The Government has made it categorically clear that the Copenhagen Accord on Climate Change is not legally binding nor is it a mandate for a new negotiating process. In a suo moto statement made in the Rajya Sabha today the Environment Minister Mr. Jairam Ramesh said that it is because of the developing countries insistence specially India that the global goal on climate change is to be expressed in terms of limit in increase in temperature and not in terms of quantified emission targets. The Minister said that there is no specific mention of the year of peaking for developing countries which is consistent with India’s position. He said that the recently concluded Summit explicitly recognises that the time frame for peaking will be longer in developing countries as the socio-economic development and poverty eradication will be their first and overriding priorities. He said that India has also been able to incorporate a specific provision in the implementation of the guidelines that national sovereignty will be respected. Giving details about the developments at the Summit, the Minister has said that India has come out quite well at Copenhagen and it has been recognised for its constructive approach. He said that the BASIC Group of Brazil, South Africa, India and China emerged as a powerful force in climate change negotiations and it is their unity which was instrumental in the finalisation of the accord in accordance with negotiating framework laid down in the Bali action plan and Kyoto Protocol. Mr Ramesh said that New Delhi will continue to play a constructive role by deepening its capacity to pursue proactive climate diplomacy internationally. He also said that India has to get down to implementing a comprehensive domestic agenda of both adaptation and mitigation and of moving on the road to cutting the intensity of emissions by 20 to 25 per cent by the year 2020. The Minister will reply to the clarifications being sought by the members on the statement.