India says it cannot accept a cap on development

India on Wednesday said it will not accept any cap on its development in the name of climate change, asserting that any negotiation on climate change should take into account the overriding developmental objectives of the developing countries.

Briefing reporters at the conclusion of a two-day meeting of 17 major economies on climate change and energy, Prime Minister's Special Envoy Shyam Saran said there has to be a balance between historical responsibility and current emissions.

"Focus only on current emissions is not going to give you an equitable result," he said, adding developed countries simply can't absolve of their historic responsibilities and talk about current emissions only.

"We have been saying that the developed countries, sooner rather than later should indicate what the emissions targets they are willing to take are? Whatever they had agreed to take on in the Kyoto protocol 1997, only few countries are going to be able to meet those targets," he said.

"We (developing countries) say, 1990 should be the base year, because that is what is being recognized by the UNFCC," he said.