With a bold stance on emissions and a well-reasoned roadmap for low-carbon growth, India can be a leader in clean development in three or four decades.

The US and China recently announced emissions targets with great fanfare. The US offered to reduce its emissions by 17 per cent by 2020 from 2005 levels. Subsequently, China announced a 40- 45 per cent reduction in its carbon intensity during the same period. What are India’s options? India’s conventional position has been that of common but differentiated responsibility without accepting any mandatory cuts in emissions. Now that China has announced emissions cuts, it puts pressure on India and other developing countries to announce a policy that could lead to an agreement in Copenhagen.