Delegates from 192 countries are gathering in the Danish capital Copenhagen for the opening of the UN summit on climate change today. The main areas for discussion include setting of targets to curb greenhouse gas emissions, in particular by developed countries, financial support for mitigation of and adaptation to climate change by developing countries and a carbon trading scheme aimed to end destruction of world's forests by 2030.Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will attend the Copenhagen summit on December 17. Besides Dr Singh, US President Barack Obama, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy are among the world leaders who have pledged to attend the summit. Security is tight as organisers expect 15,000 delegates and 100 world leaders to attend over the next two weeks.Speakers at the opening session will include Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Rajendra Pachauri, head of the UN's panel of climate experts. Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh along with 35 officials, four MPs and four children comprise the Indian delegation at the summit.Over the last week, China, India and the US announced emission targets. India announced its readiness to cut carbon emission intensity by 20 to 25% by 2020 on the 2005 levels through a number of policy measures. However India also said that it would not be coerced into accepting unilateral cuts decided by developed countries.
News On AIR | December 7, 2009 8:46 AM
Delegates from 192 countries attending Copenhagen meet on Climate Change