit hydrofluorocarbons," Earnest said.

"And these are pollutants that have a much more significant impact on bringing about climate change than just the burning of oil and gas," he said in response to a question on India's role in addressing the challenge of climate change ahead of the Paris Summit, which would be attended by both US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"There's been a willingness on the part of the Indians in the past to make important commitments that contribute to this broader effort. But we certainly would like to see a country with an economy as large as India step up and make an important contribution to this effort," Earnest said.