Washington: Asking the developed countries "to walk the talk" on reducing green house emissions, India today opposed any "premature" setting of "benchmarks" for industries and instead pressed them to first ensure technology transfer to the developing world.

"The setting of any such goal (on reducing emissions) needs to be realistic apart from being based on a scientific consensus at a far higher spatial level than the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)," R Chidambaram, government's Principal Scientific Advisor, said at the Second Major Economies Meeting on the Environment in Honolulu.

It should take into account historical cumulative emissions, per-capita emissions and the sustainable development needs of developing countries and should be guided by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, he told delegates from 16 nations and the EU, which contribute to 8O per cent of the emissions, as well as the UN.

The parties are meeting to further talks held in Bali last month during which countries agreed to adopt a blueprint for fighting global warming by 2009.

Chidambaram, who led the Indian delegation, stressed that any further discussions should be within the parameters of the Bali Action Plan and rejected any suggestions new additions including on "competitiveness".

"There have been suggestions on setting standards benchmarks for various technology sectors. Such benchmarking would be premature for developing countries smaller players have to catch up,"

"Moreover, we should not put the cart before the horse. If technologies are transferred properly, standards would automatically be achieved."

Source : PTI