India submits to UN proposed emission cut targets

India has submitted to the UN its proposed emission intensity cut targets by 20-25

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per cent by 2020, a day before the expiry of the world body's deadline for submitting the climate change mitigation steps under the Copenhagen Accord.

However, the country, which submitted the proposed targets yesterday, made it clear to the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that its all domestic mitigation actions were entirely voluntary in nature and not legally binding, a position it had maintained at last month's Copenhagen Summit in Denmark.

"India will endeavour to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 20-25 per cent by 2020 in comparison to the 2005 level through domestic mitigation actions," said a statement from the Environment Ministry here.

In view of the current debate in the international climate change negotiations, India also made it clear that "while these actions will be in the nature of its contribution to the global efforts to address climate change...It will be entirely voluntary in nature and will not have a legally binding character."

The announcement came a day after the US and European Union (EU) committed to the UN to cut green house gas emissions. The US has pledged to cut emissions by 17 per cent by 2020 from 2005 levels, although it said the target was dependent on domestic climate change legislation being passed.