"We are already taking a number of actions that will result in significant reductions of our greenhouse gas emissions," Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh told the Indian Express in an interview.

"We are in a position to quantify these reductions into a broadly indicative number that can be shared with the rest of the world. I see no problem with that," Ramesh said.

India and other developing countries such as China have refused to sign on to binding targets for cuts, believing rich countries should shoulder the main responsibility for mitigating global warming.

Ramesh admitted his statement signalled a shift in India's climate change strategy before the crucial December 7-18 summit in Copenhagen, under the 192-nation UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The meeting aims to craft a post-2012 pact for curbing the heat-trapping gases that drive global warming.

"Yes, there is a nuanced shift. But this shift is not in our negotiating stand. The stand remains the same. We are not going to accept any legally-binding commitments on carbon emissions," Ramesh added.

Chandra Bhushan, associate director at the independent Centre for Science and Environment group in New Delhi, said Ramesh's statement flowed from a national action plan on climate change unveiled last year.

"This is the first time Ramesh has talked of quantifying reductions," he said.

"It takes the debate forward on what India can do domestically and voluntarily. Basically India is saying that 'we will do what we can on our own and if there is a number to be put on it we will do that'," he said.

India's per capita emissions are among the lowest globally as much of the country is without power, but it is still in volume terms among the top five carbon emitters in the world.

India's new formulation is aimed at banishing the impression that New Delhi was a potential spoiler or deal breaker, Ramesh said.

"For long, this canard is being spread that India has been holding up an agreement... that India is not proactive on climate change. This should be able to nail those lies," he added.

Last week, Ramesh told a gathering attended by Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen in New Delhi that India wanted a deal at Copenhagen that is "credible, equitable and pragmatic," but that failure to reach consensus would not mean the end of negotiations.

India has said it is committed to combating climate change but has steadfastly opposed binding emissions targets on the grounds that they would hinder rapid economic progress.

A series of independent studies released in September showed that India's per capita emissions are expected to nearly triple in the next two decades, but still remain below the current global average.

India has pledged not to let its per capita emissions exceed those of developed countries, and hopes this will win it some credibility at the upcoming talks in Copenhagen.

The government has highlighted forest regeneration, clean coal energy, and sustainable development schemes to demonstrate their seriousness.

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