Kampala: Reminding the developed nations of their commitments on reducing emissions, India today said time was not ripe for the developing countries to undertake quantitative restrictions.

India also said it believed that at the Climate Change Conference in Bali, the negotiations to determine the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction commitments of developed countries should be invigorated and completed by 2009. Making an intervention in the debate on climate change at the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers meeting here, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said: "given the development imperatives faced by us and the need for adaptation, the time is not ripe for us to undertake quantitative restrictions."

He said the Kyoto Protocol should remain focussed on GHG reduction commitments of developed countries in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibility. "Other crucial issues including adaptation, financing, technology cooperation and forestry must be taken up in an accelerated manner, but separately, to enable us to comprehensively tackle climate change," Mukherjee said.

India is aware of the concerns of the small island states and supported increased efforts by the international community to help them deal with climate change, he said. "India is prepared to play its role in this effort," Mukherjee said.

Source : PTI