The Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Monday said growth should take place in a way which does not harm the environment. During his meeting with Environment Ministers of BASIC countries- Brazil, South Africa, India and China- Dr Singh underlined the principle of equity, equal per capita rights to the atmospheric space should be the goal of future negotiations on climate change.

Environment ministers of China, South Africa and Brazil informed the Prime Minister that the BASIC nations played a constructive role in Durban and also commended the role played by India in bringing equity back on global climate negotiation platform.

The two-day New Delhi meeting of the group will discuss a united strategy for the group in the future negotiations on climate change and focus of the discussions would be the question of equity.

Ahead of his meeting with Environment Ministers of BASIC countries, the Prime Minister said on Twitter that economic growth is essential for the people, but government cannot allow growth to be pursued in a manner which damages our environment.