"The existing equilibrium of commitments and differentiation between developed and developing nations has to be maintained," Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani told a conference on climate change in New Delhi.

Advani also urged developed countries to address the question of declining monetary assistance to developing countries to combat climate change.

"Here I have to mention that the declining proportion of Overseas Development Assistance by developed countries for developing countries signals adversely for technology flows in various situations. This needs to be addressed," he said.

India acceded to the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in August 2002.

It is the only international accord that aims at quantitatively reducing volumes of "greenhouse gas" pollution, the carbon byproduct of burning fossil fuels that is storing up solar heat in the atmosphere.

In his speech, Advani said India accorded high priority to the conservation of forests and wildlife for long-term ecological and environmental security.

New Delhi had created a policy for the promotion of clean technologies in energy, industry and transport, he added.

He urged private industries to work with the government to promote the development of cost-effective environmental technologies.

Climate change was a matter of grave concern for India as the country was facing the challenges of both economic growth and ecological protection which need the correct application of technology and policies, he said.

India's Environment Minister T.R. Baalu said the conference was part of New Delhi's efforts to combat climate change and would serve as a platform for the transfer of clean technologies.

"The meet is expected to encourage manufacturing and industrial operations to use technologies that minimize greenhouse gas emissions and thereby reduce their environmental footprint," Baalu said.

SPACE.WIRE