Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's office announced Saturday that
he will attend the U.N. climate change conference which is about to
begin in Copenhagen.
India is one of the world's biggest emitters of carbon dioxide - a
greenhouse gas blamed for global warming. The government recently
pledged to cut emissions by 20 to 25 percent by 2020, compared to 2005
levels.
Leaders of more than 100 nations are taking part in climate change
conference, which aims to reach a new international agreement on
reducing emissions and assistance for developing economies working to
slow the global warming trend.
U.S. President Barack Obama, India's prime Minister Singh and most
other heads of state or government are expected in the Danish capital
during the final sessions of the 12-day conference, which begins
Monday.
Mr. Obama has revised his travel plans and will be arriving in
Copenhagen for the end of the conference on December 18. He had
originally intended to take part in the meeting's earlier stages, but
his spokesman (Robert Gibbs) said the president decided U.S. leadership would be "most productive" during the final rounds of talks.
Thousands of people rallied in London Saturday to demand a strong climate deal at the U.N. conference.
About 20,000 people turned out for a demonstration organized by the
Stop Climate Chaos coalition, which includes groups such as Oxfam and
Greenpeace.
Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, whose country is another major
polluter, also will be in Copenhagen. China, India and the United
States all have recently announced their targets for reducing carbon
emissions.
Following India's pledge to cut its greenhouse-gas emissions by 20-25
percent over the next decade, the White House said Friday the United
States is ready to pay a "fair share" of $10 billion per year in
climate aid to developing countries as part of a new climate change
agreement.
Participants in the Copenhagen meetings are trying to reach a new
international accord to replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which expires
in 2012.
President Obama had originally planned to arrive in Copenhagen on
December 9, but his revised schedule calls for him to attend the
climate change meetings one week after he accepts the Nobel Peace Prize
in Oslo, Norway.